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Calera council hears strong public comment on proposed ordinance limiting unsupervised minors at events; council moves amendment to next agenda
Summary
During a public hearing on Ordinance 2025-08, residents warned the measure could criminalize children and penalize low-income families; police and some council members said the ordinance would provide a tool to require adult supervision at athletic events; council voted to place amended language on the next agenda.
Calera’s City Council held a public hearing and second reading discussion of Ordinance 2025-08, a draft rule that would prohibit unsupervised minors under age 14 from remaining at city parks during large organized events and athletic contests unless accompanied by an adult supervisor.
David Morgan, a resident, said the ordinance appears to criminalize children and questioned whether the city is prepared to enforce new penalties. “I still object to it on just the grounds of adding another ordinance and adding a criminal ordinance specifically for children,” Morgan said, urging the council to consider voluntary event-specific restrictions instead of a blanket prohibition. Jennifer Fenoy, another resident, said the rule could “alienate a large portion of our children” and recommended investing in programming and options so children are not excluded from public events.
Residents described structural barriers that make adult supervision difficult for some families. One speaker said many young people remain because they lack transportation home after events and warned that enforcement could disproportionately affect low-income households. In response, a council member stressed the measure is not intended to ban children from parks but to encourage supervision at large events after council members and police reported repeated safety and disorder incidents during local football games. A police lieutenant who addressed the council said officers often arrive to separate groups of unsupervised minors and that the ordinance would give police “a little more leeway” to seek parental pickup rather than leave youth unsupervised during high-traffic events.
Council agreed to place revised highlighted language and the ordinance on the next meeting’s agenda for further consideration rather than taking a final vote tonight.
Next steps: the council will take the proposed amendment and ordinance up at the next meeting; staff and the attorney will provide any necessary clarifications to implementation and enforcement mechanics.
