City officials considered amendments Wednesday to an ordinance meant to curb large house parties and may remove controversial pieces from it that would allow police to cite parties with visible kegs and punish landlords of repeat offenders.
Madison's Public Safety Review Committee considered a substitute version to the ordinance meant to tame rowdy, profit-driven house parties in the downtown area.
The ordinance's previous draft stated that if a keg is visible to the public, police could enter the party and charge tenants.
Downtown Alcohol Policy Coordinator Mark Woulf said police wanted the ability to enter house parties with visible kegs, especially in situations where kegs could entice more people to come and make parties ""even more out of control.""
But, Woulf said, ""I do think there were some legitimate concerns about situations where kegs would be outside and there certainly wouldn't be an instance of a nuisance house party."" The committee also proposed removing punishments for landlords on tenants' second offense if the landlord was proactive about preventing future house parties. In the original ordinance, landlords automatically face punishment for tenants' second offense.
Although city officials agree with the ordinance's overall goal of limiting the size, scope and impact of house parties, Woulf said the means to get there are still under scrutiny.
Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said city officials can take out certain elements of the ordinance, but the major question is what kind of oversight there will be.
Instead of police making all decisions about rowdy house parties, as the ordinance currently states, Resnick said he supports additional oversight of each situation from himself, other alders, building inspectors and police to ensure the ""right folks are being treated as an offender.""
""If the only oversight is police, it is not adequate safety for students,"" Resnick said. ""Any amendments made to the ordinance are a step in the right direction, but we haven't gone far enough.""
Although the committee supported the proposed alterations, they ultimately chose to postpone making a decision, allowing the Madison Police Department more time to review the amendments.
