City Council to Discuss DDBA Sponsored Events, Social Host Ordinance, City Manager Salary Tonight

When the meets tonight in its chambers on 600 East A Street, it will have a bevy of items to mull over and take action upon.

Here are some of the items:

Social Host Ordinance back on the table

In Dixon if you are hosting a party, or your underage children are hosting one in your home, in which minors are consuming alcoholic beverages you are held responsible for the consequences.

A social host ordinance that passed on Nov. 24, 2009, by a 3-2 vote, dictates that places hefty fines on non-commercial-business owners who allow underage drinking in their homes or rented apartments/homes.

The fine structure says:

• A single-occasion house party where there is an unruly party and underage drinking is occurring is subject to a citation and fine.
• If the police have to return to a home party location within one year of the first occurrence, the host could receive a citation and fine, and make restitution for the costs associated with responding to the unruly gathering, including costs incurred by law enforcement, fire and other emergency service responders.
• The ordinance carries a fine of $100 for a first violation, a $200 fine for a second violation and $500 fine for each violation thereafter.

The sponsored the ordinance and said that the it has been instrumental in helping the city reduce underage drinking in Dixon.

“The Social Ordinance gives the community a practical tool for holding adults accountable,” read a letter from the Dixon Police Department. “This ordinance allows law enforcement to issue a citation to the individual who hosted the underage drinking party on their property.”

During a recent meeting, Vice Mayor Michael Ceremello requested the item be brought back to the council for possible discussion and revocation. Back in November of 2009, Ceremello and City Councilman Dane Besneatte were the dissenting votes for the ordinance; Mayor Jack Batchelor, Councilman Rick Fuller, and then Councilwoman Kay Cayler voted in favor of it. 

DDBA-sponsored events

The City Council, by minute action, is expected to vote upon the use of city-owned property for various events sponsored by the

The DDBA is asking the city for use of Women’s Improvement Club Park on Saturday, Oct. 15, to sell tickets for Oktoberfest, and once again on Dec. 1, for the Annual Tree Lighting Celebration. The DDBA is also asking for the use of the Pardi Market site on Oct. 22, for decoration of the Halloween Treat Trail.

A city staff report states that the financial impact of allowing the DDBA use of the sites is minimal; the DDBA will be providing standard insurance and indemnity coverage for the events using its insurance broker.

Last year’s events drew approximately 1,000 people or more to Downtown Dixon and the DDBA will providing its own security for the events, and is guaranteeing that no alcohol will be consumed on city-owned property.

Salary and benefits of city manager position

Tonight, the city council will give city staff direction on the future city manager’s salary and benefits package.

Avery and Associates – the firm that was hired by the city council to seek out candidates for the vacant position currently being staff by Dixon Police Chief Jon Cox on an interim basis – recommends that the city council adopt a salary structure between $115,000 to $145,000 per year. Dixon’s previous city manager, Nancy Huston, earned a base pay salary of $170,000, which along with benefits such as medical, retirement and an education incentive and many others cost the city a total of $235, 511 per year, according to a staff report.

The city can either adopt the recommendation, or come to another consensus, postponing the recruitment process for the new city manager.