Abbeville looks at ‘Block Parties’

“Block parties” have become an increasing occurrence in Abbeville in recent weeks.
For some, the gatherings have become an increasing annoyance.
Abbeville City Councilwoman Terry Broussard, who represents District D, has heard from concerned constituents. Broussard brought some of those concerns to an Ordinance Committee meeting Tuesday evening. Broussard serves as the chair of the ordinance committee.
“A few weeks ago,” Broussard said, “I was notified about something happening on Maude Avenue. I received calls from ministers and citizens. They asked, ‘what can we do?’ The word they used is ‘block parties.’”
Rather than amend the code of ordinances to address “unruly behavior” on public property, the council voted 5-0 to create a penalty for those who conduct “block parties” without a permit.
City Attorney Ike Funderburk suggested there is no need to make changes to the noise ordinance, for example.
“We have a series of city ordinances that deal with improper behavior,” Funderburk said.
Among those ordinances are disturbing the peace, one that prohibits loud amplification devices on public ways, one regarding open containers, loitering, unreasonable noise, an ordinance that prohibits the use of megaphones and loudspeakers and an ordinance that covers regulating the levels of noise emanating from a private property.
“We have an arsenal of ordinances,” Funderburk said. “We also have a state statute dealing with obstruction of public passages. If people are having a ‘block party,’ and they are out in the streets, then we have all of these tools that can be used to stop illegal behavior.”
Instead of making changes to existing ordinances, Funderburk presented the option to add penalties.
“We have something in place that prohibits people from using public property,” Funderburk said of special events. “The streets and sidewalks are public property. We have a special event application process. That requires anyone who is going to have an event, that is going to be on public property, to come in and do all of the work that is required to receive a special permit for that event. What we are having is private parties migrating to public property, and thus blocking the street, creating noise. My thought process is that we get a penal provision to our special event ordinance.
“This gives us another tool to work with.”
Funderburk said the person facing a penalty, which could include fines and jail time, is one who sponsors, organizes or hosts an event without complying with the provisions of the special event permitting process. According to city officials, many of the “block parties” are being promoted on social medial.
Chief of Police William Spearman said during the committee meeting there have been numerous such events. He said arrests have already been made in connection to previous events.
“They advertised five block parties in less than a month,” Spearman said.