From
Fred Bates, Jr.
Title
Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 29 "Code Compliance," by the addition of Article VIII: CONVENIENCE STORE SECURITY, providing for a cumulative clause, a savings clause and a penalty clause; and to become effective upon passage, approval and publication
Presenter
Steve Dye, Chief of Police
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
Historically, convenience stores have been targets of certain types of criminal activity due to the nature of their business. In addition, the City has not previously had any formal process in place to specifically register convenience stores. To this end, the Police Department began working on an Ordinance to address these issues and this effort culminated in the proposed addition of Article VIII, Convenience Store Security, to Chapter 29 of the City of Grand Prairie Code of Ordinances. The proposed Ordinance is designed to prevent convenience store crimes and enhance prosecutions of criminal offenses that do occur. In this proposed Ordinance, a convenience store is defined as a “typically free-standing, small market often franchised that is designed to be easily accessible, frequently offers extended service hours, and aims at fast convenience services, purchase of necessities, staple goods, auto and household items, (limited choice and stock) snack food, hot coffee and/or food, with or without gasoline and has less than twelve thousand (12,000) square feet of retail floor space”. This definition includes retail locations commonly referred to as “dollar stores” or “variety stores.” Similar convenience store ordinances have been enacted by the cities of Dallas, Irving, and Garland.
The City of Grand Prairie Convenience Store Security Ordinance contains two main components. The first component specifies a formal registration process for all convenience stores as defined in the proposed Ordinance. This registration is required for all convenience stores to remain in operation ...
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