Agencies pool resources to stop underage drinking

By Patrick George

"PACE [(the Public Assembly Code Enforcement team)] was formed two years ago in response to complaints about rampant parties across the city. Since its inception in 2006, complaints and citations for underage drinking are down in the West Campus neighborhood, officials say, and safety and code compliance have improved citywide."

"'It's a way to enforce all the city's codes at once,' said Don Smith , an Austin Fire Department battalion chief. At parties, PACE has 'calmed down a lot of that "we can do whatever we want" attitude,' Smith said."

"Smith said the PACE team meets once a month to discuss issues relating to alcohol and code enforcement. The team does not receive any additional funding from the city for what members do, but when they go on PACE assignments, city fire and code enforcement officials get overtime pay, Smith said, which runs about $6,000 a year -- about 2 percent of the overtime budgets for those departments . For the state alcohol agents, it's part of their regular duty, Zuehlke said..."

Full article available at http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/01/31/0131under...