Public Assembly Code Enforcement, or PACE, began in 2006 to control partying students, and later expanded to ensure safety and code enforcement for Austin's multitude of large public events.
But some South Congress, or SoCo, business owners say PACE shows up on First Thursdays just to pick on them.
"I just feel like they have to justify their means," SoCo Clinic owner Aaron Winning said.
PACE's leader, Austin Fire Department Battalion Chief Don Smith, said that's simply not true.
He said the group, consisting of about 70 volunteer code enforcers from various city, county and state departments, has a clear objective and relies on codes from each of the departments.
"It may be something as small as a light bulb out in an exit sign, and emergency lights in a building, to something as large as a sprinkler system that doesn't work, and you've got 400 people in here," Smith said.
Guero's owner Rob Lippincott got a little hot under the collar last First Thursday when PACE wrote him up for an infraction. He claimed then that PACE targeted him for not having a live music permit, though he's working to get one.
"They never said we had to have two exits before," Lippincott said. "Now, starting this morning, we have to have two exits."
Smith said that PACE is doing all it can to help Lippincott achieve his goal.
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PACE
News 8's Bob Robuck sheds some light on a team that initially began as a way to put a lid on out-of-control fraternity parties.
 
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"In working with him, I think he's going to be a little bit more pleased, and getting closer to the final of his construction permits," he said.
PACE team members said their work has cut down on the number of code violations over the past few years. They admit, though, that they do unintentionally miss infractions at times. When they notice them, some business owners get upset.
"We're required to have you go ahead and correct it," Smith said. "We're not using Gestapo tactics, which at first it may look like when all these badges come to visit. I recommend they stop and talk to us when we're there and not yell at us."
