Ordinance 3462-15 - Laserfiche WebLink

:OP ORDINANCE NO. 3462-15 -i An Ordinance Concerning Panhandling, Encouraging Donations to Services in Lieu of Direct Donations to Panhandlers, Working with Business Owners Concerning Panhandling on Private Property, and Amending Ordinance 1353-87 Concerning Aggressive Begging(Chapter 9.52 EMC) WHEREAS, donating money to organizations that provide services, rather than donating to panhandlers, can more effectively help people who are experiencing poverty; and WHEREAS, the City can help educate the public concerning the benefits of donating to organizations that provide services to people experiencing poverty; and WHEREAS,the City wishes to facilitate such donations by providing a centralized webpage where citizens can learn how and where to provide donations to organizations that serve homeless individuals; and WHEREAS, some business owners wish to limit panhandling on their private property, such as parking lots; and WHEREAS,some business owners are not aware of their authority to regulate conduct in their parking lots for the safety of their customers and may wish to work with the police department to more effectively do so; and WHEREAS, intentionally blocking free passage in public places such as sidewalks and plazas for purposes of asking for money creates a coercive and intimidating experience for people; and WHEREAS, regulating intentional conduct that is intimidating and coercive does not interfere with the right to peacefully solicit charity; and WHEREAS,fines alone have insufficient deterrent effect to curb intimidating and aggressive behavior as described by this ordinance; and WHEREAS, making the penalty for the intentional intimidating behavior involved in aggressive begging a misdemeanor promotes public safety and provides leverage to steer people in need of services into diversion programs that connect them with social services in the community; and WHEREAS,the intent of the City's diversion programs is not only to help connect misdemeanor offenders with needed treatment and other services but also to help them avoid a criminal record by dismissing charges upon successful completion of the diversion program; and WHEREAS,the City has authority to reasonably regulate conduct for the health, safety, and welfare of the public