The City Council finds that:
(a) The city of Bloomington has an interest in safeguarding the right of its residents to enjoy, in their home and dwelling, a feeling of well-being, tranquility, and privacy; and
(b)
in front of or about a residential dwelling causes emotional distress to the dwelling occupants, obstructs and interferes with the free use of public rights-of-way and has as its object the harassment of the dwelling occupants; and
(c) Without resorting to
, ample opportunities exist for those otherwise engaged in
to exercise constitutionally protected freedom of speech and expression; and
(d) The protection and preservation of the home is the keystone of democratic government; the public health and welfare and the good order of the community require that members of the community enjoy, in their homes and dwellings, a feeling of wellbeing, tranquility and privacy and, when absent from their homes and dwellings, carry with them the sense of security inherent in the assurance that they may return to the enjoyment of their homes and dwellings; the practice of picketing before or about residences and dwellings causes emotional disturbance and distress to the occupants, obstructs and interferes with the free use of public sidewalks and public ways of travel; such practice has as its object the harassing of such occupants and, without resort to such practice, full opportunity exists, and under the terms and provisions of this section, will continue to exist for the exercise of freedom of speech and their constitutional rights; and that the provisions hereinafter enacted are necessary for the public interest to avoid the detrimental results herein set forth.
(Ord. 2022-6, passed 2-7-2022)