The purpose of this chapter is to regulate and punish acts of aggressive panhandling or solicitation and acts of panhandling or solicitation that occur at locations or under circumstances specified herein. The purpose of this chapter is not to punish the status or condition of any person. Regulation is required because aggressive panhandling anywhere in the City contributes to the loss of access to and enjoyment of public places and can create a sense of fear and intimidation in citizens solicited by strangers. Regulation is further required because panhandling in certain areas threatens the economic vitality of those areas, impairing the City's long-term goals of attracting citizens, businesses and tourists to these certain areas and, consequently, the City overall. The City has substantial interests in the protection of public safety, the use of public transportation, the safe and unobstructed flow of traffic on its public streets, the preservation of the safe use of public areas, protecting the aesthetics of historic areas within the City, protecting the City's investment in certain areas, protecting tourism and protecting the City's economy. The regulations in this chapter further these substantial interests. This chapter is not intended to proscribe any demand for payment for services rendered or goods delivered; nor is this chapter intended to prohibit acts authorized as an exercise of a person's constitutional right to legally picket, protest or speak.
(Ord. 1639. Passed 6-8-10.)