(A) Areas regulated. Areas regulated by this section include those defined as AREAS WITH HEIGHTENED PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS as defined in § 92.02.
(B) Findings. The City Council finds as follows:
(1) Public safety. Both aggressive and passive begging, panhandling, charitable or political solicitation on small traffic medians and traffic medians located on high speed and high volume traffic corridors as identified in this chapter give rise to an increased risk of injury to solicitors on medians, traffic congestion, and traffic accidents that may affect drivers or solicitors.
(2) The city assumes no responsibility for persons engaging in aggressive or passive begging, panhandling, charitable and political solicitation activities within the city limits.
(C) Prohibitions.
(1) Generally. Both passive and aggressive begging, panhandling, charitable and political solicitation shall be restricted in areas with heightened public safety concerns as defined in § 92.02.
(2) Exceptions. The City Council may identify limited periods each year in which these prohibitions should not be enforced as a result of particularly pressing governmental concerns related to such activities.
(D) Charitable initiatives. The Council may designate certain days a year as days on which these prohibitions shall not apply in order to allow effective solicitation for designated charities.
(E) Election activities. The Council may designate certain days a year as days on which these prohibitions shall not apply in order to allow effective political communications in connection with local, state, and federal elections.
(F) Accommodations. In the event that the City Council designates days as exceptions from this chapter's requirements, it may also adopt a documented public safety plan to reduce risks to public safety that might otherwise arise.
(G) Comparable treatment. To the extent that the City Council adopts exceptions to the prohibitions set forth in § 92.06 (E) and (F), relating to charitable initiatives and election activities, such exceptions shall extend to all parties otherwise covered by the provisions of this chapter relating to begging, panhandling, charitable and political solicitation.
(Ord. 2018-O-63, passed 9-11-2018; Ord. 2018-O-68, passed 10-23-2018)