(a) If requested by the City, and for as long as the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (“NOPEC”) shall agree to do so, NOPEC shall establish and maintain for the City a “Do Not Knock Registry” (“registry”) and is authorized to contact individuals on the registry to distribute “Do Not Knock” stickers to them at no cost to the City or the individuals and contact individuals to update the list each year.
(b) The decision of whether to place a residence, house, apartment or other dwelling on the “Do Not Knock Registry” shall be solely that of the lawful possessor and occupant thereof.
(c) Any person in lawful possession and occupancy of any residence, house, apartment or other dwelling in the City may request NOPEC to place or maintain the address of his or her business, residence, house, apartment or other dwelling on the Do Not Knock Registry, by submitting a request on a form supplied by the City or by submitting a request online at www.blocktheknock.com or at a Block the Knock community event which shall contain the following information:
(1) The name of the person(s) completing the form;
(2) The complete address of the residence, house, apartment or other dwelling to be placed on the registry;
(3) The date the form was completed;
(4) A statement that in regards to the subject address, no peddlers or solicitors shall knock, ring the doorbell, make noise or otherwise call for the attention of the occupants at the subject address, in any manner; and
(5) Such other information that verifies the identity of the person(s) completing the form as a lawful possessor and occupant as may be required by the City.
(d) A residence, house, apartment or other dwelling, after being lawfully placed on the “Do Not Knock Registry” shall remain on said registry until the earliest of any of the following:
(1) The City or NOPEC receives notice of removal pursuant to subsection (e) hereof; or
(2) The City or NOPEC receives formal notice that the person who submitted the form pursuant to subsection (c) hereof is not or is no longer a lawful possessor and occupant of the premises.
(e) Any person in lawful possession and occupancy of any residence, house, apartment or other dwelling in the City may require the City or NOPEC to remove his or her business, residence, house, apartment or other dwelling from the “Do Not Knock Registry,” by submitting a separate notice of removal from said registry on a form supplied by the Chief of Police or NOPEC, or by submitting a request online to www.blocktheknock.com which shall contain the following information:
(1) The name and signature of the person(s) completing the form;
(2) The complete address of the business, residence, house, apartment or other dwelling to be removed from the registry;
(3) The date the form was completed;
(4) A statement that the residence, house, apartment or other dwelling shall be removed from the“Do Not Knock Registry”; and
(5) Such other information that verifies the identity of the person(s) completing the form as a lawful possessor and occupant as may be required by the Chief of Police.
(f) The decision whether to place a residence, house, apartment or other dwelling on the Peddlers and Solicitors “Do Not Knock Registry” shall be solely that of the lawful possessor and occupant thereof and no official, employee or other agent of the City shall interfere with that decision.
(g) The City will send a notice to each registered address on the registry, in the form of a sticker, that the occupant must display on or near the main entrance door or window, so that it is conspicuously visible to those approaching the premises.
(h) A copy of the “Do Not Knock Registry” shall be made available to the public during normal business hours of the City at the Police Department and shall be provided to every peddler or solicitor that is required to obtain a permit from the City or required to register with the City pursuant to this chapter.
(i) By enacting this chapter, peddlers and solicitors are on notice that a peddlers and solicitors “Do Not Knock Registry” exists. Each is responsible for obtaining a copy of the registry from the City prior to peddling or soliciting in the City of Willowick, which Registry shall also be made available on the City's website.
(j) Peddlers and solicitors are prohibited from knocking on the door of any residence, house, apartment or other dwelling that is listed on the registry or upon which a Do Not Knock sticker is conspicuously displayed on the premises pursuant to Section 709.11 (g) above.
(k) Provisions of the “Do Not Knock Registry” do not apply to persons invited onto the property by the occupant of the premises, for the purposes of peddling, soliciting or canvassing.
(Ord. 2017-25. Passed 12-5-17.)