Salt Lake City Council to discuss panhandling ordinance

SALT LAKE CITY — It's a safe bet that most people living, working or visiting downtown are familiar with commercial solicitation — if not the term, certainly the practice.

Since taking office in January 2008, Mayor Ralph Becker has been working to address public concerns with the practice better known as panhandling.

The process at times has been controversial, as the mayor and city officials have attempted to craft something that respects people's First Amendment rights to free speech while protecting those who feel unsafe or threatened by strangers asking them for money.

The result of that work will be discussed by the Salt Lake City Council during a work session Tuesday. The following week, the council is expected to hold a public hearing on the proposed commercial solicitation ordinance.

The City Council could vote on the ordinance at that Oct. 19 meeting, though it's unlikely that will happen before Nov. 4. Council members traditionally have preferred to weigh comments from the public for at least a week before taking action.

As now written, the ordinance would regulate when, where and how people solicit donations in the city, with the goal of prohibiting actions considered to be "aggressive panhandling."

"We've heard throughout the past few years that there have been concerns about increasing aggressive panhandling in the city," said Bianca Shreeve, who has been working on the issue since February as assistant to the chief of staff in the mayor's office.

Proposed restrictions in the ordinance would make such action illegal — a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a 1,000 fine.

Under the ordinance, people would not be allowed to ask for money within 10 feet of specific areas, including sidewalk cafes or outdoor dining areas, places where people are lining up to get into an event or purchase tickets, ATMs and bus or train stops.

Panhandling also would be prohibited throughout the city after sunset and before sunrise. In addition, anyone who intimidates, threatens or causes "a reasonable person to fear bodily harm" when asking for donations would be in violation of the proposed ordinance.

"We are working to address a specific type of behavior that makes people feel unsafe or threatened, prevents free access and movement of individuals and discourages individuals from coming to Salt Lake City's business districts," Mayor Becker wrote in a letter to residents posted on the city's website, www.slcgov.com/cso.