PORT ANGELES — Those who “aggressively panhandle” or otherwise block pedestrian or vehicle traffic in the city’s business districts could be cited under a proposed ordinance being considered at tonight’s City Council meeting.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St.
“It’s part of our effort to improve the quality of neighborhoods and community, clean up some nuisances and address some issues,” said City Manager Mike Quinn.
The ordinance would give police officers a tool they don’t now have to deal with people aggressively begging or otherwise hanging out on sidewalks and bothering people, he said.
City Attorney Bill Bloor said the proposed ordinance is modeled after Seattle’s 1993 ordinance, which has been upheld by an appeals court.
Specific areas
It is limited to specific areas of the city where such behavior is a problem, he said.
The ordinance prohibits “aggressively begging,” intimidating, begging, obstructing vehicular or pedestrian traffic or obstructing a sidewalk.
It includes exemptions for those waiting for buses and others with a city street use or similar event permit.
The ordinance applies to the downtown area as well as areas zoned C2, Neighborhood Commercial 1, Neighborhood Commercial 2, Neighborhood Commercial 3.
The downtown area is bordered by Second Street north to the water between Valley and Peabody streets, plus Fourth to Second streets between Laurel and Peabody streets.
A person can’t be cited under the ordinance unless he or she does something after already being told by a police officer that it is illegal. A violation is a misdemeanor.