§ 5-39.01. Legislative findings.

(a)

The City Council finds that the instances of aggressive solicitation in the City has become extremely disturbing and has the potential to be disruptive to residents and businesses, and contributes not only to the loss of access to and enjoyment of public places, but also to an enhanced sense of fear, intimidation and disorder.

(b)

Aggressive solicitation usually includes approaching or following pedestrians, repetitive soliciting despite refusals, the use of abusive or profane language to cause fear and intimidation, unwanted physical contact, or the intentional blocking of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The City Council further finds that the presence of individuals who solicit vehicles can be especially troublesome because of the enhanced fear of crime in those confined environments.

(c)

The City Council is enacting this chapter pursuant to its police power, as stated in Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution, in addition to the power set forth in Section 647(c) of the State of California Penal Code. This law is timely and appropriate because current laws and City regulations are insufficient to address the aforementioned problems.

(d)

The law is not intended to limit any persons from exercising their constitutional right to solicit funds, picket, protest or engage in other constitutionally protected activity. Rather, its goal is to protect citizens from the fear and intimidation accompanying certain kinds of solicitation that has the potential to become an unwelcome presence in the City.

(§ 1, Ord. 1048, eff. November 27, 2003)