07-08-2015 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL JULY 8, 2015 SOLICITORS Anna Leibel, Intern, presented the Council with a proposed amendment ORDINANCE of the City's Solicitors Ordinance. Leibel outlined the proposed changes which include the addition of definitions of door-to-door advocate and transient merchant, recommending that door-to-door advocates register with the City and the waiving of their registration fees. Other changes include a list of exempt activities, minimum insurance requirements for vehicles from with items are vended, a list of reasons a permit can be denied, a change in times a solicitor can solicit, adding a noise clause, prohibiting the soliciting of funds, etc. The City Administrator reported that an update of the Solicitors Ordinance has been contemplated for some time. He noted that the purpose of this ordinance relates to public safety and registering people who go door-to- door helps to vet these individuals. The Administrator indicated that there are some constitutionally protected rights for door-to-door advocates, but again the City and its residents are concerned about who is going door-to- door. The Administrator reported the ordinance amendment being presented is based on what other cities are requiring, input from the League of MN Cities, and has been reviewed by the City Attorney. The City Attorney indicated that the ordinance amendment as proposed is acceptable. McGraw asked about the ability of condominiums and multi -family housing complexes to post signage prohibiting solicitors. The City Attorney reported that this signage can be posted by condominiums and multi -family housing provided that it is posted at all obvious entrances. McGraw asked about the situation where a condominium board posts prohibiting solicitors, but an individual condominium owner is in favor of having solicitors. The City Attorney reported that under MN Law it is the condominium association board that controls the property. However, the individual condo owner could invite a solicitor into his/her property. Torkelson noted that candidates for elected office are allowed access to apartment and condominium complexes for campaigning purposes. He indicated that the candidate can have campaign volunteers with them, but the volunteers were not allowed this access without the candidate being present. Torkelson suggested that the Solicitors Ordinance allow campaign volunteers access without the candidate's presence. McGraw stated that he disagreed with that suggestion and felt that access should be limited to the candidate only. McGraw stated that as a resident of a condominium complex, he found it difficult to keep people out of the building. The City Administrator noted that there is a Statutory exemption for candidates, and suggested that the City Attorney review this exemption relative to how it addresses campaign volunteers. The City Attorney 4