Agenda Date: 03/03/2015
Subject:
Title
Ordinance on second reading removing the permitting requirement for placement of newsracks and removing restrictions on purposes for which newsracks may be utilized
Body
Presented By: |
Manager of Engineering & Utilities Division |
POLICY QUESTION:
Does city council support an ordinance removing the permitting requirement for placement of newsracks?
BACKGROUND:
Staff and city council have been updating and revising sections of the municipal code. As part of the code cleanup project, staff evaluated permits and associated fees, evaluating their need and value. Staff evaluated whether the fees recovered the cost of the service and the staff time required to issue the permits. In 2014, the Finance Department issued 34 permits for newsracks to seven vendors and collected $25 per vendor in fees.
The ordinance also removes restrictions on the purposes for which the newsracks may be utilized (due to First Amendment concerns with regulating newsrack content), but still allows the enforcement of the location, placement and maintenance of newsracks and a process to correct code violations.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
Elimination of fees that are minimally impactful is in service of efficient and effective service delivery to the community.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
Staff expects minimal fiscal impact associated with this ordinance.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approving the ordinance.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve on second reading the ordinance removing the permitting requirement for placement of newsracks and removing restrictions on purposes for which newsracks may be utilized.