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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmployment Solicitation, Amend HBMC chapter 9.88, approve Or Council/Agency Meeting Held: /"/f"024,48 Deferred/Continued to: XApproved ❑ Conditionally Approved ❑ Denied , _ 7 —D dssishvnitity Clerk's Signature Council Meeting Date: January 18, 2000 Department ID Number: 00-02 CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION C.. C'i SUBMITTED TO: ONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS �'-= i `A`' SUBMITTED B : GAIL HUTTON, City Attorney > >-"'=. RON LOWENBERG, Police Chief ^ N, c, n D �.0 0 PREPARED BY: GAIL HUTTON, City Attorney SUBJECT: Adoption of Emergency Ordinance amending HBMC Chapter 9.88 pertaining to Employment Solicitation on. No_ yis 1 Statement of Issue,Funding Source,Recommended Action,Alternative Action(s),Analysis,Environmental Status,Attachment(s) Statement of Issue: 1. Should the City amend its current ordinance, and adopt it as an emergency ordinance, relating to solicitation on City streets and sidewalks so as to facilitate enforcement and guarantee compliance with California case law, and to control immediate hazards to pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Funding Source: None Recommended Action: Motion to adopt Ordinance No. 3451 after reading by title, as an emergency ordinance for the preservation of public safety. Alternative Action(s): 1. Do not adopt ordinance No. 3451; or 2. Motion to adopt ordinance 3451 as a regular ordinance, deeming this the first reading of said ordinance, amended by the deletion of the language which made it an emergency ordinance. 6 II REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTIuN MEETING DATE: January 18, 2000 DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER: 00-02 Analysis: Since 1998 the City has had an ordinance which regulates the time and place where people may solicit others for employment. Due to time delays in creating the City's Job Center and the desire on the part of the Police Department to give laborers sufficient notice prior to enforcement of the ordinance, citations and other enforcement actions have only recently begun. The onset of the relatively new enforcement program brought to light certain problems with the ordinance as it is currently drafted. Notably, the word "sidewalks" was included in our definitions of public rights-of-ways in which solicitation may be prohibited. While the City may ban persons from soliciting to and from vehicles from the position on the sidewalk, the City may not stop two individuals from contacting one another on a sidewalk to discuss potential employment. Due to the inclusion of the word "sidewalks," our ordinance might appear to do that which the California courts have declared to be an unconstitutional interference with First Amendment rights. Moreover, since the Police Department is concerned with the traffic and safety hazards associated with contacts with persons travelling in vehicles, the ordinance in its current form has been insufficient to regulate that practice, as it does not specifically address it. The proposed changes rectify these legal problems and facilitate enforcement. Finally, staff is recommending the inclusion of "solicitation for money" in the definition of "solicitation" in the ordinance, because the problems associated with that practice are identical to those associated with solicitation for work. Due to serious ongoing safety hazards generated by vehicle addressed solicitation, including but not limited to traffic accidents and injuries, the Police Department is requesting that this amended ordinance be adopted as an emergency ordinance so as to go into effect immediately. Environmental Status: N/A Attachment(s): City Clerk's Page Number No. Description 1. Emergency Ordinance No. 3951 2. Le•islative Draft of HBMC 9.88 RCA Author: S. Lazarus ext 5555 amend 9-88 -2- 01/05/00 3:41 PM ATTACHMENT # 1 _ - l EMERGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 3451 AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AMENDING CHAPTER 9.88 OF THE HUNTINGTON BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT SOLICITATION The City Council of the City of Huntington Beach does hereby ordain as follows: SECTION 1. Section 9.88.020 of the Huntington Beach Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 9.88.020 Definitions. (a) "Employment" shall mean any offer or exchange or consideration for labor, industry or other personal services, including part-time or temporary services, for wages or other compensation. . (b) "Nonresidential parking area" means all private property comprising the parking area adjoining nonresidential premises, i.e., commercial strip malls and shopping centers, including but not limited to driveways, setbacks and portions that are landscaped. (c) "Solicit or hire" means any request, offer, announcement, enticement or other action or gesture which induces another person to reasonably believe that his or her services are being sought or are being made available for hire, whether or not an actual employment relationship is created. A solicitation as defined herein shall be deemed completed when made whether or not an actual employment relationship is created. Solicitation shall also include solicitation for contributions of money or gifts. (d) "Street or highway" means all of the area dedicated to public use for public street purposes and shall include,but not be limited to, roadways, parkways, medians, alleys, curbs and other public rights-of-way. (e) "Vehicle" means a vehicle as defined in California Vehicle Code §670 as the same now reads or may hereafter be amended. SECTION 2. Section 9.88.030 of the Huntington Beach Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 9.88.030 Solicitation of and for Employment on Street or Highway Prohibited. (a) It is unlawful for any person to engage in the solicitation of employment and for employees on any street or highway. • (b) It is unlawful for any person, while standing in any portion of the streets, highways or on a public sidewalk,to solicit or attempt to solicit, from any person travelling in a vehicle along a public right-of-way, including,but not limited to public streets, highways or driveways. 1 7/k/ordinance2000/mc9-88/01/05/00 �rgency Ordinance No. 3451 (c) It shall be unlawful for any person, while the occupant of any vehicle, to solicit, or attempt to solicit, from a person who is in the public streets, highways, sidewalks, or driveways. SECTION 3. The City Council declares that this emergency ordinance is required for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety. Therefore, pursuant to Section 501 of the City Charter, this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its affirmance by at least five of the members of the City Council. SECTION 4. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach at a regular meeting thereof held on the 18th day of January , 2000. CO5tA-42 Mayor ATTEST: " L - !!�i"' APPROVED S TO O . City Clerk _s City Attorney s,d� REVIEWED AND APPROVED: 1 INIT D AND APP V D: c City Ainistrator Police Chief 2 7/k/ordinance2000/mc9-88/0 1/05/00 Emergency Ord. No. 3451 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss: CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH ) I, CONNIE BROCKWAY, the duly elected, qualified City Clerk of the City of Huntington Beach, and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of said City, do hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach is seven; that the foregoing ordinance was read to said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the 18th day of January, 2000, and was passed and adopted by at least four-fifths (4/5) affirmative vote of said City Council. AYES: Julien, Sullivan, Harman, Garofalo, Green, Dettloff, Bauer NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None I,Connie Brockway CITY CLERK of the City of Huntington Beach and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council, do hereby certify that a synopsis of this ordinance has been gottge102fir published in the Independent on ��,19 • In accordance with the City Charter of said City City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk Connie Brockway City Clerk of the City Council of the City Deputy City Clerk of Huntington Beach, California G/ordinanc/ordbkpg 1/19/00 ATTACHMENT #2 Emergency Ordinance No. LEGISLATIVE DRAFT Chapter 9.88 EMPLOYMENT SOLICITATION (3382-9/98) Sections: 9.88.010 Purpose of Chapter 9.88.020 Definitions 9.88.030 Solicitation of and for Employment on Public Street or Highway Prohibited 9.88.040 Solicitation Prohibited in Nonresidential Parking Areas 9.88.050 Validity 9.88.060 Enforcement 9.88.010 Purpose of Chapter. The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the time,place and manner of the solicitation of and for employment on streets and highways,public areas and nonresidential parking areas. These regulations are not intended to restrict the right of free speech or alternative channels of communications,but to ensure the protection of the public health, safety and general welfare. (3382-9/98) 9.88.020 Definitions. (a) "Employment" shall mean any offer or exchange or consideration for labor, industry or other personal services, including part-time or temporary services, for wages or other compensation. (3382-9/98) (b) "Nonresidential parking area" means all private property comprising the parking area adjoining nonresidential premises, i.e., commercial strip malls and shopping centers, including but not limited to driveways, setbacks and portions that are landscaped. (3382- 9/98) (c) "Solicit or hire"means any request, offer, announcement, enticement or other action or gesture which induces another person to reasonably believe that his or her services are being sought or are being made available for hire,whether or not an actual employment relationship is created. (3382-9/98) A solicitation as defined herein shall be deemed completed when made whether or not an actual employment relationship is created. (3382-9/98) Solicitation shall also include solicitation for contributions of money or gifts. (d) "Street or highway" means all of the area dedicated to public use for public street purposes and shall include,but not be limited to,roadways,parkways,medians, alleys,mil,curbs and other public rights-of-way. (3382/98) (e) "Vehicle" means a vehicle as defined in California Vehicle Code §670 as the same now reads or may hereafter be amended. (3382-9/98) 1 legisdrft/mc0988/01/05/00 9.88.030 Solicitation of and for Employment on Street or Highway Prohibited. (a) It is unlawful for any person to engage in the solicitation of employment and for employees on any street or highway. (3382-9/98) (b) It shall be unlawful for any person, while standing in any portion of the streets, highways or on a public sidewalk, to solicit, or attempt to solicit, from any person travelling in a vehicle along a public right-of-way, including, but not limited to public streets, highways or driveways. (c) It shall be unlawful for any person, while the occupant of any vehicle, to solicit, or attempt to solicit, from a person who is in the public streets, highways, sidewalks, or driveways. 9.88.040 Solicitation Prohibited in Nonresidential Parking Areas. (a) It is unlawful for persons to solicit or offer employment within 25 feet of any parking lot or driveway open to the public. This section shall not be construed so as to prohibit a business establishment or property owner from soliciting or hiring employees at or on his or her premises. For the purpose of this section, vehicles and other similar types of mobile locations shall not be considered a business establishment or premises. (3382-9/98) (b) This section shall not be operative unless the owner, the owner's agent or the person in lawful possession of the nonresidential parking area has caused a notice to be posted in a conspicuous place at each entrance to such nonresidential parking area not less than eighteen by twenty-four inches in size with lettering not less than one inch in height and not to exceed in total area six square feet. The content of such notice shall be in substantially the following form, in both the English and Spanish languages: (3382-9/98) It is a misdemeanor to solicit or offer employment at this location unless the employment will be on these premises. (H.B.M.C. §9.88.040) 9.88.050 Validity. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause,phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council of the City of Huntington Beach hereby declares that it would have adopted this ordinance and these sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases or portions thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses,phrases or portions are declared invalid or unconstitutional. (3382-9/98) 9.88.060 Enforcement. Enforcement of this section maybe accomplished by: (a) the owner, the owner's agent, or the person in lawful possession of the business premises, under the provisions of California Penal Code §847 (Arrest by Private Person); or (3382-9/98) (b) a peace officer of the Huntington Beach Police Department; or (3382-9/98) (c) a code enforcement officer of the City of Huntington Beach; or (3382-9/98) 2 legisdrft/mc0988/01/05/00 (c) a code enforcement officer of the City of Huntington Beach; or (3382-9/98) (d) the filing of a criminal or civil complaint by the City Attorney. (3382-9/98) 3 legisdrft/mc0988/01/05/00