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The information below summarizes the six new ordinances that the Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD) will be able to start enforcing effective May 22, 2015. We want our businesses and their employees to be aware of these new laws that were adopted two weeks ago by the Santa Barbara City Council, so that they can call the Police when enforcement is needed.
These ordinances reflect our city's expectations for public standards of behavior, and apply equally to everyone.
Six ordinance sections were passed:
1. Gives the Library Director authority to "promulgate and post facility specific regulations." This is meant to include the library building and its adjoining plaza. The intent is for the library to present a clean, orderly and inviting location for children, seniors and all citizens who frequent the library and enjoy its outdoor environs.
2. Prohibits urinating or defecating in public. This gives our SBPD a more practical and effective means of enforcing this public nuisance.
3. Prohibiting the use of public street furniture as a venue for "selling or offering for donation." This section targets the "pop-up" sales that utilize the public assets that would otherwise be available for sitting and enjoying the State Street environs. There are exceptions, such as the sale of newspapers, etc., and other sales events which have been legally permitted, e.g. Farmer's Market, Sidewalk Cafe Tables, etc. A retailer may conduct periodic sidewalk sales, subject to specific restrictions, and some nonprofit sidewalk sales may occur, once again with specific restrictions. This section should provide relief for some chronically affected locations that experience unlicensed "merchants" and illegal vending on our sidewalks.
4. Panhandling. Abusive and unwanted behavior vs. constitutionally allowed free speech. Abusive Panhandling is forbidden. The Council finds that certain areas merit restrictions on Active Panhandling. These areas are generally defined as circumstances limiting a person's ability to avoid the onslaught of someone actively panhandling: bus stops; vehicle on a public street; City parking lots; within 25 feet of an outdoor dining area; within 50 feet of an ATM; ticket queue; on public transit. In addition, public furniture used for active panhandling is restricted on State Street from the 400 block to the 1200 block; on Milpas from the 00 block to the 200 block; and on Cabrillo Boulevard between Castillo and Milpas.
5. Sit/Lie restrictions are expanded to 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM on State Street from Cabrillo Boulevard to the 1300 block. Some specifics apply, but it restricts blocking the sidewalk for safety reasons. It also needs to be limited in scope to allow for adequate areas to sit or lie in public.
6. Street or Sidewalk Obstruction. Pertains to assembly with the intent of obstructing the free passage of pedestrians.
Please share this information with your employees and make them aware that these new laws
become effective and can be enforced by the Police beginning May 22nd.
Thank you,
Maggie Campbell
Executive Director,
Downtown Santa Barbara
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