Gardner council adopts updated soliciting ordinance; sets Nov. 1 effective date for permit section

The Gardner City Council approved Ordinance 2850 on a unanimous vote, amending Chapter 5.05.0.01 of the Gardner Municipal Code to add a required permit process for soliciting, hawkers, peddling and canvassing and to place fee-setting authority with the city administrator. The council set Nov. 1 as the effective date for the ordinance’s new permit section and discussed implementation details including photo ID badges and a vinyl “no soliciting” sticker program.

The measure changes the city’s existing soliciting rules by reintroducing a formal permit with an identification credential and giving the city administrator authority to set and publish permit fees. A staff presenter told the council the draft keeps soliciting hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and offers two badge options: a lower-cost business-card style permit or a printed photo badge that includes a picture and is more difficult to counterfeit.

Why the ordinance matters: the change affects door-to-door solicitors and residents who want a clear, enforceable way to identify permitted solicitors and to signal “no soliciting” at their homes. The council discussed fees, badge durability, processing time and whether permits should run daily, quarterly or annually.

During discussion, Councilman Weeden said charging a permit fee to offset the upfront cost for printed badges would be appropriate. “I think that’ll would be the best way to go,” he said, adding that photo badges provide “an additional layer of confidence for the folks that are out there at the door.” A staff member explained the city previously issued handwritten, business-card style permits and that a new badge printer would allow photo badges to be produced on site.

Council members debated fee levels and permit durations. The transcript shows prior fee levels were $5 for a day permit or $25 for a year; councilors discussed options including a $10 daily permit, $25 for 90 days, a $50 option and examples from other cities (Leavenworth’s $150 permit with a two-week background-check waiting period; Manhattan’s $250 fee). Council members expressed concern that year-long badges could remain valid after an employee leaves an employer and that the city does not currently require soliciting firms to notify the issuer when an employee departs. One councilor said a three-month permit could align better with seasonal solicitation patterns.

Implementation logistics discussed included: the badge issuance process would typically take “30 minutes max,” initial printer and badge setup costs were estimated by a council member at about $2,500 (said to cover the first roughly 200 ID cards), and staff suggested starting a vinyl sticker order of about 500 to distribute at city service windows. Council members preferred vinyl bumper-style stickers designed to be placed on or next to doors; staff noted stickers would be available at the police department and the utility window.

Council members also discussed not putting the new requirement into effect until the city has the equipment and operational procedures in place. A council member suggested a window for implementation of about 45 days; the council set Nov. 1 as the effective date for the new permit section in the ordinance’s implementation language.

The council voted to approve the ordinance (Ordinance 2850). Roll-call-style responses recorded in the meeting transcript show affirmative votes from Council member Schoo, Council member Paul Quinn, Council member Dean, Council member Boogie and Councilman Weeden. The ordinance amends the municipal code provision relating to soliciting, hawkers, peddling and canvassing and directs the city administrator to finalize fee amounts and administrative details.

Council discussion made clear the city will not adopt a citywide mandatory background-check program as part of this ordinance; several members said more extensive background checks, where used by other cities, involve waiting periods and higher fees. Staff said the ordinance language moves fee administration to policy so the city administrator can adjust fees to reflect actual program cost in compliance with Kansas law. The council also directed that printed materials distributed to solicitors and sticker text include the city’s rules and hours.

Next steps: staff will proceed with procurement of badge-printing equipment, finalize administrative fees and begin distribution of vinyl “no soliciting” stickers as supplies are ordered. The ordinance’s new permit section is set to take effect Nov. 1; the remainder of any ordinance changes will be implemented as described in the municipal code and by city-administrator policy.

Ordinance number: 2850.