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Council introduces ordinance to restrict soliciting from vehicles and medians amid downtown safety concerns
Summary
City Attorney presented an ordinance amending Klamath Falls City Code Section 6.16 to regulate standing and soliciting in roadways and medians; council approved the first reading and staff said enforcement would rely on signage and existing permits and would not restrict lawful sidewalk protests.
Klamath Falls — The City Council on July 21 introduced for first reading an ordinance that would amend City Code Section 6.16 to address people standing or transacting business in medians and other public ways.
City Attorney Mike Swanson described the measure as adapted from a similar rule in Medford and said it was prompted by an uptick in people standing on medians interacting with motorists, creating safety concerns. "It creates some safety concerns," Swanson said, explaining the draft language expands the existing prohibition against parking or standing a vehicle in a manner that constitutes a hazard to public safety.
Under staff language, the ordinance targets the handing of items to and from motor vehicles and would apply to streets, sidewalks and other public rights‑of‑way. Swanson emphasized exceptions would remain for lawful parking, permitted activities under OAR 734‑058 and other activities that do not interfere with traffic.
Council questions focused on enforcement and scope. Swanson said the city would rely partly on posted signage and on existing permit processes to allow lawful charitable or organized activities. He said protests on sidewalks would remain lawful unless the activity involved soliciting funds or otherwise interfering with traffic. "So the protests, as long as they're not interfering with traffic ... the right of way, it's fine on the sidewalks," Swanson said.
The council opened and then closed the public hearing on the item with no public testimony. Council voted to introduce the ordinance by title only on first reading.
Nut graf: The change is procedural — an amendment to existing city code meant to reduce hazards created when people gather in medians or interact with passing motorists. Staff said enforcement would include posting signs and relying on established permitting rules; council did not adopt final ordinance language at the meeting.
Ending: The ordinance was introduced for first reading; additional public hearings or a second reading will be required before it becomes law.
