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Council gives first reading to abandoned shopping cart ordinance to address litter and right-of-way hazards
Summary
The City Council gave first reading on May 29 to a text amendment to Chapter 18 (nuisances) to establish an abandoned shopping cart ordinance, including a retrieval plan and a fine schedule; councilmembers discussed why the item was added to the agenda before the stakeholder-response deadline.
The Stonecrest City Council on May 29 gave first reading to an ordinance amending Chapter 18 of the city code to establish an abandoned shopping cart ordinance that would create a retrieval plan and a penalty schedule for shopping carts found in city right of way or public property.
Council members said the ordinance responds to concern about shopping carts left on streets and rights of way. The councilor who led the item said director-level staff had engaged area businesses for feedback ahead of the ordinance, and the text was presented for first reading so the city could continue the adoption process. City staff and the council clarified that the amendment is a text change to Chapter 18 (nuisances), not a zoning text amendment, and therefore it does not require the city’s planning commission review that applies to chapter-27 zoning amendments.
Several council members asked that the record show a reason for adding the item to the meeting agenda the same day it was discussed; the city attorney confirmed that the Open Meetings Act permits walk-on items but requires an articulated reason on the record. The mayor pro tem stated the rationale as addressing litter, blight and carts left in rights of way.
The ordinance received a formal first reading; no final vote on adoption occurred. Staff said the next reading will be scheduled for a future meeting, at which time the council could adopt or modify the ordinance after taking additional input.
