Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Prairie Grove advances door-to-door solicitor rules; council keeps 14-day permit and $40 fee
Summary
After public comment from an independent candidate asking for petition-collector exemptions, council amended and advanced a door-to-door solicitation ordinance that would require a $40 initial permit, $5 re-up within the year, a $10 per-additional-person surcharge and a 14‑day permit window; politicians and nonprofits were described as exempt.
The Prairie Grove City Council continued deliberation on a revised door-to-door solicitation ordinance on July 20 after a public comment urging exemptions for petition canvassers. Laura Marsh, a local independent candidate who spoke during public comment, asked the council to "consider exempting people that are collecting signatures for petitions from that fee," saying volunteers and small campaigns can be priced out by permit costs.
City staff described the proposed compromise: a $40 initial permit, $5 to re-up within the calendar year if a solicitor returns, $10 for each additional person listed on a permit, and a 14-day permit period to make the program trackable without imposing a year-long burden. Staff and the city attorney indicated politicians and nonprofits would be exempt from the fee; council voted to amend and advance the ordinance to second reading. The ordinance would also require solicitors to display a city-issued badge showing business name, individual name and the permit dates; noncompliance could lead to revocation or fines under city code.
