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Council directs staff to draft ordinance limiting solicitation near schools, with safety as primary rationale
Summary
Citing student safety and repeated complaints about campaign activity near school drop‑off zones, a councilmember asked staff to bring back a draft ordinance regulating solicitation and electioneering on city property adjacent to school and select park areas during pick‑up and drop‑off hours.
Councilmember Rodriguez asked staff to draft an ordinance that would limit solicitation and electioneering on city property adjacent to school campuses and parks during drop‑off and pick‑up windows, citing repeated incidents in which campaigners walked in traffic and created safety hazards. Rodriguez framed the proposal as a safety measure rather than a restriction on free speech, saying his experience as a school‑board member informed his concern for children’s safety during busy arrival and dismissal periods.
Legal staff told council there is precedent for a 100‑foot setback around polling places and that the city may, pursuant to its police power, regulate solicitation on city property for health and safety reasons. The city attorney’s office and staff agreed to prepare a draft ordinance and a map of proposed buffer zones for a future council meeting. Several councilmembers emphasized that enforcement should be narrowly tailored to safety‑critical periods and locations, not a general bar on lawful campaign activity.
Council gave direction to staff to return with a proposed ordinance, maps of affected areas, and recommended hours tied to drop‑off/pick‑up windows so the council can consider precise boundaries and enforcement mechanisms.
