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Resident urges repeal of '708.7,' says it infringes on free speech
Summary
Shirley McDermott told the council she wants the cited '708.7' provision rescinded, arguing it violates First Amendment protections and improperly characterizes speech as harassment; staff clarified the citation refers to state law, not a city ordinance.
Shirley McDermott, a resident who requested an agenda slot, told the council she wanted ‘‘ordinance 708.7’’ rescinded because, she said, it violates the First Amendment and labels citizens' speech as harassment. McDermott framed her petition as a constitutional issue and said the city should respect broad free-speech rights: "I am here to make a simple request that is related to that, and that is that you rescind ordinance 7 0 8.7 of the cascade ordinances because the 1st amendment right guarantees our right to free speech."
City staff responded that the citation McDermott referenced is a state code provision, not a city ordinance, and therefore outside the council's authority to change. A staff member told McDermott: "7 0 8.7 is a state code. It's not a city ordinance, so there's nothing we can do about it." The chair and staff recommended the distinction be noted and suggested legal avenues other than council ordinance revision for addressing state law concerns.
