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3848ORDINANCE NO. 3848 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SANFORD, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR THE LICENSING OF SOLICITORS; PROVIDING FOR LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT; PROVIDING FOR THE REQUIREMENT OF LICENSES, APPLICATIONS, TERMS AND TRANSFERS; PROVIDING FOR LICENSE SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION; PROVIDING FOR PROHIBITED ACTS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABIUTY; PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the citizens of the City of Sanford desire to maintain a peaceful and tranquil home life and to enjoy their homes free from disruptions and interference; and WHEREAS, in addition to other essential rights of citizenship, the right of privacy is a right that is becoming more important and more respected in contemporary society; and WHEREAS, under the current environment of our nation and with the threat of criminal activity, to include, but not be limited to, scams and consumer crimes and abuses upon senior citizens, it serves an important public interest to protect the sanctity and security of the personal residences of the citizens; and WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Sanford has consistently acted in order to protect the integrity of residential areas, home place, and commercial areas and structures such as by means of the enactment of Ordinance Number 3846; and WHEREAS, the Chief of Police, Brian Tooley, has testified before the City Commission of the City of Sanford and stated that the provisions of this Ordinance are Page 1 Ordinance Number 3848 reasonable and necessary to protect residents of the City of Sanford and the welfare of the public; and WHEREAS, instituting a reasonable system of licensing relating to solicitors serves a valid and legitimate public purpose and benefits the public health, safety and welfare; and WHEREAS, it is the goal and desire of the City Commission of the City of Sanford to maintain and ensure the continuation of the high quality of life of citizens of the City of Sanford; and WHEREAS, the City Commission has concluded that the enactment of this Ordinance represents the least restrictive alternative to address the public concern and public issues addressed by this Ordinance. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF SANFORD, FLORIDA: SECTION 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS/INTENT. (a) The above recitals set forth in the whereas clauses of this Ordinance are adopted by the City Commission as legislative findings. (b) This Ordinance shall be applied in harmony with the provisions of Ordinance Number 3846 relating to panhandling and the enactment of Ordinance Number 3847 relating to solicitations occurring along rights-of-way. ~ ~. The following words and phrases shall have the meanings as hereinafter defined when used in this Ordinance: (a) Peddler or hawker means any person who does not have a regular fixed Page 2 Ordinance Number 3848 place of business within the City and who engages in the business of selling or offering to sell goods or services by going from place to place within the City. This definition includes persons engaging in vehicular mobile sales such as ice cream trucks or vans. (b) Personmeans a natural person or any firm, corporation, association, club, society or other organization. (c) Solicitormeans any person who, not having been invited by the occupant, solicits contributions from the public from door to door or place-to-place and any person who solicits the purchase of any type of goods, wares, merchandise or proper[y, of any nature, by going from door-to-door or place to place within the City to include, but not be limited to, any person who offers for sale subscriptions to magazines or other materials protected by provisions of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. The term "solicitor~' is synonymous with and, includes hawkers and peddlers. This definition also includes any person or entity who solicits orders and as a separate transaction makes deliveries to purchasers as par[ of the scheme to evade the provisions of this Ordinance. SECTION 3. LICENSE REQUIRED: APPLICATION: ISSUANCE: TERM. (a) Except as hereinafter provided, all solicitors desiring to sell or offer for sale any goods, wares, merchandise or proper[y, door-to-door or place-to-place in the City of Sanford shall first obtain a license therefor, to be issued by the City Manager, or designee, and to that end shall make application to such City Manager, or designee, for such license. (b) Upon the recommendation or approval of the Chief of Police, in writing, the City Manager, or designee, may issue a license to such person, firm or corporation to act Page 3 Ordinance Number 3848 as a solicitor thereby authorizing them to sell or offer for sale any goods, wares, merchandise or property within the City for a period of up to twelve (12) months from the date of the issuance of such license. Such licenses may be issued subject to conditions imposed by the City Manager, or designee. (c) An administrative processing fee for a solicitor's license shall be established by resolution of the City Commission and said administrative processing fee shall be paid when the application is filed with the City Manager, or designee. (d) The City Manager shall waive the administrative processing fee for bona fide charitable organizations which are located within the City Limits. SECTION 4, RESTRICTIONS AS TO CERTAIN ACTIVITIES. (a) No solicitor engaging in vehicular mobile sales selling or distributing any food items or any other items shall park or stop his or her vehicle for the purpose of making a sale of such items in an area which is closer than three hundred feet (300') to a school building between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on days which school is in session, as measured from the closest point of the property upon which the building is located to the location on which the vehicle is parked. (b) Any solicitor engaging in vehicular mobile sales parking in any permissible area within the City must comply with all State and local law relating the regulation of traffic or right-of-way including, but not limited to, stopping with the right wheels to the curb, and shall only be allowed to park for that amount of time which it takes to serve a customer. (c) No solicitor engaging in vehicular mobile sales selling or distributing any prepared foodstuffs such as, but not limited to, hot dogs and hamburgers, shall park or Page 4 Ordinance Number 3848 stop his or her vehicle for the purpose of preparing and selling such foodstuffs to a customer in any area other than that area so designated as their authorized sales area under a license issued pursuant to this Ordinance. (d) It is unlawful to sell, or offer for sale, goods, wares, or merchandise in violation of this Section. SECTION 5. TRANSFER OF LICENSE. No license issued under this Ordinance shall authorize any person, firm or corporation other than the one (1) named therein to act thereunder. Licenses are not transferable. SECTION 6. FAILURE TO EXHIBIT LICENSE AND IDENTIFICATION. It is unlawful for any person licensed under this Ordinance to fail, upon proper demand of any law enforcement off3cer, to display or exhibit to such officer his or her license and personal identification. SECTION 7. EXEMPTION/CLAIM OF EXEMPTION, (a) Nothing herein contained shall apply to milkmen, vendors of bona fide newspapers, to bona Ate elementary, middle or high school groups engaged in fundraising or to charitable organizations with bona fide physical headquarters located in the City. (b) Any person claiming to be legally exempt from the regulations set forth in this Ordinance, or from the payment of a permit fee, shall cite to the City Manager the statute or other legal authority under which exemption is claimed and shall present to the City Manager proof of qualification for such exemption. SECTION 8, PROHIBITED ACTS. (a) In addition to the unlawful acts otherwise enumerated in this Ordinance, the Page 5 Ordinance Number 3848 acts set forth in this Section are unlawful. (b) It is unlawful for any solicitor to ring the bell, or knock on the door, or otherwise attempt to gain admittance of a business or residence for the purpose of peddling or soliciting at any residence, dwelling or apartment at which a sign bearing the words "No Peddler or Solicitors," or words of similar import indicating that such persons are not wanted on said premises, is painted, affixed or otherwise exposed to public view. (c) It is unlawful for any solicitor to fail to disclose to the prospective buyer, upon request, the name of the company, product or organization that he or she represents, and, if requested so to do, to leave the premises immediately. (d) It is unlawful for any solicitor to conduct door-to-door sales, promotions or solicitations at any residence between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. (e) It is unlawful for a solicitor to threaten or harass any person in the course of their solicitation or in any way engage in any conduct which is or would tend to create a nuisance. SECTION 9. LICENSE SUSPENSION. (a) A license may be suspended by the City Manager for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days upon his or her own investigation or upon certification by the Chief of Police, or designee, that: (1) A licensee has provided false information on an application; or (2) A licensee has engaged in conduct in violation of this Ordinance or of the criminal laws of the State of Florida of the United States. (b) A licensee shall be given written notice of the cause and terms of the Page 6 Ordinance Number 3848 Attest: · ~'anet R. Dougherty, ~ity Cler~ CERTIFICATE I, Janet R. Dougherty, City Clerk of the City of Sanford, Florida, do hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Ordinance No. 3848, PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, on the 22nd day of March, 20~0~tTwas posted at the front door of the City Hall in the City of Sanford, Florida, on the:.~2,~~-d~ day of March, 2004. J~et R. Dougherty, Cid Clerk Page 9 Ordinance Number 3848 acts set forth in this Section are unlawful. (b) It is unlawful for any solicitor to ring the bell, or knock on the door, or otherwise attempt to gain admittance of a business or residence for the purpose of peddling or soliciting at any residence, dwelling or apartment at which a sign bearing the words "No Peddler or Solicitors," or words of similar import indicating that such persons are not wanted on said premises, is painted, affixed or otherwise exposed to public view. (c) It is unlawful for any solicitor to fail to disclose to the prospective buyer, upon request, the name of the company, product or organization that he or she represents, and, if requested so to do, to leave the premises immediately. (d) It is unlawful for any solicitor to conduct door-to-door sales, promotions or solicitations at any residence between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. (e) It is unlawful for a solicitor to threaten or harass any person in the course of their solicitation or in any way engage in any conduct which is or would tend to create a nuisance. SECTION 9. LICENSE SUSPENSION, (a) A license may be suspended by the City Manager for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days upon his or her own investigation or upon certification by the Chief of Police, or designee, that: (1) A licensee has provided false information on an application; or (2) A licensee has engaged in conduct in violation of this Ordinance or of the criminal laws of the State of Florida of the United States. (b) A licensee shall be given written notice of the cause and terms of the Page 6 Ordinance Number 3848 suspension and of the right to have such suspension reversed, modified or affirmed following a hearing to be conducted by the City Commission. At the hearing, the licensee shall have the right to hear the evidence relied upon by the City Manager and the right to present evidence and witnesses on his or her behalf. After the hearing, the City Commission shall issue a decision in writing. SECTION 10, LICENSE REVOCATION. (a) A license may be revoked by the City Commission upon request of the City Manager after a hearing at which it is shown that: (1) A licensee has provided false information on an application; or (2) A licensee has violated the terms of a suspension; or (3) A licensee has engaged in conduct in violation of this Ordinance or of the criminal laws of the State of Florida of the United States. (b) Reasonable written notice of the hearing shall be given to the licensee. The written notice shall be mailed by regular mail to the license holder and shall set forth the alleged violation and also the date, time and place of the hearing before the City Commission. At the hearing, the license holder shall have the right to present evidence and witnesses on his, her or its behalf. After the hearing, the City Commission shall make its decision as to whether to suspend or revoke the license and, after the hearing, shall reduce its decision and the reasons therefor in writing. SECTION 11. PENALTIES Any person violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be punished to the maximum extent as provided in State law. Upon finding that a solicitor or the solicitor's organization is violating any provision of this Ordinance, Page 7 Ordinance Number 3848 a police officer or other designated official shall issue a warning to cease the solicitation. Continuation of the prohibited solicitation will subject the solicitor(s) to arrest or any other enforcement action and penalty as provided in law. The City may engage in any other code enforcement activities and processes, as it deems appropriate under the circumstances. SECTION 12. CONFLICTS. All ordinances or part of ordinances in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed; provided, however, that Ordinance Number 3846 and Ordinance Number 3847 shall be applied, codified and implemented, in conjunction with this Ordinance. SECTION 13. SEVERABILITY. If any section, sentence, phrase, word, or portion of this Ordinance is determined to be invalid, unlawful or unconstitutional, said determination shall not be held to invalidate or impair the validity, force or effect of any other section, sentence, phrase, word or portion of this Ordinance not otherwise determined to be invalid, unlawful or unconstitutional. SECTION 14. ~. This Ordinance shall be codified in the City Code ofthe City of Sanford except that Sections 12, 13, 14 and 15 shall not be codified. SECTION 15. EFFECTIVE DATF. This Ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its passage and adoption. PASSED and ADOPTED this 22nd day of March, 2004. Cit..~_j~ommission of the~.~ of ~y~C rot~ Page 8 Ordinance Number 3848 Attest: ~anet R. Dougherty, ~ity Cler~ CERTIFICATE I, Janet R. Dougherty, City Clerk of the City of Sanford, Florida, do hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Ordinance No. 3848, PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, on the 22nd day of March, 20?~l~tTWas posted at the front door of the City Hall in the City of Sanford, Florida, on the.~2 .~-~ day of March, 2004. Janet R. Dougherty, Ci(~ Clerk Page 9 Ordinance Number 3848