Report Prepared by: Ellie Hamm, Intern, Planning Department and Scott McBride, Director of Development Services
Title
SUBJECT: Review and Discuss a Potential Ordinance Amendment to Chapter 8.30 Regulations of Shopping Carts
REPORT IN BRIEF
Review and discuss potential ordinance amendment to Chapter 8.30 of the City of Merced Municipal Code - Regulations of Shopping Carts.
RECOMMENDATION
Information only and possible Staff direction on revisions and/or next steps.
Body
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Quality of Life and City Policies - E. Update the City's Shopping Cart Ordinance.
DISCUSSION
One of the Council's goals and priorities for 2023-2024 is to "update the City's Shopping Cart Ordinance" (Quality of Life and City Policies E.). The city's municipal code currently has a Chapter - 8.30 under Title A - Health and Safety which relates to the regulation of shopping carts. As part of the City Council Goals and Priorities an update to this chapter was discussed.
The City Council previously discussed updates to the ordinance on October 18, 2021, as a Council Business Item. During that meeting Council Member Echevarria discussed the need to update the ordinance due to the number of abandoned carts located all over the community. The council supported this action, and a subcommittee was arranged including Council Member Echevarria and Mayor Serratto with the intent of outreach to local retailers and to return with findings.
A draft ordinance was prepared by the City Attorney's office and is attached for review along with the current ordinance - chapter which is in effect. This version has not been reviewed by the council and is being presented now for discussion and feedback.
The intent of the ordinance is to protect against health and safety issues which may occur when shopping carts are abandoned. They may interfere with pedestrian and vehicular traffic to create a public nuisance. An accumulation of abandoned shopping carts may also lead to other issues...
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