Last fall, the Iowa City City Council approved new regulation that were supposed to curb panhandling. The city was getting a lot of complaints about aggressive panhandling on the Iowa City Ped Mall last spring and summer. There was increased frequency of fighting and signs of overt drug use by local transients. Additionally, some guys were hanging out on the Ped Mall all day with shopping carts and electronics, which impeded the flow of foot traffic.
The City Council finally passed an ordinance last September, which banned the following behaviors:
So the Iowa City City Council asked city staff to explore storage options for people and families who lack permanent housing. City staff reached out to 36 different faith-based and nonprofit organizations in January to see if they could develop some sort of storage program for the community's homeless population. The city was even willing to help out financially.
Only one of those organizations -- Trinity Episcopal Church -- expressed any interest for this idea. However, they were unable to come up with enough space to securely contain and protect stored items. The city also looked at installing large lockers in one of the downtown parking ramps, but also decided that they didn't have the staff to oversee this project.
So the idea has been scrapped -- for now.
The City Council finally passed an ordinance last September, which banned the following behaviors:
* People will be banned from sleeping on planters or benches. Additionally, people will be banned from lying down on benches except for between 10:00 PM -- 5:00 AM.However, this new ordinance created a problem for those in Iowa City who are homeless and who don't have anywhere to store their stuff during the daytime. Most of the time, they cannot keep their belongings at the Shelter House. There is really nowhere else that they can store their stuff.
* People will be banned from storing large items, such as shopping carts, on the Ped Mall for more than two hours. There will be an exception made for strollers, walkers, and other items needed for special events (such as the Friday Night Concerts).
* People will be banned from plugging electrical items, such as radios and televisions, into public outlets unless they have special permission from Iowa City.
* People will be banned from panhandling near parking meters and at all of the street entrances to the Ped Mall...
People caught violating this revised ordinance will have to pay a $65 fine, though they may be allowed to perform acts of community service if they cannot afford the fine.
So the Iowa City City Council asked city staff to explore storage options for people and families who lack permanent housing. City staff reached out to 36 different faith-based and nonprofit organizations in January to see if they could develop some sort of storage program for the community's homeless population. The city was even willing to help out financially.
Only one of those organizations -- Trinity Episcopal Church -- expressed any interest for this idea. However, they were unable to come up with enough space to securely contain and protect stored items. The city also looked at installing large lockers in one of the downtown parking ramps, but also decided that they didn't have the staff to oversee this project.
So the idea has been scrapped -- for now.