[MissoulaGov] committee update 8/26/09

[kjerrim at missoula.com]

I am wondering whether Missoula is liberal at all given the recent  
discussion at council regarding soliciting in certain places and the  
subsequent vote to pass the  Aggressive Panhandling Ordinance.  Since  
not all of the ordinance pertains to aggressive panhandling it is  
problematic. The discussion at council could have yielded a better end  
document had discussion continued, however Mr Wilkins you repeatedly  
called the question and ended debate. Its just too bad that the word  
aggressive could not have been added in front of the soliciting in  
certain places section or portions of that section that are too broad  
removed altogether. Now we have an ordinance with overly broad  
language that if applied uniformly makes many many activities open to  
a fine. If not applied uniformly it has the potential to be  
discriminatory. I hope that as discussion continues on the change to  
the pedestrian interference ordinance, that level heads will prevail  
and not make sitting or laying on the side walk illegal except in  
cases where it obstructs passage. No matter how unpleasant it might be  
to encounter this in downtown, it is not a good idea to pass an  
ordinance with too broad of language that might impact all  
Missoulians.  Kate Ybarra