News Story

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Beth Herendeen, Marketing

(727) 893-7465

CITY PASSES NEW ORDINANCES TO CLEAN-UP RIGHT-OF-WAY

St. Petersburg, Fla. (January 25, 2008) – In an effort to protect the public health and safety, City Council passed Thursday two ordinances to help alleviate homeless encampments that have expanded on city sidewalks. Both of these ordinances go into effect Feb. 1, and city officials will be educating the public on the two new ordinances in the coming days.

New ordinance, Section 20-82 of the City Code, prohibits sleeping, lying or reclining on rights-of-way during daylight hours in an area of downtown (Fifth Ave. N. to Fifth Ave. S. between the waterfront and 16th St.) and the Grand Central District (First Ave. N. to First Ave. S. between 16th St. and 31st St.).

The other ordinance, an amendment to Chapter 8-321 of the City Code, allows the city to remove property on the public right-of-way, citywide. Property left on the right-of-way will be cited and removed after a 36-hour period (unless it poses an immediate health and safety threat; then it may be removed immediately). The city has made arrangements to store property for a period of 30 days. Materials removed for health and safety reasons will be stored for seven days. If unclaimed, property will be disposed of after the allotted time frame. The city has worked with St. Vincent de Paul to provide voluntary storage at its facility at 401 15th St. N.

Employees from the city’s Codes, Police and Social Services Departments will educate the public in the coming days before enforcement begins. These two new ordinances, combined with a “no panhandling zone” ordinance passed Jan. 10, have been created to ensure the public’s health, safety and welfare while also protecting the rights of homeless individuals.

NOTE TO MEDIA: The media is invited to join city teams as they educate the public. To schedule a time, please contact Beth Herendeen at 727-893-7465.

-end-