Leon County Commission to hold only public hearing for ordinance banning 'soliciting'

Leon County commissioners Tuesday will consider a proposed ordinance targeting "solicitation" on private property.

Critics have been concerned that the local law would criminalize homelessness, and now say the law could be used against those who are gathering signatures for things like proposed state constitutional amendments.

The commission will hold its first and only public hearing for the proposed ordinance at Tuesday's meeting. In other business, they plan to issue an apology for the history of slavery and racism in Leon County.

At the last month's county commission meeting, commissioners voted 6-1 – with Commissioner David O'Keefe opposed – to schedule the hearing. The ordinance proposal follows the county's previous attempts to pass a local law.

The proposed law looks to "make it unlawful to solicit on any private property on which the required sign is clearly and prominently displayed to the the public." Doing so could lead to fines of up to $500 or jail time of around 60 days.

Currently, private property owners need to request for an individual to be "trespassed" off their property.

If the ordinance were to pass, it would also allow businesses and private property owners to post signs citing it in an attempt to deter people from coming onto or staying on their property.

The agenda item says the term 'solicit' is defined "as 'the act of requesting in person from another person something of value, whether tangible or intangible, by using words, body gestures, signs or other means. The term solicit may include, but not be limited to, requests for: petition signatures, support of any kind, money,donations of any kind, or some other action, article, or material of value.'

"As defined, the term solicit would cover most, if not all, of the unwanted and uninvited activity that has been the concern raised by local businesses in the community."

Making up for the past

At the county's annual retreat last month, commissioners unanimously agreed to the slavery apology coming out this year, Tallahassee and Leon County's joint bicentennial. Commissioner Bill Proctor pushed for the resolution with the support of Commissioners Rick Minor and Brian Welch.

"As we’re looking at some of the great strides of our community, there’s progress, but there has not been an apology," Proctor said at the retreat. "We’ve done a lot to bring people together but we’ve never said ‘I'm sorry.’ "

The resolution comes after Tallahassee's First Presbyterian Church unveiled a plaque apologizing for that church's history of racism.

The resolution will serve as both an apology and work to "affirm Leon County's commitment to advancing equality and ensuring protection of the fundamental rights of individuals regardless of race, color, religion or national origin."

The commission will meet 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, on the fifth floor of the Leon County Courthouse, 301 S. Monroe St.

Arianna Otero is the City Solutions Reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at AOtero@tallahassee.com or on Twitter/X: @ari_v_otero.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leon County Commission will consider proposed solicitation ordinance