Council aims to add limits to panhandling in the city
JACKSON, Tenn. — The Jackson City Council held their final regular monthly meeting for the current fiscal year.
It was a longer meeting than normal — the council members first voted on an ordinance regarding animals and pets, and apparently, there were quite a few terms needed to be cleared up.
“A lot of times with our animal control officers, they get the report of it, but the definitions in our ordinance weren’t — it wasn’t adequate. It wasn’t a defined term,” said City of Jackson Mayor Scott Conger. “So now there’s defined terms on that– well after next reading there will be defined terms.”
Another big topic of discussion was an amendment to change the text regarding panhandling. This text change would make it more clear where and when this could take place.
“It restricts from high-traffic intersections, streets that are 35 miles an hour or over, commercial districts, historic districts, as far as 20 feet from a commercial entrance, 20 feet from outside dining, 20 feet from people standing in line,” Conger explained.
While violating these requirements can result in a citation or a fine, the Chief of the Jackson Police Department, Thom Corley, says there are a few steps that will take place before that happens.
“There’s going to be a time period where we are going to have to have some grace,” Chief Corley said. “We’re going to go through and make sure that everyone is aware of what the ordinance says before we start issuing citations.”
Before this ordinance is fully passed and enforceable, Chief Corley says there will be an education process with the officers. Following that, they will talk with those that are panhandling and inform them on the potential changes.
Towards the end of the meeting, many visuals were shown of the Jackson Civic Master Plan, and the Jackson Recreation and Parks Master Plan.
Mayor Conger talked with us about why this is important.
“Talking with developers, it makes it easier for them,” Conger said. “They don’t have to go in and ask ‘Can I do this? Can I do this?’ The plan is laid out of ‘this is what I can and can’t do.’ Easy. When we look at our parks master plan, we have to have that now for grant applications.”
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