KOTA Territory NewsCity Council likely to reconsider 'panhandling' ordinance

City Council likely to reconsider 'panhandling' ordinance

The Rapid City Council may soon take a closer look at a city ordinance that bans anyone from soliciting drivers on public streets or sidewalks.

Under current city code, charity events such as the KOTA Territory Care and Share Food Drive and the Rapid City Fire Department's Fill the Boot Campaign, are treated the same as panhandling.

While KOTA was granted a temporary permit by the city to hold Friday's bagel drive, the fire department was limited to asking for donations in parking lots last spring, and not allowed to walk alongside traffic.  It's something the council is likely to consider changing.

“I think it's something the council is willing to look at, and see if we can make a difference in it,” Ward Two Alderwoman Deb Hadcock said.  “By either changing some of the rules in the ordinance, or working with our city attorney so we can do some of these fundraising events that are special to our community.”

While the issue has yet to be formally brought up by the council, Hadcock says it's likely they'll consider using special event permits, similar to those used for parades, for charity events.