City Council addresses aggressive panhandling

With a few hundred people who are classified as unhoused in Jackson, panhandling is an issue that is regulated in Jackson city ordinances.

On Tuesday, the Jackson City Council met, and one of the big items of discussion was the approval of new ordinances that outlawed “aggressive panhandling” as well as drawing the official line between aggressive and regular panhandling.

There were a few issues that some of the council members wanted to clarify when it comes to the punishments for aggressive panhandling violations.

City Attorney Teresa Luna and Jackson Police Chief Thom Corley assured Council members Richard Donnell and Johnny Dodd that it’s highly unlikely anyone would go to jail for aggressive panhandling.

“Most of the time, it’s going to be a citation with a maximum fine of $50, and that will come after multiple warnings and a time of education by our officers to the public when they see panhandlers out,” Corley said. “But this is something our offices will have to be trained in too – what to look for and what not to look for.”

Luna and Mayor Scott Conger told council members on Thursday, May 30, during the agenda review and during Tuesday’s meeting that panhandling regulation can be a tight rope to walk between stopping aggressive panhandling and possible harassment of citizens and violating First Amendment rights.

“That’s why aggressive panhandling is being defined here with certain time, place and manner restrictions,” Luna said.

Aggressive panhandling has a number of factors including doing it in a commercial district like Downtown or retail areas like Vann Drive in the northern part of town, panhandling in a historic district, high traffic intersections, roads with a speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour, roads with a median, panhandling between sundown and sunrise, panhandling within 20 feet of a business and panhandling in a public parking lot.

Luna said that if a JPD officer were to observe someone panhandling illegally or were called about a possible aggressive panhandler, the first thing to do would be to tell them to move on to somewhere where they can legally panhandle.

After getting questions answered, Donnell still had reservations.

“I’m concerned because Jesus said, ‘Whatever you do to the lease of these, you do also unto Me,’” Donnell said. “And I just don’t know if this is what we need to be doing for people who need help.”

Dodd mentioned that some panhandlers in town are professional panhandlers who ask for money all day on the corner then walk to a parking lot and get into a 2024 Lexus and drive home.

Councilman Frank McMeen also replied to Donnell by mentioning a real-life situation he observed.

“At the intersection of Ridgecrest and Highland, there’s a man that will stand there asking for help, and right above him, there’s a sign at Taco Bell that says ‘Help wanted,’” McMeen said. “So between job opportunities and the services with places like RIFA, Area Relief Ministries, Tennessee Homeless Solutions and these other places, people who need help have access to help.”

The Council approved the ordinance 8-1 with Donnell dissenting.

Here’s a look at other items the Council took care of on Tuesday:

• They approved a budget amendment to close out the Exit 85 TIF district that had garnered enough revenue around Jackson Baseball Stadium to put a little more than $2.24 million into the City’s general fund.
• Approved a change in codes for animal control that clearly defines terms connected to the issue such as abandonment, proper food, shelter and water, what a proper tether is for an animal and officially outlawing the selling of animals in parking lots unless you’re licensed by the state to sell pets.
• Trucks were defined in a city ordinance managing truck routes and making it illegal for trucks passing through Jackson to pull off the truck routes and pass through other areas of town if they’re not making a delivery.
• After making a presentation about the master plan for the city’s parks, Parks and Recreation Director Tony Black and Parks Manager Christi David confirmed for the Council that flock cameras are installed and working at the entrance and exit to every park in the city. Black even said they helped JPD make an arrest after some illegal activity recently at North Park.
• Approved a contract with Martin Paving Company for a sidewalk on Jackson Allen Avenue after there was some discussion when Donnell pointed out that Martin’s bid for the project wasn’t the lowest bid by $70,000. But they were recommended because the lowest bid wasn’t a complete bid. After Donnell had questions about getting bids completed after unsealing, City Attorney Lewis Cobb and Purchasing Director Zach Polk explained that doing that with sealed bids is illegal. The contract was approved 7-1 with Donnell dissenting and Larry Lowrance abstaining.
• They tabled the appointment of six members of the Public Arts Commission when Donnell had concerns about the demographic makeup of the group compared to Jackson’s population.
• Attendance report: All nine members of the Council were present. McMeen missed a few minor votes when he stepped out for a minute.

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news