HomeMy WebLinkAboutG38-00 (2) Ordinance No. G38-00
AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING THE ELGIN MUNICIPAL CODE, 1976, AS AMENDED,
BY ADDING CHAPTER 6 . 61 THERETO ENTITLED "SHOPPING CARTS"
WHEREAS, abandoned shopping carts interfere with
pedestrian and vehicular traffic within the city; and
WHEREAS, the accumulation of wrecked, dismantled and
abandoned shopping carts on public property also tends to
create conditions that reduce property values, promoting
blight and deterioration in the city; and
WHEREAS, abandoned shopping carts create other hazards to
the public health and safety and otherwise constitute a
nuisance; and
WHEREAS, the City of Elgin is a home rule unit and may
exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its
government and affairs; and
WHEREAS, the regulation of shopping carts so as to reduce
interference with pedestrian and vehicular traffic and reduce
the nuisance effect thereof pertain to the government and
affairs of the City of Elgin.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS :
Section 1 . That Title 6 of the Elgin Municipal Code,
1976, as amended, entitled "Business Licenses and Regulation"
be and is hereby further amended by adding thereto
Chapter 6 . 61 entitled "Shopping Carts" to read as follows :
"CHAPTER 6 . 61
SHOPPING CARTS
6 . 61 . 010 DEFINITIONS .
A. Owner. "Owner" means a person or business
establishment owning, making available or using
shopping carts in connection with its business.
B. Person. "Person" means and includes a
natural person, firm, partnership, association, sole
proprietorship or corporation as well as any agents,
representatives or employees thereof .
C. Shopping Cart . "Shopping Cart" means a
basket which is mounted on wheels or a similar
device generally used in a retail establishment,
grocery store or a laundromat by a customer for the
purpose of transporting goods of any kind.
6 . 61 . 020 SHOPPING CART REMOVAL FROM BUSINESS
PREMISES PROHIBITED.
It shall be unlawful for any person to remove
any shopping cart from the premises or parking area
of any business establishment . The provisions of
this section shall not apply to the removal by the
owners or employees of the business .
6 . 61 . 030 ABANDONMENT PROHIBITED.
It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon
or leave any shopping cart which has been removed
from the premises of a business establishment upon
any public street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or other
public property, or upon any private property except
that of the owner of such shopping cart .
6 . 61 . 040 POSSESSION OF SHOPPING CART OFF BUSINESS
PREMISES PROHIBITED.
It shall be unlawful for any person to have in
his possession any shopping cart which has been
removed from the owner ' s premises . The provisions
of this section shall not apply to possession by the
owner or its employees of the business, nor to
possession by any person possessing the express
written consent of the owner or its authorized agent .
6 . 61 . 050 POSTING OF NOTICE .
Each business establishment furnishing shopping
carts for its customers shall post prominently and
conspicuously at all entrances and exits to its
business establishment a notice in substantially the
following form: "THE REMOVAL OF SHOPPING CARTS FROM
THIS ESTABLISHMENT ' S PROPERTY IS PROHIBITED BY ELGIN
MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 6 . 61 AND WILL SUBJECT THE
VIOLATOR TO A MINIMUM FINE OF $100 . 00 . " Such notice
shall be placed in such a position and be of
sufficient size and legibility so as to insure that
the persons leaving such places of business shall be
fully informed of the prohibitory provisions
contained in this chapter.
6 . 61 . 060 SHOPPING CART COLLECTION BY OWNER.
All shopping carts left in a business
establishment ' s parking lot and in adjacent outside
areas shall be collected at regular intervals
throughout the day and at closing by the business
establishment ' s personnel . Shopping carts shall be
stored either inside the building or in an outside
storage rack.
6 . 61 . 070 SHOPPING CART IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED.
Every person who, in connection with the
conduct of business including but not limited to the
retail sale of groceries, owns or makes any shopping
cart available to the public, shall mark or cause
each shopping cart to be marked and identified
conspicuously with the name of the owner, name of
the business establishment and the address of such
business establishment .
6 . 61 . 080 CITY ABATEMENT.
All shopping carts remaining in any location
other than the business establishment shall be
deemed abandoned and may be collected and stored by
or on behalf of the city. The city shall cause
written notification to be sent to the owner of such
a shopping cart of any abandoned shopping cart that
has been collected by or on behalf of the city. The
owner shall within fourteen (14) days from the date
of the notification retrieve the shopping cart from
the specified storage location. Commencing with the
fourth such notification in any calendar year to an
owner regarding an abandoned shopping cart the owner
of the shopping cart shall be liable for and shall
pay to the city a retrieval and storage fee in the
amount of $25 for each cart collected by or on
behalf of the city and retrieved by the owner. Any
shopping cart not reclaimed by the owner from the
specified storage location within fourteen (14) days
after notification to the owner shall be sold or
otherwise disposed of by or on behalf of the city.
The owner of any shopping cart disposed of by or on
behalf of the city shall be liable for and shall pay
to the city a disposition fee of $150 for each
shopping cart disposed. The city manager is
authorized in the city manager' s discretion to
retain the services of a private firm to perform on
behalf of the city the functions relating to the
collection, storage, notification and disposal of
shopping cars.
6 . 61 . 090 PENALTY FOR VIOLATION.
Any person violating any of the provisions or
failing to comply with any of the mandatory
requirements of this chapter, in addition to the
fees and charges established in this chapter, shall
be guilty of an offense and shall be punished by
fine of not less than $100 nor more than a fine of
$500 . Each day during which a violation of this
chapter continues or is permitted to exist shall be
considered a separate and distinct offense .
6 . 61 . 100 SEVERABILITY.
If any provision, clause, sentence, paragraph,
section or part of this ordinance or application
thereof to any person or circumstance, shall for any
reason be adjudged by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or invalid, said
judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the
remainder of this ordinance and its application to
other persons or circumstances, but shall be
confined in its operation to the provision, clause,
sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof
directly involved in the controversy in which such
judgment shall have been rendered and to the person
or circumstances involved. It is hereby declared to
the legislative intent of the city council that this
ordinance would have been adopted had such
unconstitutional or invalid provision, clause,
sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof not
been included. "
Section 2 . That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in
conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be and are
hereby repealed.
Section 3 . That this ordinance shall be in full force
and effect from and after September 1, 2000 .
s/ Ed Schock
Ed Schock, Mayor
Presented: June 28, 2000
Passed: June 28 , 2000
Omnibus Vote: Yeas 7 Nays 0
Recorded: June 29, 2000
Published: June 30, 2000
Attest :
s/ Dolonna Mecum
Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk
„c4OFE,Ci
City of Elgin
Mayor
oR0 Ed Schock
4TED EE8
Council Members
Juan Figueroa
Robert Gilliam
Ruth Munson
John Walters
September 28, 2000 Stuart Wasilowski
Marie Yearman
City Manager
Joyce A. Parker
Dear Store Manager/owner:
The Elgin City Council recently adopted an ordinance regulating the use of shopping carts. A
copy of the ordinance is enclosed. This ordinance went into effect on September 1, 2000.
Section 6.61.050 of the ordinance requires each store to post signs at all entrances and exits
which state the following "THE REMOVAL OF SHOPPING CARTS FROM THIS
ESTABLISHMENT'S PROPERTY IS PROHIBITED BY ELGIN MUNICIPAL CODE
CHAPTER 6.61 AND WILL SUBJECT THE VIOLATOR TO A MINIMUM FINE OF
$100.00". The ordinance further states that the signs need to be of sufficient size and legibility so
as to insure that persons leaving the business will know about the penalty for removing a cart. It
may also be advisable to include signs in Spanish where appropriate. Carts must have proper
identification on them. The ordinance requires the city to retrieve carts that are found off the
store's property and there will be charges for returning or disposal of the carts.
In order to afford the affected businesses adequate time to post the required signs and inform their
customers, the city will not begin enforcement until after November 17, 2000. An inspection will
be conducted at that time to determine compliance with the sign requirements. Please read the
enclosed ordinance carefully and if you have any questions, contact me at (847) 931-5924.
Sincerely,
CITY OF ELGIN
111
Michael J. Millikan, Manager
Property Maintenance Division
Department of Code Administration
and Development Services
C: Joyce A. Parker, City Manager
Jerry Deering, Director of Code Administration
John Loete, Director of Public Works
William Miller, Chief of Police
150 Dexter Court • Elgin, IL 60120-5555 • Phone 847/931-6100 • Fax 847/931-5610 • TDD 847/931-5616
Primed on recycled Dade,
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
JUNE 14, 2000
The rescheduled regular Committee of the Whole meeting was
called to order by Mayor Schock at 5 : 00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers . Present : Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Munson,
Walters, Wasilowski, Yearman and Mayor Schock. Absent : None.
Approval of Minutes
Councilwoman Yearman made a motion, seconded by Councilman
Walters, to approve the minutes of the May 24 , 2000, meeting.
Upon a roll call vote : Yeas : Councilmembers Figueroa, Walters,
Yearman and Mayor Schock. Nays : None . Councilmembers Gilliam,
Munson and Wasilowski voted present .
Consideration of Construction Management Services for the
Family Recreation Center
A resolution will be presented at tonight ' s Council meeting for
adoption by the City Council .
Consideration of a Riverfront/Center City Master Plan
Implementation Agreement with Vandewalle and Associates
A resolution will be presented at tonight ' s Council meeting for
adoption by the City Council .
Consideration of a Resolution Appointing a City Council
Person to Serve as a Liaison to Study the Issue of Homelessness
in Elgin
Councilman Figueroa stated that a study will determine the
feasibility of a permanent site, funding options, possible site
for the shelter, and ways of assisting the homeless to become
self-sufficient . The goal is to cooperate with other local
organizations and to obtain input from the community.
Councilman Gilliam stated that he is opposed to having a
permanent homeless shelter in Elgin, and he believes there would
be difficulty in finding a location that would be acceptable to
the neighborhood.
A resolution will be presented at tonight ' s Council meeting for
adoption by the City Council .
Consideration of a Shopping Cart Ordinance
Councilman Wasilowski advised that a meeting had been held with
grocery retailers regarding the proposed shopping cart
ordinance . He reported that the retailers didn' t generally
oppose the ordinance but asked that consideration be given of
the fact that they have no control over who removes the carts
' Committee of the Whole Meeting
June 14 , 2000
Page 2
from their property. They felt it was unfair to fine the stores
if a shopping cart was picked up by the city. After a review of
their comments and suggestions, the ordinance originally
presented to the Council has been amended to provide for three
warning notices per year for each store . After the third
warning in any year, the store will be charged a retrieval fee
of $25 per cart .
Councilman Figueroa made a motion, seconded by Councilman
Wasilowski, to approve the proposed ordinance with the
recommended changes . Upon a roll call vote : Yeas :
Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Munson, Walters, Wasilowski,
Yearman and Mayor Schock. Nays : None .
Consideration of a Neighborhood Business Improvement
Application for Property Located at 163 North Edison Street
Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilman
Walters, to approve an agreement with Andrea L. Gumm in the
amount of $4, 336 . 53 . Upon a roll call vote: Yeas :
Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Munson, Walters, Wasilowski,
Yearman and Mayor Schock. Nays : None .
Consideration of a Joint Agreement with the Illinois
Department of Transportation for Illinois Route 31 and Winq
Street Improvements
Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman
Munson, to approve the proposed agreement . Upon a roll call
vote: Yeas : Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Munson, Walters,
Wasilowski, Yearman and Mayor Schock. Nays : None .
Consideration of an Amendment to an Engineering Services
Agreement with R. H. Anderson for Illinois Route 31 and Winq
Street Intersection Improvements
Councilman Gilliam made a motion, seconded by Councilman
Walters, to approve the proposed amendment . Upon a roll call
vote : Yeas : Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Munson, Walters,
Wasilowski, Yearman and Mayor Schock. Nays : None.
Consideration of a Proposed Ordinance Amending the Peddlers
and Solicitors Ordinance
Councilwoman Yearman made a motion, seconded by Councilman
Figueroa, to approve the proposed ordinance but change the hours
from 9 : 00 a.m. to 8 : 00 p.m. Upon a roll call vote : Yeas :
Councilmembers Figueroa, Gilliam, Munson, Walters, Wasilowski,
Yearman and Mayor Schock. Nays : None .
•
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City of Elgin Agenda Item No.
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June 7, 2000 G � � ti .iii,
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1
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
NEIGHBORHOOD VITALITY
FROM: Joyce A. Parker, City Manager
SUBJECT: Shopping Cart Ordinance
PURPOSE
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information to the
Mayor and members of the City Council to consider adoption of an
ordinance to regulate the use and abandonment of shopping carts .
BACKGROUND
The City Council recently reviewed a proposed ordinance regulating
the use of shopping carts. Staff was directed to talk with the.._
stores that would be affected by this ordinance and get their inpu€
on the issue.
A letter was sent to all stores that use shopping carts informing
them of the proposed ordinance and inviting them to come to a
meeting to discuss it. A meeting was held on March 30, 2000 . Six
stores sent representative to the meeting. The stores were;
Butera, Ace Hardware, Eagle Food Store, Menards, Walgreen' s Drug
Store, and Dominick' s Food Store. Along with these stores, the
meeting was also attended by Councilman Stuart Wasilowski, Police
Chief William Miller, Community Development Manager Mark Biernacki,
Corporation Counsel William Cogley, and several other staff from
the Police and Code Administration Departments .
The store representatives all stated that the ordinance was a good
idea but they had concerns regarding several sections . The main
concern involved the fine portion where the stores would be fined
if a shopping cart were picked up by the city. They all felt that
this was unfair because they do not give people permission to take
the carts. They also would like to see the city store the carts
and give them ample time to retrieve them at no cost.
After reviewing the comments and suggestions from the store
representatives and reviewing the proposed ordinance again, staff
is recommending several several changes to the ordinance reviewed
r Shopping Cart Ordinance
June 2, 2000
Page 2
by the Council last February. Attached to this memo is the
original memo from the February 23 council meeting, the ordinance
as proposed at the February council meeting and the minutes from
the meeting staff had with the store representatives .
COMMUNITY GROUPS/INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACTED
A letter and copy of the proposed ordinance was mailed to each
store. A meeting with store representative was held as detailed
above .
TA-
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The fees and fines outlined in the proposal are intended to cover
the costs of operating the program. However, after there is some
experience in administering the shopping cart program, the City
Council may have to reevaluate whether or not the city' s costs are
covered by the fees and fines.
(011141/LEGAL IMPACT
None.
ALTERNATIVES
One alternative would be to adopt the ordinance as previously
submitted. Another alternative would be to not enact an ordinance
and leave the collection of shopping carts to the city at it' s
expense.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the ordinance previously reviewed (copy
attached) by the City Council be approved with the following
changes :
1 . Amend Section 6. 61 . 080 "City Abatement" to provide for a
series of three warning notices per year for each store.
After the third warning in any year, carts collected from the
offending store will be charged a retrieval fee of $25 per
cart . The carts will be stored for a period of up to fourteen
(14) days at which time if they are not retrieved by the
store, they will be disposed of. The City will provide
written notification to the store listed on the cart .
r Shopping Cart Ordinance
June 2, 2000
Page 3
2 . Add a new section that will give the city the right to hire a
private contractor to retrieve and store shopping carts on
behalf of the city.
It is recommended that the ordinance be made effective on September
1, 2000 . This will allow the city time to put the proper
enforcement effort in place and it will allow the stores time to
prepare and properly notify their customers of the new ordinance.
Re: •_ctfully submitt
a. *
Jove A. Parker
City Manager
JAP/jd
DEPARTMENT OF CODE ADMINISTRATION_
AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Date: April 10, 2000
To: Joyce A. Parker, City Manager
From: Mark Biernacki, Community Development Manager
Subject: Shopping Cart Ordinance
A meeting was conducted on March 30, 2000 with owners and managers of local stores to discuss
the proposed shopping cart ordinance. Six stores sent representatives to the meeting. A list of
the attendees is attached. In addition to the store representatives, others in attendance included;
Stuart Wasilowski, Bill Cogley, Police Chief Bill Miller, and several others from the Police and
Code Departments.
After briefly reviewing the proposed ordinance, the meeting was opened up for general comments
and suggestions. The overall consensus of those in attendance was that the ordinance was a
positive step in addressing the issue. The main issue of contention involved the automatic fine
levied against the store when a cart is found. All of the store representatives felt that this was
unfair and inappropriate. Everyone agreed that a more appropriate approach would be to have
the City pick up the carts and then notify the stores to come and get them. Then if they do not do
so within a specified time,to levy a fine and/or dispose of the carts.
Some other comments expressed included;
Fining store owners is not legal;
Fine costs may have to be added to prices paid by consumers;
The city should consider a storage and/or pickup fee;
Structure the ordinance so a store does not have to sign a complaint against a violator;
Pick-up is not easy because the carts are hard to get in a vehicle;
Stores are concerned about confrontations with people who have the carts;
Some of the stores were not aware of the problem and feel that it does not affect them;
How do we deal with the people who have no other way to get their groceries home;
Signs notifying people of the ordinance is a good idea;
Because of the property lot dimensions, some stores will not be able to install electronic
fence systems;
Structure the ordinance so that it is a crime to have possession of a cart off of the store's
property and intent to steal is not a requirement to be charged.
The general consensus of the store representatives was that we should proceed with the ordinance
but make a few changes. The ordinance should not penalize stores simply for having carts found
off of their property. They should be given an opportunity to retrieve them and if they do not do
so, then a fine would be appropriate. They also agreed that the city should pick up the stray carts
when we find them and store them until the stores are notified to pick them up. Staff raised the
concern that this would encourage stores to wait until being notified by the city instead of
retrieving the carts themselves in effect causing the city to become the collection agency for the
stores.
Staff recommends that the $25 retrieval fee be kept as specified in Section 6.61.080 of the
proposed ordinance. The store representatives were not in favor of this fee. As a possible
alternative, a system of allowing 3 warning notices per year without a fee could be created thus
allowing those stores that do not have a frequent problem to retrieve an occasional shopping cart
without penalty.
After discussing the concerns and comments of the store representatives and reviewing the
ordinance further, staff is recommending that the ordinance be returned to the City Council with a
few changes as outlined here.
Amend Section 6.61.080"City Abatement" as follows:
Amend the language that requires the $25 retrieval fee to state that each store will be issued a
maximum of three warning notices per year regarding the retrieval of the store's shopping carts by
the city. All shopping carts retrieved by the city after the store has been issued the three warnings
will be subject to a$25 retrieval fee per cart.
Amend Section 6.61.090"Penalty for Violation"to make the $100 fine applicable to persons who
violate the ordinance by removing a shopping cart from the store property. The stores already are
subject to a$25 retrieval fee and$150 disposition fee per cart. The current language would also
make the stores subject to the$100 fine as well and staff feels that this is inappropriate.
Consider a possible addition to the ordinance providing the city with the authority to hire a private
contractor to retrieve and store carts so city staff will not have to devote resources to this
endeavor.
These issues will need to go to the Corporation Counsel's Office for review.
Attendance Roster
Shopping Cart Ordinance Meeting
March 30, 2000
Store Representatives:
Mark Scala Dominicks Finer Foods
Doug Sorenson Walgreens Drug Store - 815 Summit St.
Joseph Butera Butera Foods
Richard Fischer Attorney for Butera Foods
Richard Wickmick Eagle Food Store - Big Timber Shopping Center
David Ziegler Ace Hardware
Marty Fischor Menards
Keith Lang Menards
Stuart Wasilowski Elgin City Council
City Staff
Mark Biernacki Community Development Manager
William Miller Police Chief
William Cogley Corporation Counsel
Jerry Deering Code Administration Director
Enrique Santiago ROPE Officer
Tim Young ROPE Officer
Mike Millikan Code Administration
DRAFT 1/20/00
rm. RORD/SHOPCART
Ordinance No. G
AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING THE ELGIN MUNICIPAL CODE, 1976, AS AMENDED,
BY ADDING CHAPTER 6 . 61 THERETO ENTITLED "SHOPPING CARTS"
WHEREAS, abandoned shopping carts interfere with
pedestrian and vehicular traffic within the city; and
WHEREAS, the accumulation of wrecked, dismantled and
abandoned shopping carts on public property also tends to
create conditions that reduce property values, promoting
blight and deterioration in the city; and
WHEREAS, abandoned shopping carts create other hazards to
the public health and safety and otherwise constitute a
nuisance; and
WHEREAS, the City of Elgin is a home rule unit and may
exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its
government and affairs; and
WHEREAS, the regulation of shopping carts so as to reduce
interference with pedestrian and vehicular traffic and reduce
the nuisance effect thereof pertain to the government and
affairs of the City of Elgin.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS :
Section 1 . That Title 6 of the Elgin Municipal Code,
1976, as amended, entitled "Business Licenses and Regulation"
be and is hereby further amended by adding thereto
Chapter 6 . 61 entitled "Shopping Carts" to read as follows :
"CHAPTER 6 . 61
SHOPPING CARTS
6 . 61 . 010 DEFINITIONS .
A. Owner. "Owner" means a person or business
establishment owning, making available or using
shopping carts in connection with its business .
B. Person. "Person" means and includes a
natural person, firm, partnership, association, sole
proprietorship or corporation as well as any agents,
representatives or employees thereof .
C. Shopping Cart . "Shopping Cart" means a
basket which is mounted on wheels or a similar
device generally used in a retail establishment,
grocery store or a laundromat by a customer for the
purpose of transporting goods of any kind.
6 . 61 . 020 SHOPPING CART REMOVAL FROM BUSINESS
PREMISES PROHIBITED.
It shall be unlawful for any person to remove
any shopping cart from the premises or parking area
of any business establishment . The provisions of
this section shall not apply to the removal by the
owners or employees of the business .
6 . 61 . 030 ABANDONMENT PROHIBITED.
It shall be unlawful for any person to abandon
or leave any shopping cart which has been removed
from the premises of a business establishment upon
any public street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or other
public property, or upon any private property except
that of the owner of such shopping cart .
6 . 61 . 040 POSSESSION OF SHOPPING CART OFF BUSINESS
PREMISES PROHIBITED.
It shall be unlawful for any person to have in
his possession any shopping cart which has been
removed from the owner' s premises . The provisions
of this section shall not apply to possession by the
owner or its employees of the business, nor to
possession by any person possessing the express
written consent of the owner or its authorized agent .
6 . 61 . 050 POSTING OF NOTICE.
Each business establishment furnishing shopping
carts for its customers shall post prominently and
conspicuously at all entrances and exits to its
business establishment a notice in substantially the
following form: "THE REMOVAL OF SHOPPING CARTS FROM
THIS ESTABLISHMENT' S PROPERTY IS PROHIBITED BY ELGIN
MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 6 . 61 AND WILL SUBJECT THE
VIOLATOR TO A MINIMUM FINE OF $100 . 00 . " Such notice
shall be placed in such a position and be of
sufficient size and legibility so as to insure that
the persons leaving such places of business shall be
fully informed of the prohibitory provisions
contained in this chapter.
6 . 61 . 060 SHOPPING CART COLLECTION BY OWNER.
All shopping carts left in a business
establishment ' s parking lot and in adjacent outside
areas shall be collected at regular intervals
throughout the day and at closing by the business
establishment ' s personnel . Shopping carts shall be
stored either inside the building or in an outside
storage rack.
6 . 61 . 070 SHOPPING CART IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED.
Every person who, in connection with the
conduct of business including but not limited to the
retail sale of groceries, owns or makes any shopping
cart available to the public, shall mark or cause
each shopping cart to be marked and identified
conspicuously with the name of the owner, name of
the business establishment and the address of such
business establishment .
6 . 61 . 080 CITY ABATEMENT.
All shopping carts remaining in any location
other than the business establishment shall be
deemed abandoned and may be collected and stored by
the city. The city shall notify the owner of such a
shopping cart in writing of any abandoned shopping
cart that has been collected by the city. The owner
shall within fourteen (14) days from the date of the
notification retrieve the shopping cart from the
specified storage location. The owner of the
shopping cart shall be liable for and shall pay to
the city a retrieval and storage fee in the amount
of $25 for each cart collected by the city and
retrieved by the owner. Any shopping cart not
reclaimed by the owner from the city within fourteen
(14) days after notification to the owner shall be
sold or otherwise disposed of by the city. The
owner of any shopping cart disposed of by the city
shall be liable for and shall pay to the city a
disposition fee of $150 for each shopping cart
disposed.
6 . 61 . 090 PENALTY FOR VIOLATION.
Any person violating any of the provisions or
failing to comply with any of the mandatory
requirements of this chapter, in addition to the
fees and charges established in this chapter, shall
be guilty of an offense and shall be punished by
fine of not less than $100 nor more than a fine of
$500 . Each day during which a violation of this
chapter continues or is permitted to exist shall be
considered a separate and distinct offense .
6 . 61 . 100 SEVERABILITY.
If any provision, clause, sentence, paragraph,
section or part of this ordinance or application
thereof to any person or circumstance, shall for any
reason be adjudged by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be unconstitutional or invalid, said
judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the
remainder of this ordinance and its application to
other persons or circumstances, but shall be
confined in its operation to the provision, clause,
sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof
directly involved in the controversy in which such
judgment shall have been rendered and to the person
or circumstances involved. It is hereby declared to
the legislative intent of the city council that this
ordinance would have been adopted had such
unconstitutional or invalid provision, clause,
sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof not
been included. "
Section 2 . That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in
conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be and are
hereby repealed.
Section 3 . That this ordinance shall be in full force
and effect from and after its passage and publication in the
manner provided by law.
Ed Schock, Mayor
Presented:
Passed:
Vote : Yeas Nays
Recorded:
Published:
Attest :
Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk
Committee of the Whole Meeting
February 23 , 2000
Page 2
Consideration of Shopping Cart Ordinance
AeS
Discussion was held regarding what measures other than passing
the proposed ordinance to fine store owners for every cart
retrieved by city staff outside of store property could be taken
to address the problem of shopping carts abandoned in the
neighborhoods . Although store managers have previously been
asked to address the problem, Councilwoman Yearman suggested
that a copy of the proposed ordinance be sent to store managers
and corporate offices and that store representatives be invited
to meet with staff and/or the Council .
Councilman Wasilowski made a motion, seconded by Councilman
Figueroa, to direct staff to send a copy of the proposed
ordinance to all store managers and corporate offices, seek
their reaction and input, and report back to the Council in 30
days . Upon a roll call vote : Yeas : Councilmembers Figueroa,
Munson, Walters, Wasilowski, Yearman and Mayor Schock. Nays :
None .
Consideration of Resale Shop City Ordinance
Councilwoman Yearman made a motion, seconded by Councilman
Figueroa, to approve an ordinance to license and regulate resale
shops . Upon a roll call vote : Yeas : Councilmembers Figueroa,
Munson, Walters, Wasilowski, Yearman and Mayor Schock. Nays :
None .
It was suggested that consideration be given to including
auctioneers in the proposed ordinance . City Manager Parker
stated that staff will review this suggestion.
Consideration of IEPA Community Water Supply Testing Program
Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman
Yearman, to authorize participation in the Community Water
Supply Testing Program, July 2 , 2000, through June 30, 2001, at
a cost of $14 , 265 annually. Upon a roll call vote : Yeas :
Councilmembers Figueroa, Munson, Walters, Wasilowski, Yearman
and Mayor Schock. Nays : None .
Consideration of Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce Purchase of
Service Agreement
Councilman Figueroa made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman
Yearman, to approve the Purchase of Service Agreement in the
amount of $172 , 000 with the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce to
provide economic development services . Upon a roll call vote :
Yeas : Councilmembers Figueroa, Munson, Walters, Wasilowski,
Yearman and Mayor Schock. Nays : None .
° i ti City of Elgin Agenda Item No.
RATED .
February 23 , 2000
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Joyce A. Parker, City Manager
SUBJECT: Shopping Cart Ordinance
PURPOSE
The purpose of this memorandum is to give the Mayor and members of
the City Council information to consider an ordinance governing
shopping cart use and storage in the City of Elgin.
BACKGROUND
The City has been experiencing a problem with shopping carts being
left on public property throughout the City. The shopping carts
are removed from the stores and used by customers to transport
their purchases to their homes . When the customers are done with
the carts, they are frequently left on the street or other public
areas. These carts are unsightly and detract from the appearance
of the neighborhoods . The owners ' of the carts are frequently
unresponsive when asked to retrieve their carts and the removal of
the carts is left to the City. From September 15, 1999 through
November 30 , 1999, the City collected 65 carts left on public
property.
The City contacted several other municipalities including Addison,
Skokie, Los Angeles; Redwood, California, and Bristol, Connecticut,
to assess their response to this problem in their community. The
solutions ranged from electronic wheel locks to keep the carts from
being removed beyond an electronic barrier, to ordinances similar
to the one proposed. The majority have adopted ordinances similar
to the one proposed here . This ordinance will place the problem of
the misused carts on the owners of the carts . The ordinance
requires stores to take steps to ensure that their carts are not
removed from their property and places requirement on the retrieval
of the carts if they are removed. The ordinance also makes it
unlawful for customers to remove the carts from the stores
property, thereby assisting the stores with this problem. Anyone
found in possession of a cart without written authorization will be
charged under this ordinance and be subject to a fined of $100-
$500 . Finally, the ordinance requires the owners of any carts found
Shopping Cart Ordinance
February 23 , 2000
Page 2
on public property, to retrieve the carts and pay a fine of $25 . 00
per cart . Any carts not retrieved will be destroyed or sold and the
owners will be billed at a rate of $150 . 00 per cart .
This ordinance is seen as an effective way to control the problem
with minimal intrusion. The effectiveness of this ordinance will be
monitored by the Police ROPE officers.
COMMUNITY GROUPS/INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACTED
The Community has expressed a desire to address this problem. The
Police ROPE Officers have been heavily involved with businesses in
their areas and they have identified a need for a City Ordinance to
address this problem.
ziteL/FINANCIAL IMPACT
Fines under this ordinance will range from $100 to $500 .
Additionally, abandoned carts will carry a $25 fine and if not
retrieved will be subject to a $150 fine.
�EGAL IMPACT
None .
ALTERNATIVES
The City Council may choose not to enact any ordinance, leaving the
collection of these carts at City expense.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City adopted the proposed ordinance .
R= •ectfully submitted,
JAce A. Parker
City Manager
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