Explanation
This legislation will amend Chapters 902, 2309, 2317, 2329 and 2333 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959 by amending sections 902.01, 2309.01, 2309.27, 2317.04, 2317.11, 2317.13, 2317.41, 2329.01, 2333.01, 2333.02, 2333.04, and 2333.99 and enacting new sections 2317.031 and 2317.14 in order to clarify language and improve enforcement of Quality of Life Crimes. In particular, this legislation increases the penalties for certain acts of disorderly conduct, misconduct at an emergency, and aggressive panhandling. This legislation also adds clarifying language to the littering ordinances so as to prohibit the unlawful discarding of human excreta and cigar/cigarette butts and to the aggravated panhandling ordinance so as to discourage aggressive panhandling tactics in bus shelters. The legislation also improves upon the language of the graffitism ordinance and creates the new offense of public urination/defecation. Finally, this legislation makes changes to existing city ordinances to conform to recent amendments to Ohio Revised Code offenses pertaining to conduct at the scene of a fire, accident, disaster, riot, or emergency of any kind.
Title
To amend Chapters 902, 2309, 2317, 2329, and 2333 and to enact new sections 2317.031and 2317.14 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, to clarify language and improve enforcement of Quality of Life Crimes.
Body
Whereas, the City of Columbus has the ability to enforce all local police, sanitary, and other similar regulations as are not in conflict with the general laws of the State of Ohio pursuant to Article XVIII, Section 3 of the Ohio Constitution; and
Whereas, the City of Columbus has seen a rise in downtown development and growth culminating in a period of urban renewal which has drawn both Central Ohioans and tourists into downtown areas such as the Brewery District, the Arena District and the Short North, but, by contrast, the length of High Street bounded from the north by the Short North an...
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