City of Port Orange Announces Special Meeting on Aggressive Panhandling with City Council.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News

The City of Port Orange announces a Special Meeting to discuss an ordinance regulating panhandling. The first reading of the Ordinance will take place on Thursday, January 21, 2021, at 5:30 pm in City Council Chambers at Port Orange City Hall.

According to a release, Constitutional Law Expert, Michael Kahn, who prepared the cities of St. Augustine and Daytona Beach's panhandling ordinances, has drafted a City of Port Orange panhandling ordinance.

The ordinance will prohibit aggressive panhandling, panhandling after-dark, and panhandling to a captive audience such as a person standing in-line at a store, waiting for a bus at a bus stop, eating at an outdoor dining establishment, attending a show at an amphitheater, or using a playground.

Due to FCC regulations, the Special Meeting will not be streamed Live on Port Orange Government Television (POG) Channel 498 due to profane language that may occur during testimony provided regarding aggressive panhandling. However, it will be streamed Live on the city’s YouTube Channel, “Port Orange Government Television,” and there will be explicit warnings on the video concerning any profane language.

The public is welcomed to attend in person at City Hall Council Chambers located in City Center.