It is hereby declared that the protection and preservation of the home
is a keystone of democratic government; that the public health and welfare
and the good order of the community require that members of the community
enjoy in their homes and dwellings a feeling of well-being, tranquility and
privacy and, when absent from their homes and dwellings, that they carry with
them the sense of security inherent in the assurance that they may return
to the enjoyment of their homes and dwellings; that the practice of picketing
before or about residences and dwellings causes emotional disturbance and
distress to the occupants and obstructs and interferes with the free use of
public sidewalks and public ways of travel; that such practice has as its
object the harassing of such occupants; and without resort to such practice
full opportunity exists, and under the terms and provisions of this chapter
will continue to exist, for the exercise of freedom of speech and other constitutional
rights; and that the provisions hereinafter enacted are necessary for the
public interest to avoid the detrimental results herein set forth.
It is hereby declared that the protection and preservation of employment
and business is a keystone of democratic government; that the public health
and welfare and the good order of the community require that members of the
community enjoy at their places of employment and business a feeling of security
from secondary picketing; that the practice of secondary picketing before
or about places of employment or business causes emotional disturbance and
distress to the employees, customers and the public and obstructs and interferes
with the free use of public sidewalks and public ways of travel; that such
practice has as its object the harassing of employees or business persons;
and without resort to such practice full opportunity exists, and under the
terms and provisions of this chapter will continue to exist, for the exercise
of freedom of speech and other constitutional rights; and that the provisions
hereinafter enacted are necessary for the public interest to avoid detrimental
results herein set forth.
[Amended 3-23-1988 by Ord. No. 88-7]
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in picketing before or
about the residence or dwelling of any individual in zoning districts that
are low- or medium-density residential districts; provided, however, that
residential picketing shall be permitted within 100 feet of any nonconforming
commercial use or 100 feet of any business or manufacturing district boundary.
It shall be unlawful for any individual or organization to engage in
secondary picketing. "Secondary picketing" is defined as the situation when
any individual or organization having a dispute with an individual or organization
("primary employer") pickets before or about the premises of any other employer
or organization. For example, if there is a dispute with Employer A, and a
member of the board of directors of A works for Company B (not a subsidiary
of A), it shall be unlawful to picket the premises of Company B concerning
the dispute with Company A, either directly or indirectly.
Nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit:
A. Picketing in a lawful manner during a labor dispute of
the place of employment involved in such labor dispute; or
B. The holding of a meeting or assembly on any premises
commonly used for the discussion of subjects of general public interest.
Any person, partnership, corporation or organization who or which violates
the provisions of this chapter, or anyone aiding, abetting or assisting in
the violation of any provision of this chapter, shall, upon conviction thereof,
be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $300 and costs of prosecution
and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, to imprisonment of not
more than 30 days.