[Code 1991, § 15-14]
The packing or unpacking of goods or merchandise on the sidewalks
may be done so long as such packing or unpacking does not materially
interfere with the traffic on the sidewalks, provided that the time
consumed in the packing or unpacking is not unnecessarily prolonged,
and provided further that all debris incident to the packing or unpacking
shall be promptly removed and the sidewalk thoroughly cleaned.
[Ord. No. 01-02, 3-13-2001]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
DOWNTOWN HISTORIC AREA
That portion of the Old and Historic Fredericksburg zoning district known as the downtown historic district, as more particularly defined in Chapter
78, and the 500 and 600 blocks of William Street.
NEWSRACK
Any box, container, storage unit or similar dispensing device
installed, used, or maintained to display, sell, or make available
to the public written materials, including, but not limited to, newspapers,
magazines, flyers, brochures, leaflets, periodicals, advertisements,
and similar printed matter.
[Ord. No. 01-02, 3-13-2001]
No person shall place, install, construct, maintain, modify,
relocate or use all or part of a newsrack on any City sidewalk within
the Downtown Historic Area, except under a valid license or written
agreement signed by the City Manager or his designee.
[Ord. No. 01-02, 3-13-2001]
A. The City Manager shall develop and administer a program for the regulation
of newsracks pursuant to this division.
B. The City Manager shall designate not less than 10 and not more than
14 locations within the Downtown Historic Area where vendors may install
or use newsracks on City sidewalks. He shall further designate a uniform
design, size, and color for coin-operated newsracks and a uniform
design, size, and color for free newsracks and a uniform method for
installing and securing such newsracks.
[Ord. No. 01-02, 3-13-2001]
A. The City Manager shall have the authority to enter into agreements
with any person seeking to install, maintain, or use all or part of
a newsrack on City sidewalks in the Downtown Historic Area or to require
any such person to obtain a license from the City's department
of public works. No person, however, shall be required to pay any
type of application or license fee, but such person shall provide
such information on an application as the City Manager may deem reasonably
necessary to comply with the provisions of this division.
B. Any such application shall include a map showing the locations designated
by the City Manager for the placement of newsracks within the Downtown
Historic Area. Each applicant shall indicate on the application which
location it intends to utilize.
[Ord. No. 01-02, 3-13-2001]
A. The City Manager shall enter into an agreement or issue a license
pursuant to this division to any person completing an application,
if any, and meeting the conditions set forth in this section.
B. Every agreement entered into or license issued by the City Manager
shall include the following conditions:
(1) Each newsrack vendor shall agree to comply with all provisions of
this division and with the terms of such agreement or license.
(2) Each license or agreement shall be valid for a period of no more
than three years and shall be renewable pursuant to application procedures
and payment of a reasonable repair and maintenance fee for the newsracks,
if any, established by the City Manager.
(3) Each newsrack vendor shall provide its own newsrack or portion thereof,
except that the City Manager shall have the authority to purchase
newsracks for the distribution of free publications and to charge
applicants reasonable rental fees to cover the City's capital
outlay.
(4) Each newsrack vendor shall file a written statement with the City
Manager, in a form satisfactory to the City Attorney, agreeing to
indemnify and hold harmless the City, its officers, and employees,
from any loss, liability or damage, including expenses and costs,
for bodily or personal injury, and for property damage sustained by
any persons as a result of the installation, use, and maintenance
of its newsracks on City sidewalks within the Downtown Historic Area.
(5) Each newsrack vendor shall display its name, address, and local telephone
number affixed to each newsrack in a place where such information
can be easily seen.
(6) Each newsrack vendor shall keep its newsracks reasonably clean and
free of rust, in good working order, and free of litter.
(7) No newsrack vendor shall display any written sign, display, or advertising
on any newsrack except on the front thereof, in such manner as the
City Manager may reasonably determine.
(8) No vendor shall display any publication or printed matter which exposes
to public view any pictorial material that is obscene. For purposes
of this section, the term "obscene" shall mean any material that depicts
or describes sexual conduct which is objectionable or offensive to
accepted standards of decency that the average person, applying contemporary
community standards, would find, taken as a whole, appeals to prurient
interests; or material which depicts or describes, in a patently offensive
way, sexual conduct specifically defined by applicable state law,
and which, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political,
or scientific value.
[Ord. No. 01-02, 3-13-2001]
If a newsrack remains empty for a period of 60 continuous days, the City Manager shall have the authority to deem such newsrack abandoned, in which case the City Manager shall notify the newsrack vendor that such newsrack will be removed in accordance with §
66-107.
[Ord. No. 01-02, 3-13-2001]
A. Upon a determination by the City Manager that a newsrack has been
installed, used, or maintained in violation of this division or of
any agreement entered into or license issued under this division,
the City Manager may issue an order requiring the newsrack vendor
to correct the violation. Such notice shall be mailed by certified
mail, return receipt requested, to such person, and shall describe
the offending condition, state the actions necessary to correct the
condition, and inform the recipient of its right to appeal. Failure
to correct the condition or to file an appeal under this section within
10 working days from the date of mailing shall result in the offending
newsrack being removed and disposed of as unclaimed property by the
City.
B. Any person aggrieved by a finding, determination, order, or action
taken by the City Manager or his designee under this division may
file an appeal within 10 working days from the date of such action
or from the date of notice of the right to appeal, whichever is later.
Such person shall file such notice of appeal with the clerk of the
City Council. The City Council shall hold a hearing as soon as practicable
on the appeal, but not later than 30 days after the filing of such
notice. The appellant shall have a right to be heard at the hearing
and to present evidence as to why the City's decision or action
should be reversed. The City Council may affirm, reverse, or modify
the decision of the City Manager. The decision of the City Council
may thereupon be appealed to a court of competent jurisdiction.