[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Yonkers 3-25-1947 by G.O. No.
46-1947; amended in its entirety 7-2-1991 by G.O. No. 15-1991. Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any publicly accessible outdoor receptacle or container,
other than any container placed by any government or governmental
agency, or its contractors or licensees, for the donation and the
temporary storage of clothing or other materials, other than money,
to be collected by the provider of such container.
[Added 2-24-2015 by G.O.
No. 3-2015]
The Commissioner of Housing and Building, and shall include
the designee of the Commissioner, unless otherwise provided.
[Added 2-24-2015 by G.O.
No. 3-2015]
The Director of the Office of Licensing, who is also referred to as the Consumer Protection Officer in Article IIIA of the Charter, and shall include the designee of the Director, unless otherwise provided.
[Amended 7-18-1996 by L.L. No. 5-1996]
Includes any soliciting activity of a noncommercial solicitor.
Includes any person who goes from place to place, house to
house or apartment to apartment or who stands in or along any street
or public place or who places any collection containers on any property
or who contacts any person by telephone, on behalf of any legitimate
not-for-profit religious, charitable, educational, public interest
or political organization, association, corporation or entity, for
the purpose of soliciting donations of money, property or financial
assistance of any kind or soliciting the sale of any goods for the
financial support of any such entity.
[Amended 2-24-2015 by
G.O. No. 3-2015]
It shall be unlawful for any noncommercial solicitor to engage
in any noncommercial solicitation except pursuant to a license issued
by the Director and unless the noncommercial solicitor carries an
identification card issued by the entity for which the noncommercial
solicitor is soliciting.
[Amended 2-24-2015]
A.
Application to engage in noncommercial solicitation, other than collection
bins, as provided for in this chapter, shall be addressed to the Director,
and such application shall contain the following information:
(1)
The names and addresses of the officers and directors of the organization.
(2)
The name and purpose of the solicitation for which permission is
sought.
(3)
The time for which permission to solicit is sought and the localities
and places of solicitation.
(4)
Whether or not any commissions, fees, wages or emoluments are to
be expended in connection with such noncommercial solicitation.
(5)
Such other information as the Director shall require.
B.
Collection bins. For the placement of collections bins, the applicant must submit the application addressed to the Commissioner, and provide following information to obtain a permit for each bin, in addition to the information in Subsection A:
(1)
The proposed location/address where the bin is to be placed. No more
than a total of three bins can be placed at any proposed location.
(2)
The name and telephone number of the owner of the location at which
the bin is to be placed.
(3)
The name and telephone number of the individual who will be placing
the bin.
(4)
Information as to the manner and schedule for which the bin is to
be emptied or removed and the destination of the clothing to be removed
from the bin.
(5)
Written permission of the property owner or designated agent for
the placement of the bin.
C.
Fees. The fee for the issuance of a permit to place a collection
bin within the City of Yonkers shall be $100 for each bin. The license
period for each bin shall be January 1 through December 31 biennially.
[Added 2-24-2015 by G.O. No. 3-2015[1]]
A.
Each individual collection bin shall have prominently affixed, on
the front and on at least one other side of the bin, a copy of the
issued permit, and, the name, address and telephone number of the
provider of the bin. This information shall be printed in characters
that are plainly visible. In no event shall a post office box be considered
an acceptable address for purposes of this subsection.
B.
No collection bin may be placed on any City property or property
maintained by the City, or on any public sidewalk or roadway.
C.
No collection bin shall be placed on any private property without
the approval of the Yonkers Department of Housing and Building without
the written permission of the property owner or the property owner's
designated agent.
D.
Collection bins shall be placed on the site in a manner that does
not impede vehicular or pedestrian traffic flow.
E.
Collection bins shall not be placed in the right-of-way and shall
adhere to the setback standards for the site where they are placed.
F.
Collection bins shall not be placed in a required parking space or
reduce the number of parking spaces below the minimum number required
by the City's zoning code.
G.
Each bin must be regularly emptied of its contents so that it does
not overflow, resulting in used clothing or materials being strewn
about the surrounding area.
H.
In addition to penalties provided for in any other provisions of
law, in the event that a collection bin is placed on City property,
or property maintained by the City, or on any public sidewalk or roadway,
the owner of the collection bin, if the address of such owner is ascertainable,
shall be notified by the Commissioner by certified mail, return receipt
requested, that such publicly accessible collection bin must be removed
within 30 days from the mailing of such notice. A copy of such notice,
regardless of whether the address of such owner is ascertainable,
shall also be affixed to the collection bin. This notice shall state
that if the address of the owner is not ascertainable and notice is
not mailed by the Commissioner, such publicly accessible collection
bin must be removed within 30 days from the affixation of such notice.
This notice shall also state that the failure to remove the collection
bin within the designated time period will result in the removal and
disposal of the collection bin by the Department of Public Works.
This notice shall also state that if the owner objects to removal
on the grounds that the bin is not on City property, or property maintained
by the City, or on any public sidewalk or roadway, such owner may
send written objection to the Commissioner at the address indicated
on the notice within 20 days from the mailing of such notice or, if
the address of such owner is not ascertainable and notice is not mailed
by the Commissioner, within 20 days from the affixation of such notice,
with proof that the bin is on private property. Proof that the bin
is on private property shall include, but not be limited to, a survey
of the property prepared by a licensed surveyor that is certified
to the record owner of such property.
It shall be the duty of the Director, before granting permission
to engage in noncommercial solicitation as provided for in this chapter,
to require the applicant to file a sworn statement of all moneys collected
in the calendar year or the fiscal year of such organization, society,
association or corporation previous to the application, the expenditures
connected therewith, together with the names and addresses of all
persons receiving fees, wages, commissions or emoluments and the amounts
so expended.
The Director may establish such regulations as are necessary
to implement the purposes and objects of this chapter.
Licensees engaging in noncommercial solicitation pursuant to
this chapter shall label all collection boxes or containers used in
the solicitation of funds, either by appeal in person or by the placing
of receptacles for the receipt of such public contributions in stores,
factories, shops, offices, theaters, hotels, restaurants, railway
stations, ferry houses or other public places, with the name of the
organization for which the permit is issued and in such conspicuous
manner as the Director may direct.
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any corporation
organized under the Religious Corporations Law nor to solicitation
at the regular exercises or services of any lodge, benevolent order
or fraternity, or any branch thereof, whenever such solicitation is
made at the regularly appointed meetings and regular places of worship
or exercises of such lodge, order or fraternity.
