The city council finds and declares that:
A.
There is a substantial governmental interest in promoting the public health, safety, welfare and convenience by ensuring that persons may reasonably use the public streets, sidewalks, rights-of-way, and other public property without interference with such use.
B.
Public streets and sidewalks are public forums and their reasonable use in distributing and circulating newspapers by means of newsracks is not only a constitutionally protected right but serves a significant purpose in providing access to news for citizens of the city.
C.
The reasonable use of newsracks within the public rights-of-way and other public property can be accomplished without interfering with the normal and reasonable use of these areas by the public, all while still providing ample access to the news.
D.
The public health, safety, welfare and convenience require that:
1.
Unreasonable interference with motorist or pedestrian traffic be avoided;
2.
Obstruction of views of traffic signs and street-crossing pedestrians be eliminated;
3.
Damage done to sidewalks or streets be minimized and repaired;
4.
The good appearance of the public streets and grounds be maintained;
5.
Trees and other landscaping be allowed to grow without disturbance;
6.
Access to emergency and other public facilities be maintained; and
7.
Ingress and egress from properties adjoining the public rights-of-way be maintained.
E.
The regulation of newsracks as set forth in this chapter provides the least intrusive and burdensome means for ensuring the purposes stated in this section are carried out while still providing ample opportunities for the distribution of news to the citizens of the city via newsracks located within public rights-of-way and public property.
F.
With fewer printed newspapers, free magazines, and advertisements, it is appropriate to consolidate newsracks in the downtown.
(Prior code § 5-9.08; Ord. 1147 § 1, 1984; Ord. 2248, 12/5/2023)