PORT ANGELES — A new “pedestrian interference” ordinance approved by the City Council earlier this month is described as a new legal tool that police can use when street musicians, panhandlers and others block pedestrians or traffic downtown.
But whether it’s controlling bongo-drumming and aggressive panhandling in a commercial breezeway off First Street remains to be seen.
Testimony at a May 3 City Council meeting indicated that the ordinance is aimed at street musicians who don’t always ask for money but arguably block the sidewalk and certainly intimidate some people.
But the new law also might be used in dealing with professional panhandlers who frequent the city’s downtown during the tourist season, according to one business owner.
Police Chief Tom Riepe told the City Council that the ordinance was created because of complaints from visitors about people blocking the sidewalk coupled with a realization that there was no ordinance to address the problem.
The ordinance was unanimously passed by the City Council on May 3 and took effect May 13.
Riepe said Friday that one of his officers already has used the ordinance to warn one person, which is required before the person can be cited.
The person complied.
The ordinance is a good tool but there are also other laws on the books for violations such as loitering, he said.
Camping in door alcoves
Port Angeles Downtown Association Executive Director Arla Holzschuh told the City Council that more people and businesses downtown means some buildings have become more inviting.
Now people are sitting in some of the doorway recesses day and night, she said.
City Attorney Bill Bloor told the City Council it is hard to control behavior on city streets, but this ordinance responds to downtown merchants’ concerns.
This ordinance is modeled after Seattle’s, which has been upheld in appeals courts, he said.
Bloor said there’s no “free zone” for intimidation and that this ordinance doesn’t replace other laws, but provides an additional legal tool.
The ordinance targets the same area as the proposed downtown resource officer program.
The area runs from Valley Creek Estuary Park to Francis Street Park and from the waterfront to Second Street between Valley and Laurel streets, extending south to Fourth Street between Laurel and Peabody streets.
At the May 3, City Council meeting, Ravens World owner Bob Lumens said the ordinance was targeted at “a resident of the First Street breezeway who plays the bongos and drinks coffee and is very brash.”
“Is there anything we can do? I have to walk past this guy. Customers have told me, ‘This is weird.”‘ he said.
