October approval possible for shopping cart ordinance

A proposed ordinance dealing with abandoned shopping carts in the city came before the Public Safety Committee during their meeting on Monday.

Shopping carts and similar conveyances have increasingly been found abandoned in various locations throughout the city after being removed from the businesses or properties for which they were intended. The proposed ordinance is intended to establish a framework for addressing the removal, abandonment, recovery, storage, and enforcement of these items.

Public safety issues also arise with these abandoned carts, including the potential to damage vehicles and other private property, block right of way access for pedestrians, and littering parks and vacant lots, along with carts often being pulled from the Chadakoin River. Ill-intentioned usage of shopping carts prior to their abandonment has also been identified as being a direct contributor to the degradation of city neighborhoods, as stolen shopping carts are often being used to steal private property and deliver it to Weistman's in exchange for fast cash. The ordinance came before the Public Safety Committee for discussion and review on Monday, and is expected to be up for approval in October if the committee approves it.

"Basically there is a problem with shopping carts, wagons, and other non-motorized travel systems that are being used beyond their intended use," said Jeremy Engquist, D-At Large and chair of the Public Safety Committee. "It has become a public safety concern in the city."

Carts that are removed from their intended place of use become a nuisance when abandoned on city streets, walkways, waterways, wetlands, front or side yards, and Engquist said they are also sometimes used to transport stolen goods from vacant properties.

"The city is looking to protect the properties of people and the protections thereof," Engquist said.

The public safety held a brief discussion on the topic, with more discussion and information to come during the October 5 work session.

Potential costs associated with the implementation of this ordinance are still being evaluated, and the ordinance is being brought before council tonight for discussion and review only. It is expected that the ordinance will be up for council approval at the October 26 voting session.

“If adopted, storage of recovered carts is anticipated to be coordinated with the Department of Public Works, with enforcement involving the Jamestown Police Department and Department of Development,” the staff recommendation states. “Procedures for the collection and transportation of carts are still being evaluated, and council input regarding implementation and logistics is welcomed as part of the review process.”