Council agrees to explore public-education campaign on panhandling and distributes homeless resource guide

Councilmembers discussed homelessness outreach and a public-education approach to panhandling after Mayor Pro Tem reported on a resource guide for people experiencing homelessness.

The Mayor Pro Tem said staff would work with communications to develop educational materials that encourage citizens to direct donations to service providers rather than to panhandlers. Ideas included social media, printed brochures, mock parking meters to collect donations for agencies, and signage in downtown kiosks. Danette Dye was credited with producing a printed resource guide to be placed in kiosks and distributed at shelters.

"I wanna have that conversation with you all. If you felt you were in agreement with that, the thought would be to task the city manager and our folks in communications and marketing to come up with some type of a public education piece that could be disseminated to our community to explain why it's not a good idea to support panhandlers," the Mayor Pro Tem said.

Councilmembers expressed support for drafting materials and requested staff return proposals for review before broad distribution. Councilwoman Danielle Barber asked where contributions might be directed; the Mayor Pro Tem said staff would include recommendations.

The council did not adopt a formal policy or ordinance at the meeting; it reached consensus to have staff produce outreach options and recommended donation channels for future approval.