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Fresno Council Votes On Median Ordinance
Posted: Feb 4, 2010 11:18 AM PST

The Fresno City Council voted Thursday on an ordinance to regulate the time, place and manner in which people could occupy a city median.

The Median Island Safety Ordinance passed in a 6-1 vote.

The ordinance was introduced by City Council President Larry Westerlund, who made it clear in Thursday's meeting that the ordinance was in the public's best interest. "This is really, truly and only about safety," he said.

Westerlund said he was compelled to introduce the ordinance following a high rate of complaints by his constituents about the number of people occupying the medians.

"We need to be proactive and do something about this before someone is seriously hurt or killed," Westerlund said.

The ordinance would not ban all activity on the median islands; it would still allow those with city permits to occupy the space for limited periods of time. This includes local non-profit groups that use the medians to collect money for charities.

However critics argue the practice of occupying medians needs to be banned all together or not at all.

"It should be illegal," said former City Council Member Brian Calhoun. "You need to say you're gonna have them or you're not gonna have them on the street corner.

Council member Andrea Borgeas echoed Calhoun's sentiments,"I think as a public safety matter, we should do away with all the public island activity without exception." However Borgeas seemed willing to give the ordinance a chance, asking Westerlund if the item could be brought back in year to see how it has functioned.

Other opponents, like Mike Rhodes, say the ordinance is just another way to make life more difficult for Fresno's homeless population. "I would much rather see the city put in their resources to housing the homeless, finding better alternatives for them and back away from these ordinances that would make life more difficult for them."

The new ordinance, which will penalize violators through misdemeanor tickets, goes into effect in 60 days.