2003-07-07 Regular - Laserfiche WebLink

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Session 1891 July 7, 2003 its listing, subject to timely verification by the City building commissioner of the property having a paid and scheduled inspection. Ms. Welsch seconded the motion to amend, which carried unanimously. The main motion to approve the contract carried unanimously. AGENDA ITEM # 4 Request for Permission to Solicit - Fund for Public Interest Research (MoPIRG): The Fund for Public Interest Research is planning to conduct a door-to-door campaign on behalf of MoPIRG (Missouri Public Interest Research Group) for the period July 8, 2003 through July 29, 2003. They will collect financial contributions and petition signatures. The organization works on environmental and public health issues. The organization will certify that the cost of raising the funds in the solicitation will not exceed 25% of the total amount raised. A representative of the organization has been invited to this meeting should the Council have any questions. Mr. Munkel moved approval. Ms. Colquitt seconded the motion. Mr. Lieberman requested that the Mayor ask the representative to come forward. Mr. Lieberman voiced his position against door to door solicitation stating that he felt that it was an intrusion into the neighborhoods and an intrusion into the private lives of the people who live there. Consequently, he likes to ask if the organization who has requested a permit to solicit, has tried other methods to solicit funds, for example outside of businesses. Elizabeth Niehaus, 59 Vere Maryland Plaza, 63108 responded that they have not tried that method in University City. Their offices have been in U. City for about nineteen years and they have found that door to door canvassing is the best way of soliciting these funds. In other cities they have done some street canvassing, which includes outside of businesses, but door to door has the greatest success. Mr. Wagner's concern is going door to door after dark. He asked if Ms. Niehaus could try not to do this. Ms. Niehaus said that they canvass from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Right now, it is only dark for the last fifteen minutes. Typically, during this time, they are only going back to people's houses who have asked them to come back later. Mr. Wagner says that he and his neighbors, for safety reasons on both sides, do not like answering the door after dark. To the extent reasonable, he would like them to minimize after dark solicitations. Mr. Munkel reminded the Council that this issue is under the protection of the United States Constitution under the right of free speech. As much as we may dislike or like Page 4