HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/03/2013 08 Public Education Campaign to Stop PanhandlingBUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No.
For Meeting of: 9/3/2013
ITEM TITLE: Public Education Campaign to Stop Panhandling
SUBMITTED BY: Joan Davenport, Strategic Project Manager
Randy Beehler, Communication and Public Affairs Director
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
As a parallel.to increased enforcement efforts directed to reduce aggressive panhandling and related
traffic safety concerns, City Council directed staff to develop a public education campaign. This memo
outlines the public education campaign to Stop Panhandling.
Resolution:
Ordinance:
Other (Specify):
Contract:
Contract Term:
Start Date:
End Date:
Item Budgeted:
Amount:
Funding Source /Fiscal Impact:
Strategic Priority:
Public Safety
Insurance Required? No
Mail to:
Phone:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL: City Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Review report and direct staff to proceed or modify the approach, if necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
❑ Public Education Campaign to Stop Panhandling 8/26/2013 Backup Material
MEMORAND UM
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Joan Davenport, Strategic Project Manager
Randy Beehler, Communications & Public Affairs Director
Date: September 3, 2013
Subj ect: Public Education Campaign to Stop Panhandling
As a compliment to additional enforcement efforts directed to reduce aggressive
panhandling behavior and related traffic safety concerns, the City Council directed staff
to develop a public education campaign. The anti - panhandling campaign will be designed
to both raise awareness of the negative effects of panhandling in Yakima and to educate
the community about alternatives to giving money directly to panhandlers.
Staff suggests a two -part public education effort. The primary focus will be a media
campaign to increase awareness that giving money to panhandlers, while well- intended,
actually enables destructive behavior.
The City will use the `Be Part of the Solution" marketing campaign aimed at increasing
volunteerism and community involvement. Several anti - panhandling messages will be
created and distributed across multiple media platforms. The anti - panhandling messages
will initially focus on:
1) How community members can effectively contribute money to established non-
profit organizations that serve the homeless and low- income populations using the
"Donation Stations ";
2) Why community members should not give money directly to panhandlers; and,
3) What community members should do if confronted by an aggressive
panhandler.
In addition to traditional media (radio and TV), the anti - panhandling messages will be
distributed utilizing the City's own media platforms including YCTV and Y -PAC cable
TV channels, the City's website, the City's social media outlets (Facebook and Twitter),
the City's on -hold phone messaging system, "The Agenda" interview program, the
"Yakima Now" video magazine, and the City Hall lobby electronic messaging
board. Printed anti - panhandling marketing materials, including news releases, articles in
the City's electronic "Issues Brief' newsletter, etc., will also be developed and distributed
to local and regional news media, Yakima -area community organizations, and various
businesses.
The second initiative to increase public awareness regarding panhandling in Yakima is to
v�— have "giving meters" installed in a few highly visible locations, such as in
front of City Hall. These re- purposed parking meters would be used to
provide an opportunity to redirect donations that otherwise might have
been given to a panhandler. Instead, all the funds collected will be given
to local agencies that provide direct services to homeless populations.
Initially, four giving meters would be installed in the downtown area. In the future, local
service clubs or businesses may choose to sponsor a giving meter. The giving meter
could be installed permanently or could be mounted on a pedestal so they can be moved
to different locations. A business could sponsor location of a giving meter inside their
business for a limited period of time (three months for example) and may be asked to
match donations that are received during the time the meter was kept. Alternately, a
business could have a giving meter installed outside in a permanent location and donate
an annual amount to the Stop Panhandling campaign, which would be paid directly to the
homeless service agencies.
Purchase of 6 giving meters would be approximately $4,000.