‘Solicit’ draws controversial crowd - June 2008

By Mindy Honey
BDN Staff Writer
mhoney@bransondailynews.com

A bill defining the word ‘solicit’ drew a crowd to the Branson Board of Aldermen Monday meeting, some in favor while others were opposed.

During a work session last month, city Attorney Paul Link reported he had received complaints about vacation club and timeshare sales employees at downtown locations soliciting visitors on the sidewalks. Link said the complaints hadn’t really come from tourists, but from downtown business owners — saying it is creating an environment of over solicitation. The city’s solution, define the word solicit.

“All that is offered is a definition of solicit to deal with those issues that have been complained about,” Link said. “We already had a solicitation ordinance.”

One Kirbyville resident wasn’t pleased with what the city was doing.

“As elected officials, I think you should look to protect our freedoms,” Bill Stephenson said.

Stephenson said the ACLU had been contacted.

“They are currently investigating the city of Branson’s ordinances,” he said.

Businessman Grant Johnson said he has been solicited in downtown.

“The gentleman is trying to use threats and intimidation against the city of Branson,” Johnson said.

Pat Joyce has a tourist information center in downtown.

“Apparently things are a little slower down there than usual,” Joyce said. “The weather’s been bad and gas prices up. The merchants are staring at each other. It is more a social problem than a business problem. I think the ordinance in itself is fine. I don’t think people should be working on the sidewalk. If you are standing in the doorway to your store and a guy comes up to your door and asks about the T-shirt in your window, I certainly wouldn’t want to see one of my fellow merchants arrested. I haven’t really seen a problem down there.”

Alderman Stan Barker said the city was merely attempting to define ‘solicit.’

“The point is, we do want Branson to continue to be a friendly place to come because it doesn’t make any difference if you are selling a vacation club or timeshare, if people no longer feel comfortable coming to our community there won’t be anybody to sell to,” Barker said. “I think we have an obligation to not just the visitors but to the business people and the locals to make our downtown appealing.”

Because of several concerns raised throughout the pubic comment section, the board voted to postpone any action and told Link to take a closer look at it. The issue will be reviewed at the June 17 work session.

The board also gave initial approval to three bills Alderman Sandra Williams initiated. The first two bills would change city ordinance pertaining to the city clerk and city attorney to read the same as the Missouri state statute.

The third bill addresses the city administrator and removal from office. The present ordinance requires a three-fourths vote and the amendment, which received initial approval, would required two-thirds vote.