Covington is revisiting the city’s panhandling ordinance, following complaints from residents about an apparent increase in panhandling in the downtown core.

The measure was passed in December 2008, according to city spokeswoman Karla Slate.

What city officials are finding is a need to raise awareness of the law and how to report aggressive panhandling.

“The goal of the ordinance was to make it a crime for panhandlers to be aggressive and allow people who felt intimidated or threatened to call 911 and report the problem,” Slate said via e-mail. “A major problem is that, again, the city is seeing an increase in panhandling in general. Residents inform the city of this on a regular basis, however, literally no one ever utilizes the ordinance or calls 911. On the city’s side then, there is no record of the incidents residents complain about.”

The City Council listened to testimony from staff and citizens at an April 27 public meeting on the issue of panhandling.

Police Chief Kevin Klason reported a department survey identified about 16 actively panhandling in the area, including three women.

Not all of the 16 are homeless, Klason said, some “called themselves couch surfers.”

The chief noted five have severe alcohol problems.

Klason told the council the department receives about two to three calls each week concerning panhandlers.

He also noted some of the calls involve assault between the panhandlers.

Victoria Throm, personnel and human services analyst for Covington, said there are few shelters available in south King County for those in need.

“Shelters are very hard to get into,” Throm said.

Throm said domestic violence shelters turn away 25 people for every one taken, “and I am sure it is the same for homeless.”

Throm said there are only 119 beds in south King County.

She told the council one couple chose to live in a tent rather than separate and one person refused to give up a pet because, “it is all (the person) has.”

Throm noted she does give out gas vouchers to help people. The vouchers are paid for by donations from the city of Covington staff.

Councilman Wayne Snoey said, “This is a tough situation. We have 10 percent unemployment and 10 percent under employment.”

Snoey outlined the dilemma noting “people have a right to panhandle with limitations, but people also have a right to feel safe (from panhandlers), which is why I support tightening the legislation.”

The council directed the staff to return with information for the members involving three issues.

First, prohibiting panhandlers from soliciting a vehicle, second, requiring permission from a property owner for a panhandler to solicit on private property and third a public education effort.

Slate said people aren’t even aware that the city has an aggressive panhandling ordinance.

“I am told all the time from those folks that they are disappointed in the City Council for not having an aggressive panhandling ordinance when, in fact, we do,” Slate said. “Even though the ordinance is pointing to the ‘aggressive’ part, if you read it word-for-word you can see it also includes that it is unlawful just to panhandle near areas where children are known to be … and (the ordinance) includes general or aggressive begging ‘at locations that…impedes or threatens to impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic.’”

According to information provided by Klason in March 2009, officers have a delicate balance in enforcing the panhandling ordinance, in that people who panhandle are allowed to do so under the First Amendment.

There are some popular spots in downtown including at the off-ramp of state Route 18 where it intersects with Southeast 272nd Street as well as the corner of Southeast 272nd and Wax Road.

Klason explained to The Reporter last year, “as long as they are passively there, soliciting donations, there’s no issue.”

The ordinance stated “aggressive begging” includes intimidating someone into giving money or goods, using false or misleading information while panhandling, begging with the intent to engage in unsafe activities, or soliciting at locations in a way that threatens others safety or impedes on the safe flow of traffic among other things.

Klason said his officers had spoken with many of the panhandlers and made them aware of the ordinance and what behaviors would get them in trouble.

In December 2008, shortly after the ordinance was passed, Covington police also went out to camps where many of the panhandlers had set up tents not far from their favorite spots, as many of those folks are homeless either by choice or as a result of the rough economic times.

The chief noted the police cannot do anything about incidents of aggressive panhandling if they are not called, but “if the victim is willing to testify we can put together a case and submit it.”

One of the best ways to deter panhandling, law enforcement officials have advised, is to avoid giving out cash, and instead give gift cards or coupons that can be used for food and shelter.