The River Falls Common Council passed the law that limits picketing in certain neighborhoods on its second reading. At the council meeting on Tuesday, September 24, the law was approved by a vote of 5 to 1.
“This ordinance tells everyone what to do, which is good for our community. That way, everyone knows their legal rights to privacy at home and can decide if they want to use their right to free speech,” said Sean Downing, Alderperson for District 1.
“I agree with this because it shows people how to better understand both of their rights and makes sense for our community as a whole.
The last time the council met was on September 10, and since then, the ordinance’s memorandum has added meanings of single residential dwelling and targeted residential picketing. Single-family homes are homes that are used by one person, a small group, or a family.
A person who lives in a house is the subject of targeted residential picketing, which is when people protest in front of their house.
“This ordinance is designed as a proactive measure to protect individuals’ right to privacy, especially since the country has been experiencing an increase in hostility and political violence,” the ordinance says.
“It also protects First Amendment rights.” Under this residential picketing law, everyone who lives in the city would be safe, including government workers, police officers, volunteers, public officials, teachers, coaches, preachers, and more.
Targeted residential picketing is against the law within city boundaries. This rule makes it a municipal civil forfeiture offence to march, stand, or patrol on a single residential dwelling without the permission of the residents of that dwelling.
The leader of the council, Scott Morrissette, said, “We haven’t seen anything like this in our community, and I hope we never do.” This lets people in the neighborhood know where they can protest and hold these kinds of events.
Quick hits
- The council agreed with the updated urban area border map from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. It shows which roads are considered urban or rural in the state transportation program me and who can get federal funds based on the map. It also marks a spot where more cities are likely to grow in the future.
- The preliminary resolution for the council to use their special assessment police powers to help the River Falls Business Improvement District (BID) was passed.
- BID wants to keep the $44,500 assessment that is put on people every year to pay for changes to the downtown area. Based on its value on January 1, 2024, each property in the BID pays a share of the assessment. There will be a public hearing on the final assessment on October 22, 2024. This will give property owners in the district a chance to say what they think before the assessments are accepted.
- The council gave the go-ahead for the Wisconsin DNR Urban Forestry Grant proposal. If the grant is granted, it will pay for half of the costs of yearly tree maintenance. The largest gift that can be given is $25,000.