The commission approved on first reading an amendment Oct. 21 to tighten enforcement of the city’s shopping-cart ordinance, giving staff authority to issue civil violations where businesses fail to file or implement cart-retention plans.

Interim Public Works Director Carlene McHenry told the commission operations and beautification staff have spent significant time collecting abandoned carts. Many businesses have not submitted retention plans required under the 2022 ordinance, McHenry said. The proposed change mirrors enforcement tools used by neighboring municipalities and would create a civil-violation fee for noncompliance.

Commissioners asked staff to consider requiring wheel-lock technology or similar measures for new and certain existing businesses with shopping carts, and staff agreed to return with language for a second-reading amendment if allowable under state law. The first-reading motion passed 7-0.

What’s next: Staff will return with a draft of proposed fees, a compliance timeline and a second-reading amendment that may include wheel-lock requirements for new permits and certain existing shopping-cart generators.