Modesto considers fining problem hotels

Modesto is considering an ordinance that would let it recover its costs for providing police, fire and code enforcement services at hotels that generate excessive calls for service regarding prostitution, gambling, drugs, gangs, fighting and other criminal activity.

The City Council on Tuesday is expected to discuss the proposed ordinance and other regulations at a workshop after its regular meeting. The workshop is open to the public.

Modesto officials say several hotels generate high call volumes. The proposed ordinance would let the city fine hotels to recover the costs associated with excessive calls for service.

“This is not intended to be a revenue generator but to partially cover the (city’s) costs of the bad actors,” City Attorney Adam Lindgren said. “You can make certain management choices that can encourage or discourage criminal activity. Hopefully, this will create a direct financial incentive for hotel operators to be good operators.”

The council also is expected to discuss a proposed ordinance that would regulate feedings in city parks and placing more restrictions on where people can panhandle. Modesto has received additional complaints about groups that feed the homeless in parks and about aggressive panhandlers.

Lindgren said the intent of the feeding ordinance is not to ban the activity. There are churches and nonprofits that do regular feedings and ensure the parks are clean when they leave. But others conduct these feedings, and though well-intentioned, don’t pick up the litter and food waste. There also are concerns that the feedings bring more homeless people to certain parks.

Lindgren said it is his intention that the city include public outreach as it develops these ordinances. The hotel ordinance is expected to come to the council in the fall and the other regulations in September.

Officials also are expected to update council members on the city’s effort to regulate massage and bodywork businesses and on the effort to better regulate how prescription waste is discarded by residents.

The council also is expected to talk about the selection of organizations to serve on the citizens oversight board that would monitor how the proceeds of Measure G are spent. Measure G is a half-percent general sales tax the city has placed on the November ballot.

As a general tax, it could be spent on any general government purpose, but city officials say their intent is to spend the tax on public safety and neighborhoods. Officials have said the oversight board is one of the steps the city would put in place to ensure the tax is spent as intended if voters approve it.

This story was originally published August 9, 2015 at 4:27 PM with the headline "Modesto considers fining problem hotels."