Monday, April 2, 2007
City Council to formalize non-enforcement of day labor ordinance
City officials said they have not enforced the ordinance for several years, citing constitutional challenges to similar laws.
By ALEJANDRA MOLINA
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
It could soon be legal to seek work while standing on sidewalks and streets, if the Lake Forest City Council on Tuesday upholds its recent decision to repeal the city's day labor ordinance.

In March, council members voted to repeal an ordinance that prohibits people from standing on sidewalks to solicit work. The measure comes to the council for a second reading this week. If approved, the change would go into effect after 30 days.

The city is considering repealing the ordinance as part of a routine code clean-up process.

In addition, repealing the ordinance could also satisfy a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union against the city in U.S. District Court. The ACLU filed the suit early last month, alleging that the city infringed on day workers' right to free speech by enforcing the law.

City officials said they have not enforced the law for several years, because similar laws in other cities were met with legal challenges.


Other items included in the routine municipal code re-codification project will be presented to the City Council in June.

Also on the agenda:

The council will vote whether to approve the notice of completion for the El Toro Road traffic and landscape improvement project. The proposed notice of completion allows the city to request final grant reimbursements from the OCTA Measure M program and from the County of Orange Foothill Circulation Phasing program.

The council will also vote whether to approve a notice of completion for storm drain projects on McCoy Road, Cavanaugh Road and El Toro frontage storm drain projects.

The council meeting is at 7 p.m. at 25550 Commercentre Drive.

Contact the writer: amolina@ocregister.com or 949-454-7347
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