What residents need to know
According to the agenda item, the new section will prohibit the following activities on all public sidewalks in the city of Bellaire, including:
- The use of motorized vehicles
- Placement of personal items
- Sitting or lying down on a public sidewalk
- Those with disabilities who use motorized vehicles or nonmotorized assistive devices to move across a public sidewalk
- Medical emergencies
- Permitted events such as parades, festivals, or meetings
- Placement of personal items while waiting to board a bus at a designated bus stop
Bellaire Police Chief Onesimo Lopez said those found in violation can receive a Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of up to $500.
What they’re saying
The item was proposed by City Manager Sharon Citino, who said she submitted the ordinance for public safety reasons, especially as e-scooters and e-bikes become more prolific in the neighborhood.
Council member Cindy Cohen Taylor specifically pointed out the increased use of small, motorized motorcycles along Newcastle Trail and asked Onesimo how the new ordinance would be communicated to residents that the behavior would not be permissible anymore.
“We would lean on Cheryl Bright, our communications manager, to get the message out,” Onesimo said. “Once this were to go into effect, the officers would start with education. We wouldn’t immediately go out and start citing people. Our goal is to educate people and let them know what is permitted and what isn’t permitted.”
On the other hand, Citino said some of the subsections within the ordinance related to lying down on the sidewalks were modeled after Houston’s civility ordinance, which bans sleeping in public places 24/7 as well as sitting, lying down and leaving any items of bedding material on a sidewalk, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
“This is the kind of behavior that we want to discourage,” Mayor Gus Pappas said.
