HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 082 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 22-082
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 7, 2022
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SUBJECT: UPDATE ON MANAGING ABANDONED SHOPPING CARTS
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The purpose of this informal report is to provide an update on the enforcement and management of
abandoned shopping carts.
As a general policy, the use of shopping carts is essential for the purchase of goods inside of a store and
delivery of purchased goods to a vehicle in a parking lot. After customers complete the purchase and
delivery of the goods to a vehicle, they are expected to either return the cart to the store or a designated
cart corral. Retailers do not want customers leaving with the carts because the carts are subsequently
misused or abandoned. Examples include being dumped along roadways and waterways, converted for
personal use, used by transients to move transport belongings, etc. The loss of shopping carts require
retailers to hire contractors or use employees to drive about looking for carts to reduce cart replacement
costs ($300 - $500/cart).
With recent attention to abandoned shopping carts and carts being stolen/used by the homeless, the City
has increased communications with local, regional and national retailers to improve their response to
shopping carts that were being abandoned throughout the city. Some stores are using technology to
curtail removal of the cart from the premises. However, some locations have not taken measures to
appropriately manage their shopping carts. The City continues to maintain an online search tool where
residents and staff can report carts to the store manager, and the store would ensure a timely retrieval.
The tool can be accessed at: www.fortworthtexas.gov/shoppingcarts/ Residents can also report
abandoned carts to the City Call Center at (817) 392-1234.
In addition, in January 2022, Code Compliance staff held a virtual conference with retailers/stakeholders
to evaluate options for controlling abandoned shopping carts. The discussions did resolve ongoing issues
with a couple of locations. However, staff is finishing the development of a shopping cart ordinance due
to specific and repeated failures at the local level. The goal of this ordinance will be to penalize operators
that are non-responsive or fail to address ongoing issues. Staff will continue to work with stakeholders
and interested parties including getting feedback on the draft ordinance before bringing it back to City
Council.
The plan is to bring the ordinance back to City Council this summer. If you have any questions, please
contact Brandon Bennett, Code Compliance Director at 817-392-6322.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS