HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 24-1862INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 24-1862
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 4, 2024
Page 1 of 2
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DOOR-TO-DOOR VENDORS
VA
1673
On August 15, 2023, staff provided an overview to City Council on the Door -to -Door Vendor Ordinance via the
attached IR. This report provides an update, including responses to questions and concerns from City Council and
recommendations on the registration process.
The objectives of the Door -to -Door Vendor Ordinance are: 1) to promote the general health, public safety and
welfare, as well as the comfort, convenience and protection of the City and its residents by prohibiting door-to-door
activity at residences during times when such activity is most intrusive and disruptive to a resident's privacy; 2) to
regulate the manner in which any solicitation activities may occur; 3) to promote good order and protect residents
from aggressive and intimidating practices; and 4) to require solicitors to register with the City to aid in crime
detection and deter deceptive practices and fraud.
Below are responses to City Council questions and concerns:
1. Request for enforcement: When a citizen calls or uses the MyFWApp to report a violation of the ordinance,
Police officers respond to determine if a violation occurred. During this encounter with the solicitor, the
responding officer will verify if the solicitor has the valid registration and may issue citations and/or warnings
depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
2. Requiring a registration fee: A fee to recover the cost to administer the program/ordinance is allowed. The
fee is dependent on the cost for conducting the criminal background check and employees whose direct labor
is used in the administration of the ordinance and internal indirect costs, such as printing of identification
(ID) cards for door-to-door vendors. The estimated cost for administering the Door -to -Door program is
$43.73 per registration. This includes staff wages, benefits, as well as office equipment and supplies. The
cost for background checks and identification cards vary as shown on response #4.
3. Providing a no trespassing sticker: During the National Night Out 2023 event, several thousand "No Soliciting,
No Trespassing, No Handbills" stickers were distributed. Residents were advised to place the stickers on or
next to their front door. A door-to-door vendor shall not engage in solicitation activities at any residence that
has a "No Soliciting" or "No Trespassing" sign posted on the property.
4. Conducting criminal background checks: The cost for background checks of vendors are considered a cost to
administer the program. Currently, the Police Department (PD) has an agreement with Information Discovery
Service (IDS). The total cost for administration of program, background check and identification card are
estimated to be about $100.07/48 hour per registration. The Human Resources Department has an
agreement with TruView and the total cost for the door-to-door registration including background checks
and ID would be approximately $130.91/72 hours per registration. Staff has also looked at Raptor
Technology, the system the Fort Worth Independent School District and other local school districts use. The
total cost is estimated to be $87.87/30 hours per registration. Background checks involve a search of national
criminal databases, accessing various publicly available sources such as courts, county records, state criminal
databases, state department of corrections, probation records, parole records, state licensing records, sex
offender registries, and terrorist watch list. The results of these searches will uncover details on arrests,
charges, types of offenses, convictions, sentences, and probation or parole status.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 24-1862
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 4, 2024
Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON DOOR-TO-DOOR VENDORS
VA
1673
Background Check Options
Raptor
30 Hours
IDS
48 Hours
TruView
72 Hours
Search & ID Cost
$44.14
$56.34
$87.18
Program Cost
1 $43.73
1 $43.73
1 $43.73
Total
1 $87.87
1 $100.07
1 $130.91
5. Require identification: An identification card or document as proof of registration can be used and may be
covered with the registration fee. The identification card is contingent to the background search operating
software or other system used. The Raptor system includes printing of a paper identification card, while IDS
and TruView print IDs on traditional plastic identification card stock. The costs shown above include the
identification card cost for all three options.
6. Tolerance Level: The tolerance level for Fort Worth and other municipalities is zero and in Fort Worth
violators are subject to a fine of $500 for each offense. In addition, each day that a violation exists shall
constitute a separate offense.
7. Operating hours: Operating outside of the allowed hours of operation of 9:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m. Central
Standard Time and 8:00 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time constitutes a violation of the Ordinance.
Recommendations
Staff recommends that background checks for door-to-door vendors be allowed by ordinance and that IDS be
selected as the service provider. IDS participates with the Texas Multiple Award Schedule (TEXMAS) Program and
works with traditional plastic identification card software, rather than paper cards as used by Raptor. The City's Door -
to -Door registration is valid for six months and the identification card needs to be durable enough to last six months.
In addition, staff recommends that a fee be collected to cover the cost to administer the program. Without objection,
staff will workwith the Law Department on an ordinance for City Council consideration on August 13, 2024, to require
background checks and ID cards for door-to-door vendors and to add a registration fee to fully cover the City's costs.
For questions regarding this information, please contact Janie Scarlett Morales, Development Services Assistant
Director, or Executive Assistant Chief Robert Alldredge.
David Cooke
City Manager
Attachment
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 23-0732
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 15, 2023
Page 1 of 2
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SUBJECT: REPORT ON DOOR-TO-DOOR VENDORS
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The purpose of this report is to provide information regarding Door -to -Door Vendors, including the
registration process, enforcement procedure and an overview of similar regulations in other cities.
The Door -to -Door ordinance was adopted on September 17, 2002, and subsequently amended on March
3, 2015, requiring door-to-door vendors to register and prohibiting door-to-door solicitation and the
placement of handbills on residential property before 9:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m. Central Standard
Time, and after 8:00 p.m. during Daylight Savings Time, unless specifically requested by the occupant. The
ordinance's primary objective is to promote the general health, public safety and welfare, as well as the
comfort, convenience and protection of the City and its residents by addressing when and under what
circumstances solicitation may occur to limit the intrusion on the privacy and personal property rights of
residents.
Door-to-door vendors are required to register with the City. The registration process is managed by the
Development Services Department. Registration may be completed online, in person or via an email
through the MyFW Customer Relationship Management System. Applicants are required to provide
individual or company name, address, a government -issued identification, the name of the business or
principle, a description of the nature and character of the goods, services or merchandise to be offered
for sale or delivered, the make, model, year, VIN, and the plate number of the vehicle that will be used by
the vendor, the vendor's sales tax identification number and the hours during which the vendor intends
to operate. The registration is valid for six months.
Door-to-door vendors are prohibited from engaging in solicitation activities when the follow
circumstances are applicable:
(a) At any residence or business that has a "No Soliciting" or "No Trespassing" sign posted on the
property.
(b) At any residence or business where the door-to-door vendor has been verbally informed that
solicitation of food, goods, services or merchandise is not allowed.
(c) At any residence before 9:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m. Central Standard Time and after 8:00
p.m. during Daylight Savings Time, unless specifically requested by the occupant.
Below is the permitting activity as recorded in the Accela permitting system and MyFW Customer
Relationship Management System.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 23-0732
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 15, 2023
Page 2 of 2
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- SUBJECT: REPORT ON DOOR-TO-DOOR VENDORS
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Development Services Door -To -Door Permit Applications and MyFW CRM
FY19
I FY20
FY21
FY22
FY23 YTD
FY23 Projected
Accela Applications
598
441
348
158
308
411
MyFW CRM DSD
4
5
0
5
7
The table below provides information on the solicitation ordinances in different Texas cities including Fort
Worth based on data collected from each city.
Door -To -Door Regulations
City
Registration
Required
Regulations*
Criminal
Check
Fee**
Fines
Fort Worth
Yes
T/L/N
No
No
$500
Arlington
Yes
T/H/N
Yes
$10A
$500
Austin
No
T
No
No
No
Burleson
Yes
H
Yes
No
No
Dallas
Yes
T/D/H/L/N
Yes
$50A/$10R
$500
El Paso
Yes
R
Yes
$100A/$40P/$70V
$200
Grand Prairie
Yes
T/D/H
No
$50A
No
Irving
Yes
T/D/H/N
No
$50A/$10P
No
Mesquite
Yes
T/D/H
Yes
$25A
No
San Antonio
Yes
T
Yes
$25B/$60C/$120F/$180T
$500
*D= Days of Operation, H=Holidays, L=Leave when asked, N= No Solicitation Sign, R=Report of Activity, T=Time of Operation
**A=Application, B=Background Check, C=Canvasser, F=Foot Peddler, P=Person, R=Replacement Card, T=Truck Peddler, V=Vehicle
In summary, all the Cities mentioned have implemented some regulations, with nine of the them
including Fort Worth imposing restrictions on operating hours, holidays and requiring registration.
Additionally, four cites have regulations requiring compliance with "no solicitation" or "no trespassing"
signs, as well as solicitor to leave if asked. Six cities require a criminal history report or a background
check and eight of the cities including Fort Worth have entrusted their police departments with the
enforcement of their ordinance.
For questions regarding this information, please contact Janie Scarlett Morales, Development Services
Assistant Director at Janie.morales@fortworthtexas.gov or 817-392-7810.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS