The city of Tampa is closer than it ever has been to placing some sort of ban on panhandling in Tampa, though they're hoping to create an exemption for those who sell newspapers in the city.

The issue – for better or worse – dominated the recent elections, specifically at city council forums – with most polls indicating that the public wants to see the issue- and the panhandlers – go away.

So with a new council and mayor, a workshop today brought about two new proposals that the city attorney will research and present back to the council in early August, as well a third regarding helping the homeless.

The first proposal would be a complete, seven day ban, that would exempt those who sell newspapers. A similar ordinance is in place in Jacksonville and has so far has not been challenged by the courts.

Another proposal would be a six day ban, with panhandling legal on Sundays. Such an ordinance would allow the hundreds of hawkers who sell copies of the Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times on Sunday to continue to do so, as well as "regular" panhandlers.

And the council voted on a third motion to look at doing something productive in terms of housing the homeless by looking for money to do so – through the city's budget, through Community Development Block Grants, and through the private sector.

This article appears in Jun 16-22, 2011.