After a public debate that has lasted over a year, the Tampa City Council today finally has come one step closer to banning panhandling - while making exceptions for Sundays, as well as allowing for an exception for people who sell newspapers or do political leafleting.
The vote was 5-1, with acting Council Chair Mary Mulhern dissenting (Chairman Charlie Miranda is recovering from an illness and was not present).
Today's action came at a workshop, which means that it will be voted on again on September 22.
The actual language of the ordinance will be written by the City's Legal Department, because it was a hybrid of two specific options presented as the discussion began by attorney Rebecca Kert, who presented three different proposals to the council
