Agenda Item Wording:
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Shopping Cart Ordinance Update - Consideration of and direction on initiating potential Municipal Code updates to Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 8.70 Abandoned Shopping Carts, Citywide.
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Agenda Date: 08/03/2026
Prepared by:
Jeff Riedmann, Code Enforcement Officer, jeff.riedmann@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4172 Tracy Robertshaw, Neighborhood Preservation Manager, tracy.robertshaw@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4187,
Paul Bernal, Planning and Community Preservation Director, paul.bernal@visalia.gov, (559) 713-4025
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that Visalia City Council conduct a review of current processes and ordinance requirements related to Abandoned Shopping Carts (Chapter 8.70 of the Municipal Code, see Attachment 1) and consider information presented in this staff report. Based on the staff report and staff presentation, the City Council may direct staff to formulate changes related to Abandoned Shopping Carts and begin processing a Municipal Code text amendment to implement these changes.
Summary:
City staff reviewed Visalia Municipal Code Chapter 8.70 (Abandoned Shopping Carts) and recommends Chapter 8.70 be revised due to changes in state law that allow for an increase in the amount that shopping cart owners can be fined if they do not pick up their carts after being notified. Staff also recommends Chapter 8.70 be revised to require companies with shopping carts install a physical containment system when a new location is built or when a significant improvement or expansion occurs to an existing facility/shopping center that utilizes shopping carts.
Background Discussion:
In 2025 California Business and Professions Code section 22435.7 was amended per Senate Bill 753 (see Attachment 2). The amendment increased the amount a city or county can charge under cost recovery measures for the retrieval and return of shopping carts from $50 per shopping cart to $100 per shopping cart. State law requires cities and counti...
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