GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Panhandling remains "a problem" in Grand Rapids with more people doing it than before, the city attorney told an Ohio publication.

A vindy.com reporter writing about non-enforcement of an anti-begging ordinance in Youngstown, Ohio, interviewed City Attorney Catherine Mish about the status of panhandling in Grand Rapids since a federal court ruled that a Michigan ban on begging was unconstitutional.

"Panhandling has increased tenfold since we stopped enforcing" the state ban, Mish said.

RELATED: Begging ban fails in Grand Rapids; split vote leaves street-corner panhandling fair game

Some Michigan cities now have local restrictions on panhandling. Grand Rapids considered a local ordinance last summer, but the City Commission deadlocked 3-3 on enacting certain restrictions.

A year later, the status quo remains in place.

A city task force studied the issue, but a new proposal "is not quite ripe yet for a return to the City Commission's agenda," Mish said. A proposal likely will be made to the commission before the end of the year, she said.

"I have heard nothing from this task force," 1st Ward City Commissioner Walt Gutowski said. "It's clearly not been a priority for the mayor.

"It has great urgency for me, but I don't believe the votes are there. For me, it's a matter of safety."

Gutowski and his 1st Ward colleague, Dave Shaffer, along with Rosalynn Bliss, now a mayoral candidate, all voted in June 2014 to ban street-corner begging from motorists. But Mayor George Heartwell, 2nd Ward Commissioner Ruth Kelly and 3rd Ward Commissioner Senita Lenear all voted against such a ban.

Third Ward Commissioner Elias Lumpkins was absent from last summer's vote.

RELATED:

• Panhandlers react to inaction on proposed Grand Rapids begging crackdown

• Have you seen these 5 panhandlers? What they do in Grand Rapids might become illegal

Among the restrictions proposed last year in Grand Rapids were no solicitation in an "accosting" manner or by continuing to beg after a person has refused the request; no solicitation within 15 feet of a public restroom, bus stop or ATM machine (or building with an ATM machine); no solicitation on a public bus or from anybody waiting in line to enter a building; no solicitation from any motorist or passenger on a public street.

Matt Vande Bunte covers government for MLive/Grand Rapids Press. Email him at mvandebu@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter and Facebook.