*i Ii I QL- li A T0: Mayor and Council mom: Mm A. ou, City DATE: February 2, 2012 A- SUBJECT: Revision to policy - "Austin City Hall, Guidelines for Non-City Use" Attached is a revised policy regarding the use of City Hall, recently approved by the City Manager, for non-City purposes. We have made these revisions in an effort to balance the interests of City residents in having access to the City Hall property for legitimate purposes with our need to manage the increasing problems at City Hall related to criminal activity, damage to City property, and health concems. The revised usage policy is effective February 2, and includes the following changes: Reservations are required for any organized non-City usage or group event inside the City Hall building, and for the amphitheatre and mezzanine. Groups may reserve these areas under the current usage resenvation rules. `1 The plaza, amphitheater, and. mezzanine continue to be designated as_free speech areas with the following limitations to protect public health, safety and welfare, and to provide for the orderly conduct of City business: - The plaza, mezzanine, and amphitheater areas may not be used for non-City tt business or activities before 6 a.m. or after 10 p.m. This limitation does not apply to an event that occurs while a public meeting of the City Council or a City board or commission is ongoing in City Igall. 0 The plaza, mezzanine, or amphitheater areas may be closed at other times if Building Services determines that closil is required for inspection, maintenance or cleaning. A person rly not interlre K1 Qiection, 1intcnance or cleaniQ of the property. n] Ieeping, campig, and use or storage of sleqing equipment are lohld on the plaza, mezzanine, and an-hitheater areas at all ti;. Leaving tjnded personal property on those areas is prohibited at all times. A persoil may not erect if Page 1 orz a structure or tent on those areas without prior written approval of Building Services as part of the reservation process. 0 The plaza area may be reserved for non-City usage in achord with the procedures in the building usage policy. Any such reserved usage will take precedence over a non-reserved use. 0 Access tothe second and third floor balconies will continue to be restricted to staff and ihvited guests of the Mayor, Council Members, or City management. In anticipation of theseheeded changes to the conditions in the plaza, we took several steps prior to these changes: va Health Qc Human Services social workers began working with some of the individuals to try and connect them with social services. I had Deputy City Manager Michael McDonald meet with_ Occupy Austin to propcfse a joint City/Occupy Austin event that would celebrate their movement but end some of the activities taking place in the plaza. The representatives made it clear they were not interested. Furthermore, they communicated their plan to continue the current activities .- for an indefinite period of time. On Monday, January 31, 2012, Deputy City Manager McDonald informed one of the lead Occupy representatives that the tent and other permanent items that the Occupiers have in the plaza must be removed. Building Services also communicated this direction to on- site Occupiers. Occupiers have not complied and the items have remained in the plaza. We began our relationship iwith the Occupiers in a cooperative manner. We made many concessions to allow them to express their cause. However, the criminal activity, damage to property, verbal abuse to staff, health issues and fiscal requirement to keep the area safe is no longer supporgable or in the best interest of our citizens. The plaza belongs to everyone, and the manner in which it has been utilized recently is not respectful to the facility or our community. . We will be communicating these policy changes to the individuals occupying the plaza and mezzanine areas on Friday, February 3, and are advising that the City will begin enforcing these changes as of 10:00 p.m. on Friday evening. Attachment: Revised Building Use Policy x.c. Deputy City Manager Assistant City Managers Chief of Staff City Attom?y Page 2 of 2