NOTICE of SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SANTA ROSA CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011, 5:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL
100 SANTA ROSA AVENUE, SANTA ROSA
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council of the City of Santa Rosa will hold a Special Meeting on Thursday, November 10, 2011, in the Council Chamber, City Hall, 100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, California, at 5:00 p.m. to consider the following matter:
5:00 p.m.
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS (PUBLIC COMMENTS WILL BE LIMITED TO TOPIC OF THE SPECIAL MEETING)
3. STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION
4. REPORT ITEM
4.1 REPORT – ADOPTION OF URGENCY ORDINANCE –CAMPING ON PUBLIC PROPERTY
BACKGROUND: The City currently has an ordinance which was adopted in 1994 that prohibits camping on Public Property except on public campgrounds or by authority of a written permit. The City does not operate any public campgrounds at this time. The ordinance currently does not specify the requirements for a permit or a process for obtaining a permit. The issue of camping on public property has become an urgent issue for the City as a result of the Occupy Santa Rosa protest and the public health and safety conditions that have resulted from the camping that is occurring at City Hall. The Council has been provided information and comment from staff and the public at its meetings of November 1 and November 8. The council directed that a special meeting be called on this date to provide a resolution of this issue in order to provide direction to staff and address the public health and safety concerns.
Two alternate Urgency Ordinances on Camping on Public Property are being presented for council consideration. One ordinance would eliminate the permitting option and establish a prohibition on any camping on public property unless the City designates a public campground. The second ordinance would set forth standards for issuance of a permit to allow for camping in designated areas on public property.
The City has an interest in protecting the public health and safety and in providing convenient and unobstructed access to and from City Hall and to preserve the aesthetics of City Hall including its landscaped areas. The City also desires to maintain, preserve and protect its property to prevent dangerous, unlawful or incompatible uses.
Neither of these ordinances would prohibit the right to assemble for free speech if the assembly does not include camping, camping facilities or camping paraphernalia.
RECOMMENDATION: It is the recommendation of the City Manager and the City Attorney that the council adopt an Urgency Ordinance on Public Camping. It is a matter of council discretion as to which of these Urgency Ordinances should be adopted.
5. ADJOURN SPECIAL MEETING
No other business will be considered by the City Council at this Special Meeting.
Dated: November 9, 2011 Gayle Petersen, Acting City Clerk
The City of Santa Rosa does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admissions or access to, or treatment of or employment in, its programs or activities. Disability-related aids or services, including printed information in alternate formats, to enable persons with disabilities to participate in public meetings are available by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at 543-3016 one week prior to the meeting. TDD 543-3063
Meeting information can also be accessed via the internet at http://srcity.org.