Title
AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 94-164 AND AMENDING CHAPTER 1066 RELATED TO USE OF THE CITY’S TOWN HALL.
Executive Summary: Currently City Ordinance No. 94-164 sets rules, regulations and payment rate for the use of the Council Chambers meeting room located on the second floor of the Town Hall facility at 27 East Main Street, Hudson, Ohio. Staff is requesting that this Ordinance be repealed and that discretionary authority be granted to the City Manager and/or his or her designee to determine appropriate use of the Town Hall facility.
Body
Legislative History
Ordinance No. 94-164, adopting rules and regulations for the use of the Town Hall meeting room, passed on December 21, 1994.
Purpose & Explanation
Taking into consideration the soon to be completed newly renovated leased space on the first floor of Town Hall, and the increasingly common upgrading, installation and use of technical equipment for production broadcast purposes, the use of the second floor Town Hall meeting space is not suitable for groups other than those conducting government related business. The first floor activities will be those of the lessees, and requested uses outside of normal operations would also require approval by the City Manager and/or his or her designee.
In reviewing the current policy staff has concluded the following:
1. City government-related typically take up most of the space availability in the evenings.
2. Staff receives very few requests from the community to use/rent the space which suggests that there is little if any demand to use the space.
3. In recent years the City has upgraded production technologies in the Town Hall facility to include modern auto-production cameras, audio visual production equipment, and most recently the installation of a fully equipped production control room for Hudson government and related meeting broadcasts.
4. Although the Town Hall facility is not a fully secured building, as there is some element of public access, the City has implemented basic security measures to manage access and reduce risks. The notion of allowing groups other than those of government to access the facility without the presence of City officials would to some extent undermine efforts to protect the property and its contents.
Timing Considerations
N/A
Recommendation
Suggested Action
Considering the aforementioned operational changes at the Hudson Town Hall, City staff recommends that Chapter 1066 of the Codified Ordinances and Ordinance No. 94-164 be repealed and authority be given to the City Manager and his or her designee to determine appropriate uses of the Town Hall facility.
Submitted by,
Jane Howington, City Manager
Frank J. Comeriato, Jr., Asst. City Manager