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Ordinance adds restricted areas in municipal buildings to 'safeguard public records,' public asks for specifics
Summary
At second reading the committee advanced Ordinance 2025‑03 to create Chapter 2‑41, identifying work areas in municipal buildings that will be restricted to help safeguard records; a resident asked for a detailed list and township staff provided one.
The Lacey Township Committee voted on Feb. 27 to adopt Ordinance 2025‑03, which establishes Chapter 2‑41 to create restricted areas inside municipal buildings "so as to safeguard public records." The ordinance was taken on second reading and approved after a short public‑comment exchange in which a resident asked what areas would be affected.
During public comment Regina Desenza (Sunset Drive, Sunrise Beach) asked for an explanation of which spaces would be designated restricted, how many areas that included and whether the change applied to public‑records storage rather than visitor areas. Township staff responded by reading the ordinance’s list: the clerk’s office except for the lobby; construction/zoning/land‑use office except lobby; mail and supply rooms; server room; employee break room and kitchen; chief financial officer/finance office; tax assessor’s office except lobby; tax collector’s office; conference rooms; court office; storage areas; recreation office except lobby; Department of Public Works (except main entrance); police department except lobby; and specified recreation huts (including the Whippet Hut).
When a resident sought confirmation that regular visitor entry areas would remain accessible, a committee member answered "Correct," and staff clarified the intent was to restrict access to employee and records work areas while preserving public lobbies and entry points for visitors.
The ordinance’s text as read at the meeting does not list additional operational exceptions or enforcement procedures; staff indicated the rule of thumb is that work areas are restricted while common visitor entry spaces remain open. The ordinance will be implemented by updating building signage and internal procedures, and staff indicated follow‑up administrative steps will occur after adoption.
The public exchange occurred during the formal second reading and adoption of Ordinance 2025‑03; no amendment to the ordinance text was made on the floor.
The ordinance is intended to safeguard municipal records by limiting access to work areas that hold or process those records; it applies to multiple offices across the municipal complex.
