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Flint City enforces limit on freestanding camera supports under Resolution 240,181
Summary
City attorney interprets Resolution 240,181 to restrict tripods and other freestanding camera supports to a designated area in council chambers; council officers asked an attendee to move and staff reiterated limits on people removed from the meeting blocking exits.
Flint City Council staff and the meeting chair cited Resolution 240,181 to restrict freestanding camera supports, including tripods and similar devices, to a designated area in the northeast corner of the council chambers.
Attorney Wallace advised the chair during a council discussion that the resolution covers more than tripods. "The Resolution 240,181, says that all use of freestanding camera stands, including but not limited to tripods, camera stands, and physical devices used to support or elevate cameras," Wallace said. He added that "cell phones or other video recording device is restricted to an area designated by the city clerk, in the Northeast corner of City Council Chambers." Wallace concluded, "Therefore, it's my legal opinion that whether it's a tripod standing on its own, or a, single device that's used to elevate or to support a camera. It should be restricted to the Northeast corner."
During the same discussion the chair asked an attendee to relocate within the room: "Sir, I'm going to ask you to go back to the back corner, please." A council officer also reminded staff that people removed from the meeting should not block doorways, citing the public safety plan. A separate speaker noted limits on the council's jurisdiction outside the chambers.
The exchange included a question from an attendee challenging whether a one‑legged device that a person steadies by hand meets the resolution's definition of "freestanding." That participant argued the device "is not free of support because it takes his hand to balance it." The chair and counsel did not announce a vote or change to the resolution; Wallace's interpretation was presented as legal guidance for enforcing the existing rule.
No formal motion or vote was recorded in the transcript on this item. The council and staff proceeded with enforcement actions in the meeting consistent with the counsel's interpretation and with the city's public safety guidance regarding cleared doorways.
The matter may affect journalists, residents and meeting attendees who use camera supports in Flint City Council Chambers; the resolution designates a single area for such equipment and, per counsel, applies to any device that supports or elevates a camera.
