Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Media Access Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hemet delays media‑access policy for disaster areas, to meet with press groups
Summary
The council continued consideration of a draft media access policy after the city attorney presented a safety‑focused credentialing proposal and members requested discussions with press organizations.
The Hemet City Council voted 5–0 on Feb. 25 to continue consideration of a proposed media access policy for disaster areas so staff can consult with local and regional media organizations.
City Attorney Steven Graham Pacifico presented the draft policy, saying the city lacked a written procedure in such incidents and that state law and constitutional principles guide what access the city may permit. "This policy... attempts to balance the city's legal obligations under statutory law with its constitutional principles including the first amendment," Graham Pacifico said, describing concerns about safety, evidence preservation and instances when an incident may be an active crime scene.
The draft would create a credentialing and staging process for media access during active disasters, provide for a media staging area, and include a mechanism for a media pool when site access must be limited. The staff memo also proposes recognizing credentials issued by other public agencies to ease credentialing burdens on out‑of‑market reporters.
Why it matters: The policy targets moments when a disaster (for example a wildfire or large structure fire) poses immediate health or safety risk or when an investigation is active; the city seeks a narrowly tailored time, place and manner restriction rather than a broad limit on reporting.
Council concern and outreach
Council members voiced concern about uncredentialed individuals entering disaster zones, spreading inaccurate information on social platforms, or creating hazards for first responders. Members noted the city had experienced misleading reporting during recent fires and acknowledged the changing media environment, including freelance and social-media journalists.
Several written communications were received by councilmembers from media organizations, including the Los Angeles Press Club, urging protections for press access; council members asked staff to contact those groups before returning the item for a vote.
Formal action
A motion to continue the item to a date uncertain so the city attorney could meet with the Los Angeles Press Club and other media groups passed by unanimous roll call: Council member Grama — yes; Council member Lodge — yes; Council member Veil — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Kendrick — yes; Mayor Peterson — yes.
Next steps
City Attorney Graham Pacifico recommended continued discussion and outreach, including accepting credentials from other public agencies and refining language on credentials being visible, pool procedures, and staging areas. The item will return to council after staff meets with media stakeholders.
Ending
Council framed the discussion as balancing press freedom with responder and public safety during active incidents; staff will report back following consultations with media organizations and other agencies.
