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Lake City tables resolution to give city manager authority to issue trespass warnings after public concern
Summary
Council delayed action on a resolution that would let the city manager issue trespass warnings on city-owned property after residents raised civil-liberties and misuse concerns; the item was tabled to Dec. 1 for staff to draft tighter language and procedures.
The Lake City Council on Nov. 17 voted to table Resolution 2025-161 — which would delegate to the city manager the authority to issue trespass warnings and orders for city-owned or leased property — after strong public concern about scope and potential misuse.
The measure arose after city police encountered a small group of people repeatedly occupying city property for multiple days. City Attorney Clay Martin said the council, as the property owner, is the ultimate authority and that designating an official to issue a formal trespass warning prevents delay when immediate action is needed. He described trespass warnings as the necessary step before a trespass-after-warning offense could be enforced by law enforcement.
Several public speakers, including a longtime community member identified in the record as Mister Warren, urged caution and asked the council to limit any delegation to narrowly defined circumstances. Warren said vesting the city manager with the power to bar individuals from public property risked silencing critics and could create a slippery slope.
Councilmember James Carter moved to table the resolution to the Dec. 1 meeting to allow the city attorney, city manager and police chief to prepare clearer language and operational safeguards; the motion carried 4–1 (Jernigan opposed). Councilmembers said they wanted written protocols showing how warnings would be used, how notice would be documented, and what appeal or legal processes would apply.
Next steps: City staff will draft revised language, detail operational procedures, and return with a briefing on Dec. 1. The tabling preserves the council’s flexibility while giving administration time to prepare a narrower proposal that addresses residents’ concerns about due process and civil liberties.
Provenance: The item was discussed in the Nov. 17 meeting record; public comment and council debate on the measure appear in the transcript and the tabling motion is recorded.
