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Commission conditions city facility fee waivers on open meetings after HCCA dispute
Summary
Following complaints that the Hollywood Council of Civic Associations excluded members of the public from a meeting at a city facility, the commission voted to deny fee waivers for groups that hold closed or private meetings in city buildings; open civic association meetings remain eligible for waived fees.
On Nov. 19 the commission voted unanimously to condition future city facility fee waivers on whether a civic association’s meeting is open to the public. The action followed extended discussion after residents and commissioners raised concerns that the Hollywood Council of Civic Associations (HCCA), a private nonprofit, had asked some attendees to leave during a recent meeting held at a city facility.
City Attorney explained that HCCA is a private entity and not a city board; private organizations may rent city space and — at the commission’s discretion — the city may waive rental fees. The commission’s motion does not prohibit private meetings, but it removes the city’s fee waiver for private/closed events in city facilities so that only open civic meetings will be eligible for the waiver.
Several commissioners stressed the difference between routine board planning meetings and general membership meetings and expressed a desire to encourage openness while respecting volunteers’ need to plan activities. HCCA representatives and other civic leaders testified and told commissioners they value transparency but warned that some small‑board planning work benefits from closed sessions; commissioners asked staff to clarify PEN program eligibility and to consider criteria for civic groups that receive city support.
Outcome: policy change — fee waivers for use of city facilities will not be granted to groups that restrict public attendance; staff will implement administrative changes to permit and enforce the updated policy.
