Ocean View council adopts new ordinance creating chapter on community demonstrations

Ocean View’s Town Council voted to adopt an ordinance repealing the existing Chapter 77 and creating a new Chapter 77 to regulate community demonstrations on town-owned property, the council announced during its meeting. The motion to adopt the ordinance was seconded and the clerk recorded, “So passes 5.”

The town solicitor summarized the changes, saying the ordinance’s focus was narrowed to "community demonstrations" on town property and that provisions referencing disorderly conduct and riotous acts were removed. He told the council the ordinance clarifies it applies only to town property and "prevents" restrictions on spontaneous demonstrations along state-owned roads, and that a permit fee for recurring events will be good for four months. "There's nothing that prohibits the wearing of face coverings for medical, religious or expressive purposes," the solicitor said when describing changes in Section 77-8.

The solicitor said the draft had been revised after public comment received during earlier hearings and that the revisions reflected community input. Under the adopted framework, demonstration permits apply to town-owned property; the ordinance includes an option for applicants to pay a single permit fee that covers recurring events for a four-month period. The council did not receive public comments during the hearing.

The council’s vote completes the ordinance’s second-reading process at this meeting. The council did not record any amendments during the session. The town solicitor said the changes were made in response to earlier public feedback and that other substantive provisions of the chapter remain as previously drafted.

Next steps: the ordinance was adopted by vote of the council and will be added to the town code as Chapter 77 pursuant to the council’s action at this meeting.