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City attorney outlines ordinance to restrict access to nonpublic areas amid rise of social-media 'auditors'
Summary
City Attorney James Lemon presented a drafted ordinance (bill 26-004) to clarify which areas of city buildings are public and which can be restricted to prevent social-media content creators from entering private or sensitive areas; council scheduled the ordinance for first reading.
James Lemon, city attorney, told council he had drafted an ordinance to address so-called 1st Amendment auditors who enter public buildings to create social‑media content and sometimes demand access to nonpublic areas. Lemon said the draft would permit the city manager to designate restricted zones (file rooms, private offices, police station) while preserving public access to public areas such as council chambers when appropriate. “These are people looking to make content for their social media,” Lemon said, adding the ordinance “really puts into an ordinance what we already have the right to do.”
Why it matters: The measure would codify limits on access to secure or nonpublic workspaces inside city buildings while aiming to avoid infringing on legitimate public-records requests or First Amendment rights in public areas.
Council members asked clarifying questions about scope and intent; Lemon said the ordinance narrows the city’s ability only to restrict nonpublic areas and does not prevent people from inspecting public records or entering public spaces when staff permits it. The ordinance was placed on the agenda for first reading as bill 26-004.
Ending: The council scheduled the ordinance for first reading; councilmembers asked for additional clarification if needed before subsequent readings.
