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Council adopts solicitation and petitioning policy despite public objections
Summary
Council approved Council Policy 14.0 regulating solicitation, petitioning and literature distribution at city facilities 8–0; staff said policy mirrors the Johnson County Library approach and limits solicitation to designated indoor/outdoor zones, while a public commenter called it an overreach.
The council voted 8–0 to adopt Council Policy 14.0, which regulates solicitation, petitioning, and literature distribution at city buildings and designated outdoor zones. Staff said the draft was modeled in part on a Johnson County Library policy and was reviewed by the City Attorney.
Staff explained the policy generally prohibits solicitation inside city buildings and on city grounds except within rented meeting rooms or designated outdoor zones that do not impede traffic, and that staff or a designee would determine zones case-by-case. The policy aims to balance free-speech rights, protect city liability, and ensure fair use of public space.
A public commenter identified later in the meeting as Billy Crone argued the policy "effectively bans citizens from talking to each other about civic issues in and around public buildings" and called it "speech quarantine." Staff and councilmembers acknowledged concerns and discussed whether the policy would apply only to city-owned property and how lines with adjacent properties (like the Johnson County Library) would be marked. After discussion Councilmember Hans moved to adopt the policy and the council approved it 8–0.
Staff said the policy had been drafted with the City Attorney's input and noted designated zones will be identified and communicated for events that implicate library boundaries or polling locations.
