Agenda 05-10-22; 5 - Additional Discussion on Regulation of Large Gatherings

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1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 10, 2022 Action Agenda Item No. 5 SUBJECT: Additional Discussion on Regulation of Large Gatherings DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: October 28, 2021 Memorandum from the John Roberts, County Attorney, 245- County Attorney 2318 Relevant Statutes Draft Ordinance PURPOSE: To further discuss the regulation of large gatherings in Orange County. BACKGROUND: The Board of Commissioners requested information on possible options for the County to potentially regulate protests or large gatherings in Orange County. The Board initially received information on this subject at its March 10, 2022 work session. At that work session, the Board discussed many aspects of this type of regulation including prohibiting large gatherings on certain public school properties. The attachments include a legal overview of the regulation of protests and gatherings that was provided at the work session, some relevant state statutes, and a draft County ordinance. The draft ordinance generally: • Covers parades and picketing; • Establishes requirements for the content of permit applications and notice and assigns responsibility for oversight of the ordinance to the Clerk to the Board in consultation with the Sheriff; • Provides for an appeal to the County Manager if a permit application is denied; • Establishes standards of conduct for participants and organizers of Parades and Picketing; • Establishes the locations at and upon which Parades and Picketing may occur. Not all county property is what's known as a public forum and so limits access to only certain county properties; • Prohibits Parades and Picketing within 500 feet of school property and playgrounds; and • Declares violations to be subject to a $500 fine and equitable relief.