Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: June 2, 2022 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4 <br /> SUBJECT: Additional Discussion on Regulation of Large Gatherings <br /> DEPARTMENT: Board of Commissioners <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Draft Ordinance John Roberts, County Attorney, 245- <br /> 2318 <br /> PURPOSE: To further discuss the regulation of large gatherings in Orange County. <br /> BACKGROUND: The Board of Commissioners requested information on how the County may <br /> regulate protests or large gatherings in Orange County. The Board initially received information <br /> on this subject at its February 1, 2022 Business Meeting. At that meeting the Board discussed <br /> many aspects of this type of regulation including prohibiting large gatherings on certain public <br /> school properties. The Board further discussed this topic at its May 10, 2022 Work Session. At <br /> that work session the Board determined parades would not be regulated and provided further <br /> direction to the County Attorney to be brought back to the Board for future consideration. The <br /> agenda materials for each prior discussion may be viewed at the links above. <br /> Pursuant to the Board's prior discussions and input, the County Attorney revised the draft <br /> ordinance which generally provides as follows: <br /> • Only covers Picketing conducted by groups of 10 or more people; <br /> • Establishes standards of conduct for participants and organizers of Pickets; <br /> • Defines the locations at and upon which Picketing may occur. Not all County property is <br /> what is known as a public forum and so the draft ordinance would limit access to only <br /> certain locations on specific County properties; <br /> • Prohibits Picketing on or within an unspecified distance of school property and <br /> playgrounds; and <br /> • Declares violations to be subject to a monetary fine, equitable relief, or trespass <br /> depending on the facts and circumstances. <br /> At the May 10th work session, the Board instructed the attorney to invite the school <br /> superintendents and the Sheriff to comment on this proposed ordinance and to invite them to <br /> attend the June 2nd work session. These invitations were extended on May 18th. <br />