Minutes 05-10-2022 Budget Public Hearing and Work Session

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34 Commissioner Richards said she remembers the messages the Board received from students and parents and teachers, and they said they felt unsafe, devalued, and threatened by the comments and the signs. She said they have a responsibility to provide a safe learning environment for the students and that is what she wants to make sure they protect that. She said that is the balance that is needed and asked how they create rules around that. She said that she still goes back to those comments and wonders if there is a way to make this when students are around. Chair Price said having a safe learning environment is core to a sound basic education. She said the concern for her and where this originated was around the schools and how to address this so that kids could come to school without being intimidated. She said she is a proponent of free speech, but in a more appropriate location than in a place where children are impacted. She said she likes the five hundred feet from a school but maybe the distance could be 1,000 feet. Commissioner Richards said to go that far, the ordinance needs to cover all protests. She said they have gotten complaints about one side being treated one way. She said the section about schools should just be more specific. Commissioner Greene said she is thinking of how to separate a parade from picketing. She said if there is a parade, there is an organizer, but that is not always true for picketing. She asked if this would require a permit for picketing. John Roberts said no permits are required for picketing, but notice is required. Commissioner Greene asked who would give the notice. John Roberts said the event organizer, but that he will confirm that. Commissioner Greene said pickets are by nature often spontaneous and sometimes do not have an organizer or the chance to provide notice. She said she trying to figure out how this would work so that law enforcement has advance notice of the events, and everyone can know the rules. Commissioner Hamilton said she is wondering about the process and asked how the process works leading up to adoption. She said it seems more input is needed from the Sheriff and the schools. John Roberts said this does not require a public hearing. He said that the Board will discuss it at work sessions, then discuss it at a business meeting, where the public can comment, and then the ordinance can be adopted that night or a different night. He said that if adopted, this would be a county ordinance and only applicable to areas in the county's jurisdiction. Commissioner McKee said he is fine with five hundred feet within schools and playgrounds. He said he does have issues with the $500 fine and the language around private property. Chair Price asked about school property that is owned by the county but outside of the jurisdiction. John Roberts said county ordinances apply to county-owned property. Chair Price asked about Central Elementary School. John Roberts said that if the county has an ownership interest in Central Elementary this would apply. He said that River Park is in Hillsborough town limits, and this would not apply there. Chair Price said she thinks they have ownership interest in Carrboro High School. Commissioner Bedford said she thinks they have a 20-year ownership interest and that the school is not that old yet. She asked if there was consensus about removing the parade portion. Chair Price said yes, and they have consensus with $500 feet. She asked that the draft be sent to Sheriff Blackwood for review.