Minutes 06-02-2022 Budget Public Hearing and Work Session

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13 John Roberts, County Attorney, introduced the item and reviewed the background material in the agenda abstract. He said the draft ordinance would not cover meetings of public bodies. He said he spoke with Sheriff Blackwood and he said he would enforce whatever the Board approves. He said representatives from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools said they could not attend but said they are in support of ensuring that picketers are not allowed on the grounds of their schools. He said they suggest a limit of 500 feet from their property. He said that this ordinance would not apply to most of the schools in the CHCCS district, unless the towns approved the same ordinance. He said that he could speak to the town attorneys and ask if the towns would be willing to adopt something similar. He said that Orange County Schools have staff present to speak on the item. Carrie Doyle, Orange County Schools Board Chair, said they have experienced three protest situations. She said that one was outside of the football game with a large number of attendees wearing Proud Boys clothing. She said it lasted over 45 minutes and they shouted at cars, had a bullhorn, and their comments were racist and bigoted. She said that this was outside the school's capacity to restrict due to the right of way. She said they were pacing back and forth but never standing or blocking the entrance. She said that a couple of people were particularly threatening and that the application of the ordinance to only ten or over would not have assisted during this event. She said that students reported feeling unsafe. She noted that this gathering was not student led and they shouted misogynistic and homophobic comments. She said that they have had challenges at Board of Education meetings. She said that during a meeting there were threatening protesters in what they were carrying and wearing. She said that did not impact the school day as much. She said that the protest at Stanback limited afterschool activities and that students did not feel safe the next day. She said that students are frequently recognized at Board meetings and that is something to consider. She said that there is a long car line and they had a situation where protestors were speaking out against school policies and were passing out materials to those in the line. Patrick Abele said when they talk about the safety and security of school, it begins at the perimeter. He said that they cannot determine intent. He said that individuals were coming from outside of Orange County that had said they were going to voice an opinion on an agenda item but were really there to demonstrate or disrupt to get as much national attention as possible. He said that there were individuals that came to Stanback were from out of county and out of state plates on vehicles. He said that these individuals have sought out these types of events in which to demonstrate. He said that the students ask to keep them safe and there is no safe zone on a school property for these types of activities. He said that they request a zero limit on the size for individuals requesting to protest on a school campus. He said that once they are on school property they have policies and they will work with law enforcement. He said that when it comes to people being near the campus in public areas, the question of enforcement becomes the ordinance. He said that without an ordinance in place, as a school official he or another school employee has to be out there and go between the individuals to tell them if they are on or off of school property, if they are following school rules, if they are bringing items on campus that aren't allowed. He said that at a certain point, if there is an ordinance or a crime has been committed then law enforcement will take over. He said that what they are asking is for the Board to develop an ordinance that does not put school staff in that position. He said that they know that law enforcement backs them and have always been there when they have needed them. He said that there is a gray area without an ordinance about what can be done. He said that there is the potential there for the future to be able to put plans in place for current vulnerabilities and to keep schools safe. Commissioner Bedford asked Patrick Abele if he had a recommendation on the number of feet from school property. Patrick Abele said no less than 1,000 feet from school property.