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Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for September 8, 2020 <br />Page 7 of 9 <br /> <br />and parking, road closures, safety, threatening activities, and loud noise. There were also <br />concerns about maintaining the right to assemble. He talked about the dilemma regarding <br />security verses freedom when securing a neighborhood prevents normal activities. <br />Communication with residents occurred through CODE RED, and he encouraged residents to <br />sign up for that. Communication with protest group organizers was done proactively, but Bear <br />said he felt it could be done better by informing them of the ground rules regarding noise, access, <br />special event requirements, trespassing and property damage and other items specific to location <br />and protest. He talked about how this could be done through a residential picketing ordinance. <br /> <br />He provided information on a residential picketing ordinance that was drafted by the City <br />Attorney. The ordinance would not prohibit protesting, only the idea of targeted residential <br />picketing, which causes emotional distress, obstruction of free use of public right-of-ways and <br />sidewalks, and harassment of residents. The ordinance addresses the protection of the home and <br />individual privacy, and how targeted protesting limits the ability to escape. <br /> <br />Klein said he agreed with the Ordinance, and it was important to maintain the ability for people <br />to have free speech and assemble. Also, people should have the right to tranquility and not have <br />unwanted guests. He said he would expect the protestors to understand. The ordinance helps <br />encompass what the City was trying to achieve. <br /> <br />Haas thanked staff and stated he was pleased with the ordinance. <br /> <br />Miron talked about the two events that had been the cause of looking at this ordinance, and he <br />questioned how this ordinance would help residents near Lions Park, where one of the events <br />took place, since Lions Park was nestled in a neighborhood. <br /> <br />City Attorney replied that the ordinance was narrowly tailored to prohibit targeting a particular <br />residential structure. A gathering in a public park would not violate the ordinance as drafted. It <br />was contemplated that public spaces and parks are realistic locations for some protesting activity, <br />but it prohibits focusing on a particular residential unit. He noted that the ordinance was written <br />from examples from other cities with similar concerns. <br /> <br />Weidt asked how the ordinance would have changed recent protests. <br /> <br />Bear explained that the City has had the ability to learn about protests in advance and with an <br />ordinance can proactively communicate with those organizations which may cause them to abide <br />to the restrictions, go to a location where that type of activity was permitted, or not protest at all. <br />It would set the ground rules in advance and provide enforcement ability. <br /> <br />Snyder added that the ordinance has a proactive benefit by alerting people to it and, one hoped it <br />would be followed. It also has the potential for citation or even arrest. <br /> <br />Weidt said he felt the Sheriff’s Department did a good job of keeping the residents safe, and he <br />talked about feedback from residents on both sides of the issue. He acknowledged the right to <br />peacefully protest and wanted residents to know the ordinance would not block protest activity <br />but would allow the City to proactively discuss it and enforce misbehavior. <br /> <br />Snyder wanted it noted for the record that the PowerPoint was part of the record and part of the <br />deliberation.