AGENDA DATE: 6/17/2020
TITLE:
Title
Rules for the Public's Use of the County Courthouse Grounds
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Adoption of proposed Rules for the Public's Use of the County Courthouse Grounds
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Henry, Kamptner, Lantz, Stewart, Freitas, Carr
PRESENTER (S): N/A
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Board's current Rules for the Community Use of County Facilities, adopted October 16, 2019, govern the public's use of the County's Office Buildings located at 401 McIntire Road (COB-McIntire) and 1600 5th Street (COB-5th), but not other County facilities.
The proposed Rules (Attachment A) would establish rules for how the public may use the County Courthouse Grounds, which is composed of the property owned by the County on which the Albemarle County Circuit and General District Courts, along with related offices and the offices of the Clerk of the Circuit Court and the Commonwealth's Attorney (collectively, the "Courts and the Offices"), are located. More specifically, the Grounds are located on part of the block commonly known as "Court Square," bounded on the west by the City of Charlottesville's Court Square Park, on the north by East High Street, on the east by Park Street, and on the south by East Jefferson Street, as shown on the map identified as Appendix A to Attachment A.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Mission: To enhance the well-being and quality of life for all citizens through the provision of the highest level of public service consistent with the prudent use of public funds.
DISCUSSION: The proposed Rules pertain to the Courthouse Grounds only. They do not pertain to the buildings on the Grounds, which are under the control of the Courts and the Offices. Because almost every court to address the issue has held that the grounds of a courthouse are not a "traditional public forum" like a public park or a public sidewalk, the proposed R...
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