Chardon seeks public space use policy

City leaders look to provide uniform process to request holding events

While fair-weather activities are still a ways off, Chardon officials are eyeing potential regulations for public spaces during the pandemic.

City Council’s Feb. 11 agenda includes a draft policy that would provide a process to follow when making requests to use city-owned or operated spaces while statewide public health and executive orders, directives and guidance remain in effect.

The draft states that the city would continue to prohibit all public and private gatherings of greater than 10 people on or within all public spaces in the city until such limitations issued by the state “expire, are revised, amended, revoked, terminated or otherwise cease to have legal effect.”

The term “public spaces” includes Chardon Square, all city parks and recreational facilities, city buildings and all other spaces and structures owned or maintained by the city.

This prohibition does not apply to:

• Gatherings that are exempted from the applicable public health and executive orders, directives or guidance, including but not limited to: First Amendment-protected speech and any activity by the media (newspapers, television, radio, etc.)

• Any activity, event or location where the State of Ohio has issued more specific orders, directives or guidance, including but not limited to: playgrounds, pools, campgrounds and day camps; baseball, softball and batting cages; youth, collegiate, amateur, professional and club sports; performing arts theaters; and sports venues.

In instances where the rules would apply, the city manager would be permitted to use his discretion and ask for details on how the event or gathering would comply with the applicable orders/guidelines.

The manager may take the plans to other city officials for review and approval, if he deems it necessary.

Council’s decision on such matters would be final, the proposal says.

The draft policy also calls for facial coverings, social-distancing at least 6 feet from others, frequent hand-washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, covering coughs and sneezes, and regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces.

“This policy may be changed at the City Manager’s discretion whenever he finds it necessary or appropriate based on modified or additional public health or executive orders, directive, or guidance issued by the Governor of the State of Ohio and/or the Director or Interim Director the Ohio Department of Health,” the draft says.

A number of people and entities, including representatives from the Maple Festival, have recently asked to use city-owned and operated public spaces, Law Director Ben Chojnacki explained.

“The policy aims to ensure that the city continues to follow the same process when considering every request,” he said.

In an unrelated move, City Council last summer passed a law prohibiting recreational camping on city properties.