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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2a - Ordinance No. 2329 Amending Library Rules and Enforcement DATE: November 3, 2015 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Mary Beth Hayes, Director of Library & Museum Services SUBJECT: ORDINANCE NO. 2329 AMENDING SECTION 4280 OF PART 8, CHAPTER 2 OF ARTICLE IV OF THE ARCADIA MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING LIBRARY RULES AND ENFORCEMENT Recommendation: Introduce SUMMARY Existing Arcadia Municipal Code Section 4280 (“AMC 4280”) authorizes the librarian or other designated person to suspend Library privileges for individuals who violate Library rules as established by the Library Board of Trustees for a period not to exceed 14 days. The proposed Ordinance amends the Code to increase the consequences for serious or repeated violations of Library rules by establishing procedures to expel individuals from the Library for up to one year. An appeals process for individuals expelled from the Library is also established by this Ordinance. DISCUSSION Nearly 500,000 visits are made to the Arcadia Public Library each year. The vast majority of the visitors comply with the Library Standards of Behavior. A few, however, violate Library rules to such an extent that they cause major disruption to Library business and other Library visitors. The most severe consequence currently available to Library staff is to suspend an individual’s privilege to remain in the Library for a period not to exceed 14 days. Currently, an individual who has been told to leave can return in 14 days and repeat the same behavior. Expelling an individual from the Library for successive 14 day periods lacks progressive emphasis and may not be sufficiently effective to deter a disruptive individual. In addition, there are some violations which are so egregious that a two week period is not a sufficient penalty. The proposed Ordinance authorizes the Library Director or a person designated in writing by the Library Director to suspend for up to one year the Library privileges of individuals who violate Library rules. The Ordinance defines progressive consequences for individuals who willfully and persistently violate these rules, in order to protect the Ordinance No. 2329 amending Library Rules and Enforcement November 3, 2015 Page 2 of 3 rights and safety of Library visitors, volunteers, and staff, and to protect the Library’s materials, equipment, facilities, and grounds. The Arcadia Public Library Board of Trustees reviews Library Standards of Behavior on an annual basis. The Standards are posted at the front entrance to the Library and at all public desks. Suspending Library privileges of violators for periods in excess of 14 days will be an effective tool in addressing problem behavior. Violators will be notified in writing and advised that if they disregard the suspension, they could face prosecution. Some examples of conduct which would result in suspension of Library privileges include the following: Up to 30 days  Loud or disruptive conversations or other disruptive, noisy, or boisterous behavior  Behaving in a manner which reasonably can be expected to disrupt other patrons, volunteers, or Library staff  Violated the Standards of Behavior adopted by the Library Board of Trustees Up to 180 days  Expelled for a period of 30 days each on 2 or more occasions within the prior 12 months  Engaged in any behavior, conduct, or activity which may damage Library property or pose a threat to other patrons, volunteers, or Library staff and refused to cease such behavior, conduct, or activity when requested by Library staff Up to 1 year  Seriously threatened or harassed other patrons, volunteers, or Library staff verbally or physically  Destroyed, defaced, or illegally removed Library materials or property in violation of California Education Code 19910  Behaved in any manner prohibited by federal, state, or local law An appeals process will be established by this amended Ordinance. Any individual whose Library privileges have been suspended for a period of30 days or less may appeal the suspension to the Library Director. The Library Director’s decision will be final and conclusive. Any individual whose Library privileges have been suspended for a period of more than 30 days may request that the suspension be reviewed by the Library Director. The decision of the Library Director may be appealed to the Library Board of Trustees as described in the proposed Ordinance. The decision of the Library Board of Trustees will be final and conclusive. Ordinance No. 2329 amending Library Rules and Enforcement November 3, 2015 Page 3 of 3 FISCAL IMPACT Ordinance No. 2329 will have minimal fiscal impact. Reprinting the Library Standards of Behavior for posting at the Library entrance, public desks, and making available printed copies as handouts will cost approximately $100. No additional budget impacts are projected. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council introduce Ordinance No. 2329 amending Section 4280 of Part 8, Chapter 2 of Article IV of the Arcadia Municipal Code regarding Library Rules and Enforcement. Attachment: Ordinance No. 2329