STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
CC 8
2/25/2025
TN
Date: February 25, 2025
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From: Andrea Alexander, City Clerk
Subject: Adding Chapter 9.52 to the Lancaster Municipal Code Relating to Public Access to Health Care Facilities, Places of Worship, and Schools
Recommendation:
Adopt Ordinance No.1126, adding Chapter 9.52 to the Lancaster Municipal Code relating to public access to health care facilities, houses of worship, and schools.
G.C. Section 84308: No
Fiscal Impact:
None.
Background:
The City has received reports of disruptive protests near houses of worship, which have impacted individuals ability to safely and peacefully access these locations. Such protests can cause safety concerns, traffic issues, and emotional distress to individuals seeking services, attending worship, or engaging in education.
Many jurisdictions have enacted buffer zone ordinances to mitigate these impacts while respecting constitutional rights. These buffer zones typically establish specific distances within which certain protest activities are restricted to ensure safety and access.
Buffer zones aid to balance the right to free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment with the need to protect public safety and access. The proposed ordinance would establish parameters and a buffer of 100 feet of a health care facility, place of worship, or school grounds. The proposed ordinance is provided in Attachment A, Exhibit A.
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At the Lancaster City Council meeting held on February 11, 2025, the City Council approved the introduction of Ordinance No. 1126 adding Chapter 9.52 to the Lancaster Municipal Code relating to public access to health care facilities, houses of worship, and schools, by the following vote: 4-0-0-1; AYES: Hughes-Leslie, Mann, Crist, Parris; NOES: None; ABSTAIN:
None; ABSENT: Malhi
Attachment:
Ordinance No. 1126