City of Sacramento
City Council - 2PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2025-01330 7/1/2025
[Pass for Publication] Ordinance Amending Section 12.74.030 of the Sacramento City Code Relating to the City Hall Facilities
File ID: 2025-01330
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: 1) Review an Ordinance amending Section 12.74.030 of the Sacramento City Code relating to the City Hall Facilities; and 2) pass for publication the Ordinance title per City Charter 32(c) for the Ordinance to be considered by the City Council for adoption on July 22, 2025.
Contact: Office of the City Manager, (916) 808-5704
Presenter: Office of the City Manager, (916) 808-5704
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Ordinance (Redline)
3-Ordinance (Clean)
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The City Hall Facility (“Facility”) is comprised of Historic City Hall, New City Hall, and the property encompassing those as bounded by H and I streets and 9 th and 10th streets, including,
but not limited to, Sa’Cumn’e Plaza (“Plaza”). The Facility is open to members of the community while conducting city business, attending public meetings, or engaging in expressive conduct. As the seat of city government, the City Council has ratified ongoing designation of the Facility as “critical infrastructure” within the meaning of chapter 8.140 of the Sacramento City Code since July 20, 2021.
Use of the Facility includes the ability for groups to obtain a permit to hold events in the Plaza. The Plaza also serves as a fire access road for firefighting apparatuses (e.g., fire engines, ladder trucks) to fight fires at the Facility in the front of New City Hall and the rear of Historic City Hall. The Facility has permanent benches for dedicated seating in several locations behind New City Hall, in the Plaza, and around New City Hall, whose locations do not hamper the access of firefighting apparatuses in the event of fire. Currently, Sacramento City Code section 12.74.030, subsection A, paragraph 9, allows the public to sit or lie down at the Facility, including the Plaza, between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. of the following day whether or not the member of the public is sitting or lying on one of
File ID: 2025-01330 7/1/2025
the benches dedicated for seating.
The proposed amendment to section 12.74.030 seeks to regulate the use of the Facility in a manner that maintains a suitable working environment for city employees and access to firefighting apparatuses in the event of an emergency while allowing members of the public to use the exterior of the Facility in a manner consistent with its purpose and hours of operation by prohibiting sitting or lying down at the Facility at any time on anything other than designated seating. The proposed amendment is consistent with the Facility’s existing designation as “critical infrastructure.” Policy Considerations: None.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations: None.
Sustainability: Not applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: None.
Rationale for Recommendation: This is a mayoral ordinance proposal, pursuant to Sacramento City Charter section 40, subsection (b), paragraph 6. The proposed amendment to the ordinance is designed to regulate use of the Facility in a way that maintains a suitable working environment for city employees and ensures that the Facility is safe and secure for the public and city employees as well as accessible to first responders and their equipment in case of an emergency while still allowing members of the public to use the exterior of the Facility in a reasonable manner. The proposed amendment would further the following purposes:
(1) ensuring a working environment for city employees that is free from impediment; (2) ensuring access to, and unobstructed use of , the Facility for city employees, the public, and first responders;
(3) preventing incompatible uses of the Facility; and
(4) coordinating multiple uses of Sa’Cumn’e Plaza.
Financial Considerations: There is no financial impact associated with implementing the proposed Ordinance.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
Ordinance No.2025- Adopted on 1
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-________
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
Date Adopted
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 12.74.030 OF THE SACRAMENTO CITY CODE, RELATING
TO USE OF THE CITY HALL FACILITY
B
E IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO:
SECTION 1.
Section 12.74.030 of the Sacramento City Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
12.74.030 The public's right to use the City Hall facility-Restrictions.
All persons are entitled to use the exterior of the City Hall facility for exercising their constitutional rights of free speech and assembly, without paying fees, obtaining permits, or providing advance notice, subject to the following restrictions:
A. To ensure a suitable working environment for city employees, ensure access to the City Hall facility, preserve and protect the City Hall facility, and prevent incompatible uses, no person shall do any of the following at the City Hall facility:
1. Obstruct access to the entrances to, and exits from, city offices, or maintain less than an eight-foot-wide open space surrounding each entrance and exit.
2. Unless authorized by a Plaza event permit, use amplified sound or any drum, horn, cowbell, whistle, rattle, clapper, or other noisemaker between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
3. Unless authorized by a Plaza event permit, erect, install, or place any sign, display, or structure, temporary or otherwise, including tables and chairs, except as follows:
a. If space is available, portable tables may be placed in the Plaza, in the areas designated for that purpose on Exhibit 1, but only if the tables are used exclusively to facilitate the dissemination of expressive materials such as leaflets, pamphlets, petitions, and literature requesting contributions. As used here, "portable table" includes a banner suspended from the table plus up to two portable chairs.
b. Hand- held signs, banners, and flags are permitted.
Ordinance No.2025- Adopted on 2
4. Leave personal property unattended other than bicycles parked at city - provided bicycle racks.
5. Unless authorized by a Plaza event permit, sell merchandise or solicit immediate contributions of money or property.
6. Unless authorized by a Plaza event permit, cook, sell, or distribute any food or beverage (other than water) or use any heat source or flame.
7. Use skates, a skateboard, a bicycle, or similar device.
8. Bathe or sponge bathe, or wash clothes, dishes, or other items.
9. Sit or lie down at any time between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. of any day Monday through Friday, except on a bench or chair supplied by the city or allowed under subsection 3.a.
10. Unless authorized by a Plaza event permit, bring or keep any animal other than service animals and service animals in training.
11. Bring or keep any fireworks, confetti, smoke- or fog-generating devices, or dangerous or deadly weapons as defined in the California Penal Code other than a weapon on the person of a peace officer.
12. Engage in any behavior or activity that violates the city code or state law.
13. Harm or destroy any landscaping or vegetation, including trees, shrubs, bushes, flowers, and grass.
14. Stand or sit on or in, or otherwise use, any water feature, statue, sculpture, or architectural or design feature in a manner inconsistent with its intended use.
15. Dispose of trash or garbage in any location other than in receptacles provided for that purpose.
16. Use on any surface, including trees, any type of paint, chalk, stickers, nails, fasteners, glue, or adhesive.
17. Knowingly join or participate in a Plaza event conducted under any Plaza event permit: (a) in violation of the permit; (b) without the permittee's express consent and over the permittee's express objection; or (c) in any manner that disrupts the Plaza event. This restriction does not apply to a protest against a Plaza event so long as the protesters comply with this chapter and do not physically invade the area assigned for the Plaza event.
Ordinance No.2025- Adopted on 3
B. A person or group that desires to have exclusive use of the Plaza, or any portion of it, for conducting a gathering, celebration, or other event must obtain a Plaza event permit.
C. City programs and activities in the Plaza have priority over all other uses.
Adopted by the City of Sacramento City Council on by the following vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Abstain:
Absent:
MAYOR
Attest:
City Clerk
Passed for Publication:
Published:
Effective:
Ordinance No.2025- Adopted on 1
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-________
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
Date Adopted
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 12.74.030 OF THE SACRAMENTO CITY CODE, RELATING
TO USE OF THE CITY HALL FACILITY
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO:
SECTION 1.
Section 12.74.030 of the Sacramento City Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
12.74.030 The public's right to use the City Hall facility-Restrictions.
All persons are entitled to use the exterior of the City Hall facility for exercising their constitutional rights of free speech and assembly, without paying fees, obtaining permits, or providing advance notice, subject to the following restrictions:
A. To ensure a suitable working environment for city employees, ensure access to the City Hall facility, preserve and protect the City Hall facility, and prevent incompatible uses, no person shall do any of the following at the City Hall facility:
1. Obstruct access to the entrances to, and exits from, city offices, or maintain less than an eight-foot-wide open space surrounding each entrance and exit.
2. Unless authorized by a Plaza event permit, use amplified sound or any drum, horn, cowbell, whistle, rattle, clapper, or other noisemaker between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
3. Unless authorized by a Plaza event permit, erect, install, or place any sign, display, or structure, temporary or otherwise, including tables and chairs, except as follows:
a. If space is available, portable tables may be placed in the Plaza, in the areas designated for that purpose on Exhibit 1, but only if the tables are used exclusively to facilitate the dissemination of expressive materials such as leaflets, pamphlets, petit ions, and literature requesting contributions. As used here, "portable table" includes a banner suspended from the table plus up to two portable chairs.
b. Hand-held signs, banners, and flags are permitted.
Ordinance No.2025- Adopted on 2
4. Leave personal property unattended other than bicycles parked at city - provided bicycle racks.
5. Unless authorized by a Plaza event permit, sell merchandise or solicit immediate contributions of money or property.
6. Unless authorized by a Plaza event permit, cook, sell, or distribute any food or beverage (other than water) or use any heat source or flame.
7. Use skates, a skateboard, a bicycle, or similar device.
8. Bathe or sponge bathe, or wash clothes, dishes, or other items.
9. Sit or lie down, except on a bench or chair supplied by the city or allowed under subsection 3.a.
10. Unless authorized by a Plaza event permit, bring or keep any animal other than service animals and service animals in training.
11. Bring or keep any fireworks, confetti, smoke- or fog-generating devices, or dangerous or deadly weapons as defined in the California Penal Code other than a weapon on the person of a peace officer.
12. Engage in any behavior or activity that violates the city code or state law.
13. Harm or destroy any landscaping or vegetation, including trees, shrubs, bushes, flowers, and grass.
14. Stand or sit on or in, or otherwise use, any water feature, statue, sculpture, or architectural or design feature in a manner inconsistent with its intended use.
15. Dispose of trash or garbage in any location other than in receptacles provided for that purpose.
16. Use on any surface, including trees, any type of paint, chalk, stickers, nails, fasteners, glue, or adhesive.
17. Knowingly join or participate in a Plaza event conducted under any Plaza event permit: (a) in violation of the permit; (b) without the permittee's express consent and over the permittee's express objection; or (c) in any manner that disrupts the Plaza event. This restriction does not apply to a protest against a Plaza event so long as the protesters comply with this chapter and do not physically invade the area assigned for the Plaza event.
Ordinance No.2025- Adopted on 3
B. A person or group that desires to have exclusive use of the Plaza, or any portion of it, for conducting a gathering, celebration, or other event must obtain a Plaza event permit.
C. City programs and activities in the Plaza have priority over all other uses.
Adopted by the City of Sacramento City Council on by the following vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Abstain:
Absent:
MAYOR
Attest:
City Clerk
Passed for Publication:
Published:
Effective: