Simi Valley Municipal Code Ch. 38 City Buildings and Facilities

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all buildings, facilities and other public property that the City owns, leases or operates for the purpose of conducting City government business or providing City services, or that is otherwise under the control and jurisdiction of the City Council, including but not limited to City Hall, the Senior Center and the Cultural Arts Center ("City Facilities"). The purpose of this Chapter is: to provide for the establishment of reasonable rules and regulations to be observed by the public in the use of such City facilities to maintain the safety of City employees and patrons, facilitate the City's ability to conduct government business and provide services, and prevent damage to City Facilities; as well as to provide authority for the implementation and enforcement of such rules and regulations.

(§ 1, Ord. 1042, eff. September 18, 2003 as amended by § 5, Ord. No. 1283, eff. February 8, 2018)

In accordance with the City Manager's powers and duties to exercise general supervision over all City facilities, the City Manager may promulgate reasonable rules and regulations to be observed by the public in the use of City facilities ("facility regulations"), including without limitation time limits and other restrictions. The City Manager's facility regulations shall be placed on file with the Office of the City Clerk, and shall be available to the public during regular business hours. At the City Manager's discretion, such facility regulations or excerpts thereof may be posted at particular City facilities, although such posting is not required for enforcement provided a verbal warning is provided consistent with any applicable facility regulation requirement. One warning is sufficient to allow for enforcement of any facility regulation or any requirement set forth in this chapter throughout the remainder of each particular day.

The City Council may also from time to time establish rules and regulations applicable to particular City facilities, which rules and regulations shall become effective upon such time that they are approved by the City Council. Thereafter, provided that the particular resolution so requires, such rules and regulations, or excerpts thereof, shall be posted at the City facility to which they pertain and copies shall be available to persons desiring copies thereof from the Office of the City Clerk during regular business hours.

(§ 1, Ord. 1042, eff. September 18, 2003 as amended by § 5, Ord. No. 1283, eff. February 8, 2018)

With respect to any City facility, it shall be unlawful to:

(a) Willfully harass or interfere with any City official, employee, contractor or agent (collectively, "City personnel") in the performance of his or her duties in a City facility, willfully disrupt any event or activity being conducted in such City facility or, by their conduct, willfully harass or interfere with any other person's use of such City facility, or threaten violence or intimidate any City personnel or any member of the public;

(b) Enter designated areas that are not open to the general public inside of City facilities without permission from City personnel;

(c) Remain inside a City facility without a purpose related to conducting business, accessing services, or contacting City personnel on the premises;

(d) Enter an interior area of a City facility once City personnel advises that the area is closed to the public, or that is signed in any manner that suggests that the public should not enter, unless given permission to enter by City personnel;

(e) Remain in the lobby, hallways, waiting areas, or similar public areas inside a City facility longer than is necessary to conduct City-related business or contact an employee or official, or wait in a City building for City personnel indefinitely;

(f) Insist on meeting with City personnel and remain waiting after being told by City personnel that the person is either not available or will not meet with the person requesting a meeting;

(g) Refuse to leave a City facility after having been lawfully directed to do so by City personnel. City personnel may direct a person to leave a City facility in compliance with procedures set forth in a facility regulation applicable to the City facility; or

(h) Violate the City Manager's facility regulations.

(§ 1, Ord. 1042, eff. September 18, 2003 as amended by § 5, Ord. No. 1283, eff. February 8, 2018)

Any person who violates Section 5-38.103, the City Manager's facility regulations or who violates any properly adopted rule or regulation after having been given notice thereof by City personnel pursuant to the requirements of this chapter, shall remove him or herself from the building or facility if requested by City personnel, or if so ordered by a peace officer based upon probable cause that a person has committed such violation.

(§ 1, Ord. 1042, eff. September 18, 2003 as amended by § 5, Ord. No. 1283, eff. February 8, 2018)

It is a misdemeanor or infraction, at the discretion of the City Attorney, to violate Section 5-38.103, the City Manager's facility regulations or any rule or regulation promulgated and adopted in accordance with this chapter after having been given notice thereof, or to fail to leave the building or facility upon being requested by City personnel or ordered to do so by a peace officer in accordance with Section 5-38.104.

(§ 1, Ord. 1042, eff. September 18, 2003 as amended by § 5, Ord. No. 1283, eff. February 8, 2018)