Agenda - Council - 07/27/1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Review Boardt The Ramsey Review Board will convene as the Personnel or Finance Committee of the City Council. Appeals to the Review Board's decision shall be directed to the City Council." As research, Staff reviewed the past municipal facility rentaI experience, and found one rental in June 1998 where the municipal facility was lef~ in poor condition. Last summer a private party rental stuffed styrofoam into the pop machine, and failed to clean up their area following usage of the facility. A $25.00 damage deposit was retained for the failure to clean the facility. If the Committee, and ultimately the Council, chooses to pursue facility rental for private and for-profit rental, it is important that the City's policy not unlawfully discriminate against whom it allows to use the building or facility. The following are some common areas of concern the League of Minnesota Cities encourages cities to review regarding municipal building rental: Religious use. A city should allow religious groups access to city buildings on the same basis as other types of groups. If religious groups are not allowed to rent these facilities in the same manner as non-religious groups, someone could accuse the city of religious discrimination. Commercial use. A city can allow a commercial organization to use a city building that is not needed for city purposes. If the city lets commercial organizations use the building for free; it might constitute an unlawful "gift" by the city. Free speech use. Once a city allows non-city use of its building, it cannot refuse to allow a group to use it because of the content of speech or activity. Resident and non-resident use. A city may charge higher fees for non-residents' use if there is a rational basis to support the different treatment, such as the residents also pay other taxes that support the facility. Some cities may give residents first choice in the use of the building. A complete ban of non-residents could be problematic if it has an unlawful discriminatory effect. Financial responsibility. A city may use this as a basis for restricting use of a building if the financial criteria are reasonably related to the city's costs or liabilities for the building or activity. For instance, the city may require a user to show proof of dram shop insurance if liquor will be served and refuse to rent the facility to a person who does not show this proof of insurance. Committee Action: Motion to recommend approval of the attached facilities rental policy. Council Action: Motion to approve the attached facilities rental policy. Agenda Case for Facilities Usage Policy July, 1999 Page 2 of 3 I ! I I I ! I I I I I I I I I