Public meeting access

I found this situation to be more disturbing than anything. I attend more governmental meetings than your average person and I have never came across a situation such as this is the past.


From WZEP news.

Some Who Attended the TDC Meeting Were Locked Out

As the Walton County TDC held a public workshop to take input on the Wayfinder sign program Wednesday evening, participants were asked to register their names at the door. Two TDC staff members stood at the door and told those entering they needed to sign in. Later, as the room filled, the doors were locked from outside access and a number of people were not allowed into the meeting room. Even after the crown thinned, the doors remained locked from the outside. Some attendees outside the meeting room complained about not being given access and about being told they must sign in. Both of these are possible violations of the Sunshine Law.

Florida has a broad set of laws governing the public's access to government meetings. This includes, government meetings with elected officials as well as most meetings of committees and boards doing business for a government or groups and organizations who make decisions and recommendations instead of a government body. A private company or group working to operate a public hospital or park facility would fall under the Sunshine Laws. The laws also govern the rights of the public to request records and to have access to their government.

Section 286.011, F.S., requires that meetings of public boards or commissions be "open
to the public at all times." For meetings where a large turnout of the public is expected, public boards and commissions should take reasonable steps to ensure that the facilities where the meeting will be held will accommodate the anticipated turnout. Meetings held at a facility which can accommodate only a small number of the public attending, when a large public turnout can
reasonably be expected, may violate the public access requirement by unreasonably restricting access to the meeting.

According to the First Amendment Foundation, there are four (4) simple requirements:
1. Meetings of boards or commissions must be open to the public.
2. Reasonable notice of such meetings must be given.
3. Minutes of meetings must be taken.
4. Venue must be accessible.

The FAF says a public agency cannot hold a meeting at any facility which discriminates based on age, race, etc., nor can a public agency unreasonably restrict public access. It must hold meetings in an accessible facility of sufficient size so as to accommodate the anticipated turnout.

Accessibility includes not having to register your attendance with the government. As this reporter entered the meeting area, two TDC staff members were at the door. One told me she needed me to sign in to attend the meeting. When told that I did not wish to register my name, she said it was for her minutes record. When told that registering a name was not a requirement, the employee grimaced as I passed. Checking with other attendees, apparently all who entered during the first part of the meeting were told they must sign in.

As the meeting progressed most seats were filled and some people were standing in the back of the room. Apparently the door outside the small lobby was locked and people outside reported being told they could not enter. It is unconfirmed who locked the exterior door, but several people said it was a TDC Board member. No fire marshal was visible and no announcement was made indicating there was a problem with not enough room or that the room was at capacity.

Attendees standing in the outside parking lot said they were denied access to the meeting due to the door being locked. This reporter attempted to open the door and gain reentry but found it locked. Eventually a TDC staff person answered a knock and asked if the people outside the door wanted in. I indicated the door needs to stay open and the staff person said her director said it should be closed. I asked the staff person if I wanted in later, and knocked, would the door be opened. She would not agree that it would. After asking the question repeatedly, a second staff person said the door would be opened. The door was shut and remained locked. Eventually, as the meeting came to a close, a county staff person, not a TDC employee, informed the staff they needed to keep the door open and blocked it from being completely closed with an urn.