Fostoria City Council to Vote on Ordinance Regulating Public Access to City Buildings

FOSTORIA, Ohio — The Fostoria City Council is set to vote Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at 213 S. Main St. on an ordinance that would regulate public access to city-owned, controlled, and leased properties. The proposed legislation, in its final reading, aims to enhance security and minimize disruptions to city operations.

The ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service and Safety, currently Eric Keckler, and their designees to manage public access to city properties by establishing three designations:

•  Nonpublic Forum: Areas primarily for city employee use, inaccessible to the public without an employee escort. All employee work areas in the Fostoria Municipal Building, marked by signage, will be classified as nonpublic forums.

•  Limited Designated Public Forum: Areas mainly for employee use but occasionally open for public meetings or legitimate business with city officials or employees.

•  Designated Public Forum: Areas primarily for public meetings, accessible during such events.

Keckler would have the authority to designate these areas and implement measures—such as physical barriers and signage—to separate public and nonpublic spaces, subject to available funding. He could also develop procedures to regulate access, ensuring the safety of visitors, employees, and city operations.

The ordinance stipulates that individuals disrupting city government work will be deemed to lack legitimate business and may be asked to leave. Unauthorized persons in nonpublic or limited public forums who refuse to leave upon request will be considered trespassers, and law enforcement may issue trespass warnings at the city’s request.

Additionally, the legislation restricts recording (audio or video) in city buildings, except in council chambers, conference rooms, or other public meeting spaces, unless all individuals being recorded consent. This restriction does not apply to law enforcement activities. Those who continue recording without consent after being warned will be considered disruptive, asked to leave, and may face trespass charges if they refuse.

The ordinance lists 16 prohibited behaviors, including disruptive, harassing, abusive, or unsafe conduct and unauthorized entry into nonpublic areas. The Director of Public Service and Safety or their designees may remove anyone violating federal, state, or local laws, city policies, facility rules, or posted directives.

A copy of the proposed ordinance is available online with the original story at The Advertiser-Tribune. For more details, attend the council meeting or contact city officials.

Source: Adapted from The Advertiser-Tribune, https://advertiser-tribune.com/news/597969/