TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Todd Lenzie, Interim Corporation Counsel
SUBJECT:
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Ordinance Adding Chapter 21, Article XI, Offenses on Public Property
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BACKGROUND:
The City is continuing its efforts to standardize regulations governing City-owned property to support public safety, maintain orderly use of municipal spaces, and assist the Joliet Police Department in managing conduct issues as they arise across various City facilities.
The proposed ordinance establishes a uniform process for issuing property-specific bans in response to certain unlawful or disruptive conduct. This structure provides clarity to both the public and the Police Department, ensures consistent enforcement across all City-owned locations, and helps maintain safe and accessible environments for residents, businesses, and visitors.
This ordinance authorizes the Joliet Police Department to issue bans from specified City-owned property when an individual’s conduct warrants removal for the protection of public safety or to prevent continued disruption.
Under the ordinance, a first ban results in a six-month prohibition from the specified property, a second ban results in a twelve-month prohibition, and a third ban results in a lifetime prohibition from that particular property. Each ban applies only to the property tied to the location where the underlying conduct occurred.
To protect access to essential governmental services, the ordinance includes an explicit provision allowing a banned individual to enter the affected property for legitimate government purposes during the period of the ban. This includes activities such as attending administrative proceedings, accessing City services, complying with legal obligations, or participating in other required governmental interactions. This exception maintains the enforceability of the ban while ensuring that residents retain access to critical municipal functions.
CONCLUSION:
By clearly defining the Police Department’s authority and establishing a predictable framework, the ordinance enhances the City’s ability to manage high-use public spaces and respond appropriately to conduct that threatens public safety or interferes with the intended use of City-owned property.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Based on the above, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Council approve the Ordinance Adding Chapter 21, Article XI, Offense on Public Property.
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