§ 9-4. Public use of the Lake County Courthouse.

(a)

Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following words shall mean:

(1)

Designated public forum. A forum created by government designation of a place or channel of communication for use by the public at large for assembly and speech, for use by certain speakers, or for the discussion of certain subjects.

(2)

Designated non-public forum. Government property that is not by tradition or designation a forum for public communication.

(b)

Designated non-public forum areas.

(1)

The interior of the Lake County Courthouse located at 550 West Main Street, Tavares, Florida is a designated non-public forum. Except as otherwise provided, the Courthouse shall be open to the general public during the normal working hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission during periods when the Courthouse is closed will be limited as herein provided. The following rules shall govern the interior of the Courthouse:

a.

The public shall enter, and in non-emergency situations, exit the building through the Main Street entrance. Employees should ordinarily enter through the employee entrance located in the non-public area on the Alfred Street side of the building; however employees may also enter through the Main Street entrance. Vendors may make arrangements with the bailiffs to enter through the loading dock area on the west side of the building.

b.

Employees are permitted after-hours access to the Courthouse through the entranceway on the Alfred Street side of the building using their electronic key. A data log shall be maintained by the bailiffs' office indicating usage of this entrance after hours. After-hours access is limited to business purposes only.

c.

All visitors and employees to the Courthouse shall be appropriately dressed, including but not limited to, shirts and shoes.

d.

All packages and mail being brought into the Courthouse, regardless of which entranceway is used, shall be subject to inspection and x-ray screening. The addressee of any questionable package or mailing shall be required to report to the south entranceway bailiff station to either remove the package or mailing from the building, or to attend its opening and inspection.

e.

No food or drink shall be permitted in the public areas of the interior of the building. However, this limitation does not apply to individual employee work space or offices or to areas designated to allow food or drink.

f.

The building shall be pre-keyed by departmental design and the chief bailiff shall distribute keys according to those designations, and shall maintain all spare keys in a secure location. The chief bailiff shall maintain any and all "grand master" keys for the building.

g.

The administrative judge may enact further rules or regulations through issuance of administrative orders in accordance with Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.050.

(2)

The area to the north of the Courthouse located at 550 West Main Street, Tavares, Florida is a designated non-public forum. This area includes the entire area west of the east entrance gate, south of the north entrance gate and the Lake County Emergency Operations and Communications Center and east of the fencing located on the west property line. This area includes secure parking, open parking, sidewalks, limited park area, and the employee entrance to the Courthouse. The following rules shall govern this area:

a.

This area shall not be accessible to the general public.

b.

Parking in this area, whether in the secure parking area or the open parking area, shall require approval of the administrative judge or the sheriff. Vehicles that are parked in this area are subject to being towed away, and the parking lot shall be signed in accordance with state statutes on towing of vehicles.

c.

Employees, other than those who are authorized to park in this area, shall enter this area through the locked gate utilizing their electronic key. This area shall only be utilized by employees going to or returning from work, during lunch hours and breaks, and to enter the Courthouse after hours for business purposes.

d.

Employees of and visitors to the Lake County Emergency Operations and Communications Center shall access outside of the gated area through the front door or employee entrance door to the center, unless the administrative judge or sheriff has authorized parking in this area.

e.

The administrative judge is authorized to allow use of this area for employee or other court related events. The administrative judge may enact further rules or regulations through issuance of administrative orders in accordance with Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.050.

(c)

Designated public forum areas. Areas located outside the Courthouse and the designated non-public forum to the north of the Courthouse, including but not limited to, sidewalks and grassy areas, shall be designated public forums. The administrative judge may enact rules or regulations governing activities in the designated public forum areas through issuance of administrative orders in accordance with Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.050.

(Ord. No. 2004-41, § 2, 6-15-04; Ord. No. 2005-29, § 2, 4-5-05; Ord. No. 2013-65, § 2, 11-19-13)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2013-65, § 2, adopted November 19, 2013, amended the title of § 9-4 to read as set out herein. Previously § 9-4 was titled Public use of the Lake County Judicial Center.

Note— Formerly § 9-3.