Elk Grove moves to end public use of City Council chambers
This city argues there are other venues now available throughout Elk Grove
ELK GROVE, Calif. — Community groups and organizations would no longer be able to reserve the Elk Grove City Council Chambers under a proposal scheduled for consideration by the City Council on June 10.
City staff is recommending the council adopt a resolution rescinding a 2009 policy that permitted outside organizations to use the chambers for meetings and events. The policy was adopted when Elk Grove had fewer public meeting venues available to residents and community groups.
According to a staff report, the city has since expanded its inventory of public facilities that can accommodate meetings and events, including the District56 Community Center, Old Town Plaza and the Elk Grove Library. Those facilities are specifically designed and managed for public reservations and may include rental fees.
City officials said the council chambers are now heavily used for official business, including City Council meetings, meetings of nine commissions and committees, and internal staff meetings. The report notes there is limited calendar availability for non-city events and that staff lack the operational capacity to manage ongoing external rentals of the facility.
When approved at Wednesday's meeting, the policy repeal would reserve the chambers primarily for governmental functions.
