Nonprofits and other community groups will no longer have the capability of reserving the county board chambers.
San Benito County supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved a use policy for the board chambers and conference room that restricts the use of the room to government entities.
“The policy is simple and it’s clear,” said Supervisor Margie Barrios. “I like that it makes it easier to plan when we are asked to provide the chambers.”
Supervisors in early November had asked staff officials to bring back a use policy for the board’s consideration, after board Chairman Jaime De La Cruz said he had some community groups ask about reserving the room. Community Media Access Partnership staff and volunteers, for instance, did a broadcast from the board chambers with election night news on Nov. 6.
In the agenda, the policy approved by supervisors Tuesday limits the use of the chambers and conference room to county supervisors, county staff and supervisors’ officially appointed boards, commissions, committees and other local, state or federal governmental entities “for the sole purpose of conducting public business.”
The policy also calls for those government entities who would like to use the rooms to make a reservation with the board clerk in advance, and make arrangements to pick up keys and return them in a timely manner if using the facilities after regular working hours.
The policy will be effective Jan. 1.
