Item 4C - Policy FINALCity of Southlake Policy:
Facility Use Reservation Policy
City of Southlake
Policies & Procedures
Policy:
Source:
Category:
Previous Update:
City Council Approval:
Effective Date:
I. Statement of Purpose:
Facility Use Reservation Policy
City Manager's Office
City Facilities
March 2, 2010
December 5, 2023
December 6, 2023
The procedures outlined in this Policy are intended to provide guidance to staff
members who are responsible for understanding and engaging in the Facility
Use Reservation process.
The City of Southlake has a select number of facilities that afford opportunities for
public use. The purpose of the City of Southlake Facility Use Reservation Policy is
to provide clear guidelines and procedures for the efficient and fair allocation of
these city -owned facilities for approved activities, or programs. This policy is
designed to ensure City facilities are utilized in a manner that is safe, respectful,
and consistent with the City's mission and values.
By establishing clear criteria for the use of these facilities, the policy aims to provide
greater transparency, accountability, and fairness to all individuals and
organizations seeking to reserve City facilities.
This policy is intended to serve as a resource for the community and City staff for
the reservation of the facilities designated within this policy and to promote the
City's commitment to community engagement, public service, and public access
to available City resources.
A list of facilities available for reservation under this policy is limited to those
included within "Appendix A."
II. Definitions:
a. Business Hours -
The hours during which the facility is normally staffed, operating, and open to
the public. Those hours are dependent upon the facility and various factors, are
subject to change when necessary, and are summarized in "Appendix B."
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City of Southlake Policy:
Facility Use Reservation Policy
b. Deposit -
A fee that is collected in advance as a security measure to help ensure proper
use of the facility. The amount is established within the City of Southlake's Fee
Schedule. Deposits are to be collected at the time of the room reservation and
are eligible for refund upon satisfactory, post -reservation inspection.
c. Fee Schedule -
The comprehensive list of fees associated with City services that is reviewed,
revised, and adopted annually by the City Council.
d. Not for Profit Organization -
A group organized for some charitable, civil, or other social purpose and where
the organization does not distribute profits to its owners, but rather uses its
surplus revenue for the benefit of the organization's mission.
e. Off -Duty Police Officer -
A sworn City of Southlake Police Officer or approved licensed Texas Peace
Officer, available for hire to serve in an official law enforcement capacity and
provide security services for a program or activity. Off -Duty Police Officers are
required, as outlined by this policy. The Off -Duty Officer program and
reservation process are managed by the Southlake Police Department.
f. Resident -
An individual who lives within the geographical and incorporated boundaries of
the City of Southlake, Tarrant or Denton County, Texas.
g. Reguestor-
Individual requesting the use of a City facility under this policy for their use or
for the use of an organization they are representing.
h. Community Benefit -
Refers to the positive impacts and advantages a project or an organization's
mission may have on the community of Southlake. This includes, but is not
limited to, benefits such as social, economic, environmental, infrastructure
improvements, employment creation/training, public space or recreation,
cultural preservation, or public safety. Organizations are recognized by City
leadership and administration as "Community Partners" if they have been
predetermined to possess organizational goals and values aligned with City of
Southlake Community Benefit priorities and have been assigned the
designation of, "Community Partner."
i. City of Southlake Community Partners -
Individuals, not for -profit organizations, businesses, or other entities that have
been expressly identified by the City of Southlake City Council as "Community
Partners" through an executed Community Service Organization (CSO)
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City of Southlake Policy:
Facility Use Reservation Policy
agreement. Current City of Southlake Community Partners, in alphabetical
order, include only:
1. Apex Arts League
2. Arts Council Northeast (ArtsNET)
3. Call a Ride Southlake (CARS)
4. GRACE Grapevine
5. Metroport Meals on Wheels (MMOW)
6. SafeHaven Tarrant County
7. Southlake Community Band
8. Southlake Historical Society
9. Southlake Sister Cities
j. Town Hall Foyer -
The main common area located on the second floor of Southlake Town Hall.
III. Building Use Disclaimer:
a. Meetings of the Southlake City Council, and/or Tarrant County, City and/or
County boards, commissions, committees, or departments shall take
precedence over any other community use of the facilities.
i. Use of all Southlake public facilities shall be for the primary purpose of
conducting official business on behalf of the City of Southlake.
ii. In addition to City of Southlake staff, Tarrant County staff members also
retain priority use of public meeting rooms located within Town Hall, to
conduct Tarrant County business.
b. The City of Southlake shall have the authority to schedule priority functions that
may necessitate the removal of community use activities previously scheduled.
i. If such a change is required, the appropriate staff shall notify the contact
person identified on the reservation request as soon as possible and will
attempt to locate another available City facility to host the previously
scheduled program or activity.
c. Tarrant County, being a partial owner of Southlake Town Hall, may schedule
programs, meetings, or activities in County assigned areas (described within
the interlocal agreement entered into by the City of Southlake and Tarrant
County) as desired; however, they will coordinate all other activities outside of
their designated areas with the Southlake City Manager's Office to ensure the
space(s) are available and reserved appropriately.
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City of Southlake Policy:
Facility Use Reservation Policy
IV. General Guidelines:
a. Facilities Available for Reservation:
i. The City Facilities available for reservation by the public under the
provisions of this policy solely include the following facility spaces:
1. Town Hall Third Floor Training Rooms A, B, C, and D (D
includes attached kitchen area).
2. Town Hall Foyer.
3. Public Safety, Headquarters' Community Rooms A and B.
4. Public Safety, West Station Community Room.
ii. Reservations of the City Council Chambers and Executive Conference
Room are not permitted.
b. Facilities Not Available for Reservation:
All City facilities not specifically described within this policy as facilities
available for reservation.
c. Generally Allowed Facility Uses:
i. Unless otherwise restricted, City facilities are generally available for
public use, community benefit, and not for profit activities.
d. Facility Uses Not Allowed:
City facilities are not available for:
1. Fundraising activities
2. For -profit activities or organizations
3. The promotion or sale of any products or service
4. Any activity that poses an actual or perceived risk to the health,
welfare, wellbeing, peace, or order, to the public, City facilities, or
City staff.
e. General Criteria and Guidelines:
i. The requestor is a not -for -profit organization.
The request is reasonably related to City of Southlake or Tarrant County
business.
iii. The requestor or requesting organization maintains a physical address,
recognized by the United States Postal Service, as being within the City
of Southlake or within the incorporated City limits.
or
That a majority of the requestor's members, including officers, reside
within the City of Southlake,
or
The requestor's proposed use of the requested facility is deemed as a
community benefit, as defined by this policy.
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iv. The request is made no later than 10 business days prior to the desired
date of use, to allow staff to determine impact on the facility and
scheduled meetings, programs, or activities.
v. The sponsoring organization will provide, prior to reservation approval,
a deposit and any other necessary fees as may be required by the City's
fee schedule.
vi. The Facility Use Reservation Program Manager, appointed by the City
Manager, determines by review of the application:
1. The requested program or activity will not cause detrimental
impact to City staff or resources.
2. The requested program or activity will not adversely impact the
capacity of the requested location to host the program or activity
including but not limited to:
a. A negative impact on the parking capacity of the requested
facility.
b. A negative impact on other planned meetings, programs,
or activities at the requested facility.
c. A negative impact on vehicle or pedestrian traffic in and
around the requested facility.
d. Adversely impacting the normal operation of the facility.
vii. City of Southlake Community Partners will be subject to the rules and
guidelines of the active Community Service Agreement between their
organization and the City of Southlake. Through the active Community
Service Agreement, there may be a waiver of usage fees. The City of
Southlake may also allow active Community Partners additional use
exceptions, as outlined within the active Community Service Agreement,
or specifically granted to the organization, in writing, by the City Manager
on a case -by -case basis.
viii. The Town Hall foyer may only be reserved for approved uses, outlined
by this policy, and by City of Southlake employees or official City of
Southlake Community Partners with active and valid Community Service
Agreements.
f. Equipment:
i. AudioNisual:
1. Utilization of City of Southlake facility audio/visual equipment is
prohibited due to the sophisticated nature and overall value of the
systems installed within City of Southlake facilities, as well as the
limited availability of staff to support the proper operation of these
systems.
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City of Southlake Policy:
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2. Audio/visual equipment can be provided and used by the
reserving party within the reserved space.
Internet/Electricity:
1. Electrical outlets and guest WiFi is available to reserving parties
in all City facilities, at no additional cost to the reserving party.
2. "Hard wiring" or directly plugging into the City's network or
internet port(s) is prohibited.
iii. Amplification of sound:
1. Amplification of sound within the reserved spaces is prohibited.
g. Alcohol:
i. The consumption of alcohol at City facilities is not permitted unless a
proper exception request has been submitted to the City Manager's
Office and permission has been granted, in writing, by the City Manager.
This request may be initiated by contacting the City Manager's Office
after a facility reservation request has been submitted.
To qualify for an alcohol consumption exception, a request must be
submitted to the City Manager's Office at least 45 days prior to the
requested reservation date and the following criteria must be met:
1. Special circumstances exist which are particular to the requested
reservation date and program, or activity being held.
2. Requestor agrees to hire the required number of Off -Duty Police
Officers for the duration of the reservation period.
a. The off -duty officer request process is a separate process,
managed by the Southlake Police Department.
3. Must be related to a program or activity that conforms to all other
standards set forth by City policy.
4. The requestor or requesting organization must provide proof of
current, general liability coverage with the following minimum
amounts:
a. Personal Injury or Death: $1,000,OOOUSD per occurrence.
b. Property Damage: $100,000USD per occurrence.
c. General Aggregate: $1,000,OOOUSD
The requestor must also provide this proof, in a form acceptable
to the City Attorney's Office, to the City Manager's Office no later
than 30 days prior to the date of the requested reservation.
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h. Smoking:
i. Smoking, vaping, and the use of smokeless tobacco is prohibited in all
City Facilities.
V. Reservation Process:
a. General:
To maximize the availability of facility space for community use, consideration
of requests will be made on a case -by -case basis. Requests for multiple dates
submitted at once will typically not be considered unless a community
organization is submitting a request for a recurring meeting that will occur on a
cyclical and recurring basis.
b. Request/Application Submission:
i. Requests may be made in -person, to the appropriate City staff contact
as outlined by this policy in "Appendix A," or electronically, via the
Smartsheet Form: Facility Use Reservation Request Form.
ii. Requests are accepted no sooner than 90 days prior to the requested
reservation date and no later than 10 business days prior to the
requested reservation date.
c. Request/Application Review and Decision:
i. Staff shall review all requests and notify the requesting party of request
approval or denial within 72 hours of an application's submission.
d. Cancellation and Scheduling of Multiple Dates:
i. Requestor(s) must submit notice of any cancellations no later than two
business days prior to the reserved program or activity date. Failure to
comply with this standard will result in:
1. Suspension of ability to reserve City Facilities for a period of 90
days, and
2. Possible forfeiture of the facility reservation deposit.
VI. Fees and Deposit:
a. A usage fee and deposit, as specified within the City's most recently
adopted Fee Schedule, must be paid at least 72 hours prior to the
reservation date.
b. Once a reservation is approved, proof of payment of the applicable fees
and/or deposit must be received by the appropriate City staff, outlined in
Appendix A, within 48 hours or the reservation may be canceled.
c. Deposits will be returned to the requestor/payee, upon staff review and
approval of the post -reservation condition inspection of the reserved facility
space(s).
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d. If, upon inspection, the reserved space(s) are found in condition beyond
normal wear and tear, deposits are forfeited by the requestor/payee and
retained by the City.
VII. Requirement of Off -Duty Police Officer:
a. When reservations occur outside of normal operating hours, and no City
staff member is present (see Appendix B) an off -duty officer is required to
be present for the duration of the requested reservation time.
b. The City reserves the right to require the requesting person or organization
to employ an off -duty officer for their reservation. This will be determined by
City staff during review of the reservation request.
c. If an off -duty officer is required, the requesting person or organization is
responsible for requesting the off -duty officer through the Southlake Police
Department as well as the cost of employing the off -duty officer(s).
d. The cost of the employment of off -duty officers is determined by the City's
Fee Schedule.
e. The policy and process of employing an off -duty officer is managed by the
City of Southlake Police Department.
Vill. Signage and Decoration:
a. Any interior or exterior decorations or signage may not be affixed to any walls,
furniture, finishings, equipment, or be placed on the group inside or outside of
City facilities, unless prior written approval has been provided by the City
Manager.
IX. Public Art Displays:
a. The display of public art is permitted in City Facilities and is subject to all
terms outlined within the Facility Use Reservation Policy and public art
guidelines outlined by the Southlake Arts Council and City Council.
b. The placement of public art is left to the discretion of City staff and will be
addressed during the public art approval process overseen by the
Southlake Arts Council and City Council.
X. Fundraising in Public Facilities:
a. Only City initiated and sponsored fundraising programs or activities,
approved by the City Council as a budgeted special event, are allowed at
City facilities. All other fundraising activities are prohibited at City facilities.
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XI. Individual and/or Group Responsibilities:
a. Facility Setup:
i. The reserving individual and/or organization shall be responsible for
setting up any tables or chairs needed during the reservation period.
The City will not provide any staffing or materials to aid in the set-up or
cleanup of the reserved space.
b. Damages:
i. The reserving individuals and/or organizations are responsible for any
damage caused during the reservation period and deposits may be
retained by the City for damages that are determined by staff to exceed
normal wear and tear.
The City reserves the right to assess additional charges for damages,
as warranted, and individuals and/or organizations are subject to any
applicable criminal and/or civil penalties.
iii. Damage to the facility caused by individuals and/or organizations may
result in the denial of future reservation requests for a period of no less
than 1 year. If this determination is made, the individual and/or
organization will be notified by City staff of this decision.
c. Facility Cleanup:
i. If applicable, tables, chairs, and any equipment present at the beginning
of the reservation period, must be returned to the original arrangement,
by the individual or organization using the space, when the use of the
space is complete.
The reserving individual and/or organizations are required to remove all
trash, private equipment, food, and any other items brought by the
individual, organization, or their attendees, prior to the end of the
reservation period.
iii. The reserving individual and/or organization is responsible for turning off
all lights and securing the facility (unless there is an off -duty officer
present for their reservation).
XII. Comaliance with Aaalicable Procedures. Policies and Pertinent Ordinances:
a. All users of City facilities must comply with the procedures, policies, restrictions,
and all pertinent ordinances of the City of Southlake. Any questions regarding
items not listed within this policy should be referred to the City Manager's
Office.
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City of Southlake Policy:
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XIII. Intent of Non -Discrimination:
a. The City will not discriminate against any person or persons because of their
race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or
mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, or citizenship. Nor will the
City permit the reserving individual and/or organization to engage in any such
discrimination.
XIV. Release of Liability:
a. The City of Southlake assumes no responsibility for personal injury or loss of
property brought or placed in the facility in connection to the use of the reserved
facility space.
b. By submitting an application for reserving a facility space, the applicant agrees
to indemnify and hold harmless the City of Southlake, its officers, agents,
servants, and employees from and against any and all claims or suits for bodily
injury, illness, death, personal injury, or property damage, (including but without
limitation to: reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, expert witnesses and
other consultants) arising out of the applicant's use of the facility space, or
arising out of any act or omission committed by the reserving applicant, its
officers, employees, agents, guests, attendees, and invitees, in connection with
the activities conducted under this agreement.
c. THE INDEMNIFICATION AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT SHALL
SPECIFICALLY INCLUDE ANY CLAIMS ARISING FROM NEGLIGENCE OR
THE CITY, ITS OFFICERS, AGENTS, SERVANTS, OFFICIALS, AND
EMPLOYEES.
Policy Effective Date
This Policy shall take effect immediately from and after its passage and approval, and it
is so ordained.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS DAY OF , 2023.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY SECRETARY
EFFECTIVE:
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
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Appendix A
List of Available Facilities
Facility - Address
Room(s)
City Departments
Staff Phone Number
Third Floor Training
Town Hall
Rooms
1400 Main St.
(A, B, C, D)
City Manager's Office
(817)748-8400
Town Hall Foyer
Public Safety
Community Room
Police Services
(817)748-8114
Headquarters
600 State St.
Public Safety — West
(Station 2)
Community Room
Police Services
(817)748-8114
2100 W Southlake
Blvd.
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City of Southlake Policy:
Facility Use Reservation Policy
Appendix B
Business Hours by Facility
Facility
Business Hours
Monday — Thursday,
7:00am — 8:00pm
Friday, 7:00am — 6:00pm
Town Hall
Saturday,
10:00am — 6:00pm
Sunday, Closed
Monday — Friday,
Public Safety
8:00am — 5:00pm
Headquarters
Saturday — Sunday, Closed
Monday — Friday,
Public Safety — West
8:00am — 5:00pm
(Station 2)
Saturday — Sunday, Closed
*Business Hours are subject to change and this table does not account for holidays or
emergency closures.
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