Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve said today that city halls around the country have tighter security measures than Reno’s City Hall.
The discussion was prompted after a man brought a portable stereo to play a song during public comment. He shouted obscenities during his comment period and then played a song from the boombox saying it was his wife’s public comment.
Councilwoman Neoma Jardon said that members of public bringing props to the council lectern has made her nervous.
People speaking during public comment have, in the recent past, shined a bright light in the eyes of councilmembers to demonstrate digital sign brightness, and one person was arrested after threatening to drink weed killer during public comment.
“The gentleman, and that may be a strong term, that had the boombox earlier today, and he was using vulgar language, it did remind me what our policy is on people that are talking during public comment using props,” said Jardon. “Any time somebody’s plugging something in or pointing something at either us or the crowd makes me a little nervous, so … if someone wants to use something as a prop that there be some sort of police check of it maybe before they plug it in or point it at us or whatever it is.”
Schieve said that other council chambers have bag checks, scanners and tighter security protocols.
“I think people should be checked when (they) come through the door,” she said. “We’re very accessible when it comes to council.”
Council meetings are monitored by a Reno Police Department officer.
