Members of the public are no longer allowed to wander Valparaiso City Hall unaccompanied. City Attorney Patrick Lyp says a few months ago, various groups calling themselves auditors began showing up to government buildings to take videos.
"There was one video posted of a gentleman videoing City Hall unescorted in the lower area of City Hall, and in the times that we live in, having that happen certainly isn't appropriate," Lyp told the board of works last week.
Lyp said the city responded by requiring doors to be locked and employees to use key fobs to access certain areas. The board of works took another step by passing a resolution explicitly stating that visitors have to go to the receptionist area when they enter and leave when their business is done. It also states that the council chambers will remain locked until 15 minutes before the start of a scheduled meeting. Any exceptions would have to be approved by the city administrator.
"Certainly, it's a balancing act between making sure City Hall and the chambers are open to the public, while at the same time making sure that employees, elected officials and our guests are safe," Lyp added.
He said the resolution is likely a first step, and additional security measures may be implemented as funding becomes available.
