Chapter 4.55
SYRACUSE CITY HALL1

Sections:

4.55.010    Purpose.

4.55.020    Hours of operation.

4.55.030    Building availability.

4.55.040    Building rental process and fees.

4.55.050    Alcoholic beverages, drugs, smoking, or gambling.

4.55.060    Nuisances.

4.55.070    Safety and security.

4.55.080    Lost and found policy.

4.55.090    City Hall rental policies.

4.55.100    Refund policy.

4.55.010 Purpose.

The purpose of the Syracuse City Hall is to conduct the business needs of City residents and provide available amenities to the community to enjoy during those times when it is not otherwise in use. In order to promote the orderly and harmonious use of the City Hall’s lobby and Council Chambers, this chapter establishes the following procedures and rules as well as rental fees as established and adopted in the City’s fee schedule. Deposits and rental fees are solely for the purpose of ensuring that these public amenities remain in good condition and to cover expenses incurred by municipal staff in overseeing reserved events and providing emergency services as necessary. [Ord. 17-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 12-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1971 § 4-11-1.]

4.55.020 Hours of operation.

The Syracuse City Hall shall be open to the public as follows: Mondays through Fridays, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. City staff shall post notices on the front doors prior to the building closing during regular operating hours. City Hall will be closed on major holidays (i.e., Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, etc.). [Ord. 17-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 12-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1971 § 4-11-2.]

4.55.030 Building availability.

The City Manager reserves the right to withhold reservations for any given day, during periods of availability, for any City-sponsored event or if the City Manager determines that the building requires maintenance, cleanup, repair, other work of an extraordinary nature, or the unavailability of required City personnel. Facility rentals shall be available Mondays through Fridays, from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and Saturdays, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., but no holidays. Interested parties shall not rent any portion of City Hall for events requiring the purchase of tickets or the payment of fees. [Ord. 17-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 12-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 09-11 § 2; Code 1971 § 4-11-3.]

4.55.040 Building rental process and fees.

(A) Reservations shall be made in person through the Community Development Department, during regular business hours, in half-hour increments.

(B) Renters shall be responsible adults, 18 years or older, and on site for the entire event.

(C) City staff will accept reservations on a first-come, first-served basis, and deposits and applicable rental fees are due upon submittal of the application.

(D) Any person/group may rent the Syracuse City Council Chambers and/or lobby under the following conditions:

(1) Schedule for an available date and sign a building rental agreement form.

(2) Pay a rental fee at time of scheduling, with 50 percent of the rental fee refunded if facility is left clean and undamaged.

(3) Pay the additional hourly rate, as established in the City fee schedule.

(4) All events/activities must be legal and in conformance with all Syracuse City ordinances.

(5) The following is a list of available facilities for rent with associated fees as located in the City fee schedule established and adopted by the City Council:

 

LOBBY

Small Events (<25 persons – no food or beverages)

Resident: $100.00 rental fee* and $35.00 per hour staffing

Nonresident: $150.00 rental fee* and $40.00 per hour staffing

Small Events (<25 persons – with food and/or beverages)

Resident: $200.00 rental fee* and $40.00 per hour staffing

Nonresident: $300.00 rental fee* and $45.00 per hour staffing

Large Events (>25 persons – no food or beverages)

Resident: $600.00 rental fee* and $45.00 per hour staffing

Nonresident: $900.00 rental fee* and $50.00 per hour staffing

Large Events (>25 persons – with food and/or beverages)

Resident: $600.00 rental fee* and $50.00 per hour staffing

Nonresident: $900.00 rental fee* and $55.00 per hour staffing

 

COUNCIL CHAMBERS

Small Events (<25 persons – no food or beverages)

Resident: $200.00 rental fee* and $35.00 per hour staffing

Nonresident: $300.00 rental fee* and $40.00 per hour staffing

Large Events (>25 persons – no food or beverages)

Resident: $600.00 rental fee* and $40.00 per hour staffing

Nonresident: $900.00 rental fee* and $45.00 per hour staffing

 

LOBBY AND COUNCIL CHAMBERS

Small Events (<25 persons – no food or beverages)

Resident: $300.00 rental fee* and $35.00 per hour staffing

Nonresident: $400.00 rental fee* and $40.00 per hour staffing

Small Events (>25 persons – with food and/or beverages in lobby)

Resident: $400.00 rental fee* and $40.00 per hour staffing

Nonresident: $500.00 rental fee* and $45.00 per hour staffing

Large Events (>25 persons – no food or beverages)

Resident: $700.00 rental fee* and $50.00 per hour staffing

Nonresident: $800.00 rental fee* and $55.00 per hour staffing

Large Events (>25 persons – with food and/or beverages)

Resident: $900.00 rental fee* and $55.00 per hour staffing

Nonresident: $1,000 rental fee* and $60.00 per hour staffing

*    Fifty percent of rental fee will be refunded upon satisfactory clean-up of facility and no damages.

[Ord. 17-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 12-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1971 § 4-11-4.]

4.55.050 Alcoholic beverages, drugs, smoking, or gambling.

Syracuse City prohibits the sale, consumption, or possession of intoxicating liquors or beverages and dangerous or narcotic drugs and smoking or gambling of any kind in City Hall. [Ord. 17-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 12-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1971 § 4-11-5.]

4.55.060 Nuisances.

It shall be unlawful for any person to use threatening, abusive, insulting, or indecent language, to commit any obscene or indecent act, to fight, or to create a public disturbance or nuisance within or on City Hall premises. Any person who loiters in or at City Hall while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or who otherwise disturbs the peace of others at any Syracuse City municipal building by begging, soliciting, making undue noise, or engaging in disruptive activities shall be deemed as creating a public nuisance. [Ord. 17-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 12-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1971 § 4-11-6.]

4.55.070 Safety and security.

(A) During any building rental, at least one Syracuse City employee shall be present in case of an emergency.

(B) Employee Training. All Syracuse City employees supervising the activities of those renting the lobby or Council Chambers shall receive training in and/or be certified in the following:

(1) First aid/CPR.

(2) Bloodborne pathogen exposure control.

(3) Proper evacuation of the building.

(4) How to run the equipment in the building (i.e., sound, computers, screens, etc.). [Ord. 17-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 12-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1971 § 4-11-7.]

4.55.080 Lost and found policy.

Syracuse City employees shall not be responsible for any lost or stolen personal property missing from any part of the building. City staff or guests should turn in found items to the front desk area of the Community Development or Utilities Departments for safekeeping until such time as an owner claims them or 30 days pass from the time the finders turned in such items, after which City staff shall donate them to a nonprofit organization. [Ord. 17-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 12-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1971 § 4-11-8.]

4.55.090 City Hall rental policies.

(A) Renters shall arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the event in order to meet with City staff and walk through the lobby and rest rooms, and Council Chambers when applicable, and provide and receive instructions on expected activities during the reserved time.

(B) Renters shall sign an inspection sheet immediately prior to the onset of their event to ensure factual recordation of the building’s conditions.

(C) The rental period includes set-up and take-down time.

(D) Cleaning supplies shall be available for patrons’ use at the end of events to ensure building is left in its pre-existing condition as per the inspection report. Renters shall bag and remove all decorations, garbage, etc. A dumpster shall be available for use in the southeast corner of the parking area.

(E) No one shall enter the Council Chambers with food or beverages at any time, use fog machines, candles, or have open flames of any kind, or bring animals inside any area of City Hall that are not certified assistance pets. No one shall enter the building without being fully clothed, including shoes and shirt, or with roller blades, skateboards, or other like items for recreational use. Patrons found to be in violation of any rules of City Hall shall leave upon request.

(F) Immediately following the event, renter shall participate in an exit inspection with City staff to record and compare the building’s conditions and establish reasonable charges against the deposit amount when deemed necessary. City staff will then prepare an invoice or begin processing payment to the responsible party for the balance of their deposit, when applicable, which may take seven to 10 business days for mailing. Renter shall be responsible for any violations of conduct committed by guests while using the building. [Ord. 17-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 12-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1971 § 4-11-9.]

4.55.100 Refund policy.

All refund requests will be charged a $20.00 administrative fee. Refunds may take seven to 10 business days for mailing. [Ord. 17-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 12-07 § 1 (Exh. A); Code 1971 § 4-11-10.]


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Code reviser’s note: The Syracuse City Hall rental agreement and inspection sheets, attached to Ord. 12-07, codified in this chapter, may be found on file in the City Clerk’s office.