Imagine the Hells Angles or Ku Klux Klan renting a Delta-owned facility to hold a function.
That was a scenario brought up by Mayor Lois Jackson in what turned out to be a spirited debate over a new municipal facility use policy at a recent Delta council meeting.
A recommendation had been put forward by staff to limit the venues that can be rented out for "political use" by groups. The debate quickly became somewhat heated when some on council complained locals, who are also taxpayers, have a right to use their recreation facilities as long as others aren't disturbed.
That prompted the mayor to bring up the Hells Angles and KKK.
"How would you like to open the door to everyone?" asked Jackson, noting, "Some very strange people had come forward."
Her comment was dismissed by Coun. Bruce McDonald, who was opposed to the new policy, saying Delta wouldn't rent space to anyone considered objectionable, especially hate groups.
"We live in a democratic society and people are supposed to be able to express themselves in a democratic way. To say we will not allow people to do that thing on the basis it might hurt the feelings of someone else, I just don't understand," said McDonald.
The new policy restricts so-called political use gatherings, which include constituency association meetings, all-candidate meetings, public debates, forums and town hall meetings, to just three locations in North Delta and three South Delta facilities: Kin House, the Ladner Community Centre and Tsawwassen Arts Centre.
Parks and recreation director Ken Kuntz explained those locations were chosen because events held there are not likely to bother or interfere with the public.
"The notion of a partisan or a movement of some sort, often the organizers of these events don't comply with the rules. Even though you have either a Hall A or Hall B to have your function, that's available and it doesn't disrupt anyone else, the reality is that it does intermix with the other users of those facility," Kuntz said.
"So by placing them into facilities where there is ample room, where they can handle their activities within the bounds of the facilities, it really doesn't disturb other users," he added.
Coun. Robert Campbell agreed, saying, "You don't want to be taking your child to the gymnasium or to the hockey practice and encounter someone aggressively promoting their political cause... They can have their political meetings and not disrupt other regular activities of our community centres or our recreation centres."
Coun. Sylvia Bishop disagreed, saying political events shouldn't be classified as harmful.
Saying the facilities left available may not be big enough for some gatherings, she said even non-partisan functions by groups promoting peace would fall into the restricted category.
"The same way I think the facilities that are paid for by taxpayers, that are used by taxpayers, are denied activities for public response and civic engagement I think it's unfair to characterize the reason for this policy is because there have been bad users in that past." she added.
Council decided to pass the policy but review it later this year.
