If Occupy Cedar Valley or Cross Burners Come Knocking, the Cedar Falls City Council Is Prepared

Will Occupy Cedar Valley set up their tents again now that warm weather has returned?

If they do, the Cedar Falls City Council is prepared.

The council voted 4-2 this week to allow people to apply for a permit to camp overnight for up to 14 days in Gateway Park.

The ordinance was raised in response to Occupy Cedar Valley's long-term camp in Overman Park last year. Previously, camping was not allowed in city parks under city code, but the council decided not to challenge the Occupy protesters tents at the time.

"It's the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights," Mayor Jon Crews said. "That's what we're talking about, is a place to assemble, to petition the government."

Gateway Park was chosen as a place people could protest because it is highly visible but would not interefere with summer activities, like Sturgis Falls, which take place in Overmen Park.

Council member Tom Hagarty opposed the ordinance because he said there were already designated camping areas.

"I do not want camping in any of our 33 city parks," he said. "I'm not opposed to any protest movement, I just don't want us to get into camping in the city parks when we have perfectly good camp grounds."

A question was raised about what kinds of permit applications the city might deny.

"If someone wants to come in and burn a cross in the middle of the park, that's a category of a hate crime; that's illegal," Administrative Services Director Richard McAlister said. "We're going to recommend that you not allow that to occur."

Occupy member Brandon Long said the group isn't sure yet whether they'll set their tents back up, now that warmer weather has arrived.

"We're kind of waiting to see what happens," he said. "We're kind of waiting for more than just the regulars to be interested. We realize our limitations to maintain that with just a few people interested. We’ll have to just wait to see what happens nationally."

He said he was satisfied with the council's action.

"I think its good they didn’t ban the possibility of camping," he said.

The ordinance was first voted on March 12, but failed on a tie vote, with one council member absent. This week, Frank Darrah, Susan DeBuhr, John Runchey and Dave Wieland voted yes, Hagarty and Mare Madsen Schmidt voted no, and Nick Taiber was absent.