11/3/2009 8:10:01 AM

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By Kurt Nesbitt

Post-Bulletin, Austin MN 

Any kind of ordinance affecting demonstrations on city property in Austin is on hold for the time being.

	What happened: Austin City Council is taking a wait-and-see approach to any proposed ordinance to control public demonstrations. Why it matters: Police had to intervene in last month's demonstration when a neo-Nazi group and counter-protesters clashed. Officials want to keep public space open for people to hold rallies. What comes next: Mayor Tom Stiehm will work with the city attorney to draft an ordinance for the council to consider.

Austin Mayor Tom Stiehm clarified his intentions to the Austin City Council during a work session Monday night.

In October, Stiehm said he wanted to look into ways to steer protests away from the Veterans Memorial in front of the Mower County courthouse. The site has been the scene of several protests this year by the National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi group. Counter-protesters have attended the rallies, and last month's protest included arrests and the spraying of a chemical irritant to settle the crowd.

Stiehm said police would have felt more comfortable with the demonstration had they had some idea as to how large the event was going to be.

"We're not trying to ban demonstrations on public property," he said.

City officials want to hear from City Attorney David Hoversten before moving ahead on any ordinance proposal. They briefly discussed the idea but took no action on it on Monday night.

Stiehm said he has not been able to meet with Hoversten yet, so no draft ordinance was introduced.

Council member Dick Pacholl told other council members that he thinks "something should be done. The best way is to find out where they're gonna be and not go there."

Pacholl thinks "something ought to be done" and that groups looking to hold demonstrations ought to have permits. In the past, the National Socialist Movement has applied for and received permits.

Pacholl's comment raised questions from council members Brian McAlister and Janet Anderson about the fairness of regulating who receives a permit and who does not. They said they think the ordinance ought to apply to everyone equally. There was no other discussion about the subject.

"In no way, shape or form are we trying to ban demonstrations," said Stiehm.

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