I’m here in the US BANK MEETING ROOM at the Multnomah County Library, for a weekly meeting between at least 20 private downtown private security providers and the Deputy District Attorney Laurie Abraham. Today, Monica Goracke of the Oregon Law Center is here, along with downtown Police Lieutenant Todd Wyatt —to talk to the group about the controversial Sit/Lie ordinance. Walter Garcia, from the City’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement, is also here, along with two Multnomah County Sheriff’s deputies. So it’s a very private meeting, with no tax-payer dollars at stake. Just so we’re clear:PUBLIC BUILDING, PRIVATE SECURITY: Deputy District Attorney Laurie Abraham (visible through door on the left) waits for private security providers to arrive at a meeting of the Downtown Security Network.

“I got a call from the Mercury and Street Roots paper, and I went ahead and told them they could come,” Abraham told the meeting, before it got started. “So if anybody’s got any problems with that, I don’t see it as a problem, I think they’ve agreed that they’ll leave after Lieutenant Wyatt has talked about the ordinance.”

Nobody had any problems, apparently.

Lt.Wyatt explained the law, which says you can’t sit or lie on the downtown sidewalk or in the Lloyd Center, or have an unleashed dog, or have scattered belongings, between 7am and 9pm.

“We have been training a dozen to 15 people right now from the PPB who are supposed to be able to enforce this,” said Wyatt. “But everybody can tell others about the law if they want. So while we often ask the downtown security network to educate people around their businesses, this is another ordinance that you can educate people about.”

“The process that we’re using is trying to give people a verbal warning first,” said Wyatt. “But so far every time I’ve done it, about 15 times in the last week, people have been moving along. But if that doesn’t work, then we’ll issue a written warning with a map. And if that doesn’t work so well, then we will give them a citation. I anticipate very few citations. I know that some people will not like this, but when it’s explained to people, I think that most people will be able to understand the ordinance and move along.”

“How long before it’s enforced?” asked another provider.

“Actually, it’s tomorrow,” said Wyatt.

Monica Goracke of the Oregon Law Center then explained the mayor’s Street Access For Everyone (SAFE) process to the group, making sure to include the fact that homeless’ rights non-profit Sisters of the Road was involved—although of course, they don’t actually support the ordinance. She says “the goal was to make this ordinance relatively easy to understand, both from an enforcement perspective and a compliance perspective.”

“My hope is that this stays easy to understand and that it does not become some sort of tool to move people along,” Goracke continued. “I think that is important so that everybody still feels welcome downtown and we don’t have conflict, and I think that is the way that the law can and should work.”

Let’s hope so. Joanne Zuhl of Streetroots also told the group about their resource guide, which has been funded to the tune of $30,000 of SAFE money. And she mentioned concerns over free speech issues associated with the ordinance, which Goracke expanded on. The ordinance has exceptions for people involved in protests, as long as there’s at least three of them sitting down together. She also asked for clarification on whether or not private security guards can issue “verbal warnings” to people about the law.

“There is nothing in the ordinance that says people can’t give verbal warnings,” said Abraham.

“But it would not be appropriate for a security officer to say to someone, ‘I’m giving you a verbal warning’,” said Goracke.

I’ve got to leave the meeting, now. I think. Which is too bad, because I would love to know what else is discussed at these meetings. I mean, I really would. Do any public records law nerds know whether I have a right to attend?