City Hall gets security upgrade

[Lunican]

I guess city hall feels like they haven't made many friends.

The Florida Times-Union

January 3, 2008

City Hall gets security upgrade

By BETH KORMANIK,
The Times-Union

New security upgrades at Jacksonville's City Hall mean visitors now must pass through metal detectors and submit their bags and packages to X-ray machines.

Other changes to the St. James Building include closing entrances on Laura and Hogan streets so all visitors must use the main entrance on Duval Street.

City employees can bypass the screening.

Previously, anyone could enter the building from any entrance, and the first-floor council chamber was open to everyone without any security screening. To reach higher floors - including the offices of City Council members and Mayor John Peyton - visitors had to sign in with guards and wear visitor badges. Now, guards will no longer require visitors to sign in or issue badges.

The system went into effect Dec. 26 but with much of government on holiday break, many people are only now encountering the changes.

The first big test of the system likely will come tonight, when hundreds of people are expected to pack the council chamber for a vote on a proposed runway extension at Craig Municipal Airport.

Full Article:
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/010308/met_231090234.shtml

[JeffreyS]

Went though security yesterday quick and easy needed to be done.  The body cavity search was very professional.

[Starbuck]

Yes, very professional.

I turned around and went through three more times just for that reason.