The city of Austin is having trouble keeping its doors open during Austin City Council meetings.

City officials have inadvertently locked the doors at least three times during meetings since July. City Administrator Jim Hurm said each time has been an accident, however. He believes an employee may be locking the doors by mistake while council meetings are going on.

“We don’t know how this is happening,” he said.

Council meetings are open to the public by state law, and the council can only hold closed meetings in rare circumstances, such as reviewing an employee’s conduct or discussing litigation against the city.

Hurm said the city will be more vigilant to keep the doors open during meetings and anyone who wants to see tapes of the meetings can come to City Hall to watch them.