Loading...
05-09-1996 Workshop Meeting CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MAY 9, 1996 A Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held Thursday, May 9, 1996 in the Council Chambers at the Police Department. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pool at 6:30 p.m. with the following Council Members in attendance: Council Member Cole, Council Member Norquist, and Council Member Dupee. Also present was City Manager Saunders. Skateboard Use Mayor Pool welcomed everyone to the meeting and stated that the purpose of the meeting was to have input from the public regarding skateboard use in the City limits. He asked that since there was such a large crowd that if a specific point had already been made, it should not be reiterated and that he would give everyone an opportunity to speak. Mr. Bill Straugh addressed the Council stating that the main purpose of the request to meet with the Council was to express their desire for a place for the sport to take place in the community. Mayor Pool then asked City Manager Saunders to explain the City's ordinance as it is today. City Manager Saunders explained that skateboarding is not allowed in public parks or on commercial sidewalks, however, it is allowed on private property or residential sidewalks. Mrs. Smith addressed the Council and read sections of a publication which she which brought which discussed the risk factors with the sport and how some other communities have found that the risk factors in many occasions are blown out of proportion. City Manager Saunders asked for a copy of that information. Mayor Pool then asked City Manager Saunders to comment on the City's insurance company and the League of Cities' position on skateboarding. City Manager Saunders explained that our insurance carder and the League of Cities had stated that we could CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MAY 9, 1996 Page 2 relax our ordinance without negative affects on the insurance, however, if we designate a specific area for skateboarding or construct skateboarding facilities, we would experience significant changes in our costs of liability insurance. Wanda Andrews spoke to the Council citing areas such as Charlotte and Winston- Salem that have found ways to provide areas in their communities. Several other youth and adults expressed the need for an area that skateboarders can participate in their sport without being asked to leave. Specific questions were asked regarding the Police Department's right to confiscate skateboards. City Manager Saunders stated that he did not know the law involved, but he would talk to the Police Department about confiscation. Mayor Pool then addressed the group and stated that he thought that the ordinance could possibly be relaxed to allow skateboarding in the parks, but it would be a trial situation at first to make sure that it would not be a conflict with other uses. He also expressed his concerns over changing the ordinance to allow skateboarding in the commercial areas. Council Member Norquist also spoke in favor of relaxing the ordinance to allow skateboarding in the parks. Also discussed was the idea of excluding all roller sports from commercial areas since bicycles and roller blades could cause problems in these areas. Mayor Pool informed those present that any type of roller sport is illegal under State law in any streets or roadways. It was the consensus of the Council that it would be a benefit if the Police Department could have a handout to inform skateboarders when the sport is prohibited since in many cases they are simply not aware they are in a commercial area. City Manager Saunders stated that this should not be simply a government matter or an issue for the local government to resolve for the skateboarders, but that other organizations and private businesses should be involved to help provide places for the sport. CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING MAY 9, 1996 Page 3 Mayor Pool then stated that the Council would entertain the introduction of an ordinance to relax the prohibition against skateboarding in parks and that this would probably be introduced at the last meeting in May. Meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. Robert A. Pool, Mayor Attest: ~sep~ City Clerk