PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING

 

FEBRUARY 23, 2005

 

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Marshall at 6:33 p.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: John Marshall, Dave Burke, Mark Reams

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Kathy House, Jon M. Coolidge, Pearl Drumm, Stephen Drumm, Mike Renn, John Rockenbaugh, Ryan Peterson, Dirk Shearer

 

AGENDA:

 

1)     Organization – John Marshall was appointed Chairman.

 

2)     Rewriting Ordinance 505.11 – Hunting within City Limits

 

Mr. Marshall shared sample legislation from neighboring communities.  Also dispersed a copy of proposed legislation drafted by Mike Renn.

 

How does ODNR overlap with cities and municipalities?  Does municipality take precedence?  Can language be taken from ODNR guidelines?  Mr. Rockenbaugh stated State regulations are based on animal population.  City can set their own regulations, which can be more restrictive. 

 

Overall goal is to write legislation to prohibit hunting within the main part of the city, but allow hunting within other city areas.  Intent is to manage wildlife population when creating a nuisance or damage as opposed to open-season hunting. 

 

Chief Golden would like to see legislation be specific enough to give him adequate direction.

 

Language is needed to designate where hunting is not permitted. 

 

Mr. Burke commented that the landowner has the final say whether hunting is permitted on his property and should work with the Chief for permission to hunt on the land.

 

Comment was made that the Ohio Revised Code states you cannot hunt on

private property without permission from the landowner.

 

Mr. Reams feels recreational hunting and wildlife management are two separate issues. 

 

Need to divide public land vs. private property.  Need to address management of nuisance animal population.  Comment was made it can be done under the direction of the Police Chief, Health Department and Mayor’s office.

 

Ban hunting or restrict hunting?

 

Ban hunting with conditions?

 

Address “discharge and non-discharge zones.”

 

Ms. House will ask Chief Golden to investigate discharge and non-discharge areas as mapped out in Pataskala ordinance.

 

Start with Pataskala ordinance and the draft written by Mr. Renn and work from there to come up with a draft ordinance for the City.

 

Suggested annual review of zones due to growth in the City.

 

Need language for no discharge of firearms within the city limits.  Talk to Tim Aslaner about this.

 

After all parties above have a new draft of the legislation, bring it back to Committee.

 

Mr. Reams referred to the ordinance drafted by Mr. Renn regarding the administration fee for some people and not for others.  Feels that if the City is going to manage the process of issuing permits, a fee is in order in all cases.  This will cover the administration burden.

 

Regarding Section VI, hunting as a group, does not agree that only one person in the group should be issued a permit.  Everyone should be issued a permit by the Police Chief. 

 

Also need a way to provide an annual permit for those who are doing wildlife management versus recreational hunting.

 

3)     Proposed legislation regulating street solicitations

 

This topic came about when volunteers and/or employees of a charitable organization came to town, stood at Five Points on the streets and street corners, knocked on vehicle windows and asked for donations.  This specific group had obtained permission from the previous Police Chief.  Chief Golden investigated and found there are currently no standard operating procedures on how this should be handled. 

 

Ms. House distributed draft legislation, which had been reviewed by the Zoning Inspector, the Police Chief and the Law Director.  Consideration was given to organizations that have done this in the past, i.e. Shriners.  Want to allow provisions for it to be done, but also want to know when, where, how and who, in order to be as safe as possible if people are going to be in the streets.

 

Mr. Reams feels this is a good idea, but wants to be sure this does not prevent the Firemen from holding their annual event. 

 

Committee agrees with limiting the number of times a group can solicit for donations to one time a year. 

 

4)     Discuss proposed legislation for cleaning up after animals in residential areas

 

Mr. Burke had a resident call him about legislation for making owners clean up after their animals on other people’s property.  The man who called was experiencing a problem with his neighbor.  In discussion with the Law Director, it was thought to be a property dispute more than a municipal issue.  Mr. Burke invited the gentleman to the meeting to discuss his issue. He was not present at the meeting.  Ms. House asked the zoning inspector if there was something in the code to cover this issue.  There is not.   Feels this is more a policing issue than a zoning issue. 

 

ADJOURNMENT:  Meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m.