(PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
E-SCOOTER ORDINANCE … Bryan Police Captain Jamie Mendez speaks before council, regarding the recently proposed Ordinance 19.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Bryan City Council met for its regular session on Monday, June 2, at 5:30 p.m. in the Bryan Council Chambers.
The following members were present: John Betts, Stephen Alspaugh, Mary Leatherman, and Jim Kozumplik, with Richard Hope of Ward Two being absent.
Following the approval of the previous meeting’s minutes, an open hearing of public concerns was held.
Several Bryan residents came forward to address their concerns about the recent proposed ordinance involving micro-mobility devices.
“I personally feel the City of Bryan is profiling a specific group of individuals, and the ramifications of this ordinance are going to do more harm than good for the Bryan youth, their families, and residents,” one concerned citizen said. He added that many find the definitions confusing and unenforceable.
“My suggestion to council would be to scrap this ordinance altogether, let the State of Ohio’s ORC codes fall into play as they will…” he continued offering a range of alternative methods council could consider regarding this issue.
Dustin Schlachter continued with the regulation concerns. He reminded the city of the events often taking place years and years ago, with bicycles and skateboards.
“These things happen. Accidents happen. So, are there going to be accidents with e-scooters? Potentially. But, as far back as when you all were kids, accidents were happening.”
Schlachter reinforced the fact that children often use micro-mobility devices to go to school and sports activities and asks council if they will be “progressive or regressive.”
Later on, proposed Ordinance 19 was presented to the Bryan City Council for its third and final reading. After undergoing many amendments and changes, Police Captain Jamie Mendez spoke before the room to remind everyone of the origins of this policy.
“I think we’re losing sight of this whole thing,” Mendez began. “It was just basically supposed to be for the safety of the kids. Not to ban e-scooters at all.”
He recounted multiple calls of kids zig-zagging through the streets, pulling out in front of cars, riding with two or three passengers at a time, which were all considered safety issues.
While the Ohio ORC has already put codes into place, cities and villages have the freedom to enact their own set of further restrictive rules.
Mendez states that originally it was to make sure these devices had the correct reflective lighting, and helmets, and were following basic rules of the road driving standards. “People are now interpreting this as we are banning them and adding excessive restrictions.”
Ordinance 19, brought before council, caused much discussion among members. The proposed ordinance involved the following restrictions:
-E-scooters cannot be operated on streets or highways with speed limits higher than 25mph.
-Not more than one rider per e-scooter is permitted.
-The rider shall not carry items that require both hands, a rider must keep one hand on the steering handlebars at all times.
-The rider shall operate an e-scooter with due regard for safety, exercising reasonable and ordinary control of the device.
-The rider cannot weave or zigzag while operating an e-scooter.
-No person shall operate an e-scooter on High or Main Street, provided that an e-scooter may cross High or Main Street at a traffic signal.
-No person under sixteen (16) years of age shall be permitted to operate an e-scooter.
Any person found guilty of misusing the micro-mobility device shall be charged with a minor misdemeanor. All regulations pertaining to the already existing Ohio law must be followed, as well as those to come.
Council member John Betts posed the question, “How do you balance community enjoyment with community safety?”
He noted that newer, faster devices are coming out more and more. He noted a big difference between 100-watt scooters and those over 300 watts that can reach 45 miles per hour.
“9-year-olds versus a 16-year-old?” Betts asked, wondering how the city could enforce age limits without constant stops.
Steve Alspaugh recounted his childhood and dangerous antics, much like what some adolescents in the city have been doing on their devices.
“It’s always going to change, there’s always going to be a new definition. Things are going to get more powerful, but that’s going to fall into the hands of the parents to decide if they are going to get their child an e-scooter that can go down the street at 40-some miles per hour,” he said. “E-scooters are a bike for the new age,” Jim Kozumplik affirmed.
The council moved to vote, with three members voting no, and John Betts voting yes. After being outnumbered, the ordinance failed.
The city noted that while further restrictions are not deemed necessary, the citizens of Bryan will still be held responsible for following the Ohio code regarding the topic. Possible additional safety-based requirements may be introduced in the future if issues arise.
Council moved forward to approve an ordinance authorizing the Clerk-Treasurer to issue Change Order #1 for the ongoing “Alteration to: Bryan Fire Department” project.
The amendment was initiated due to unforeseen conditions requiring the relocation of items and wiring changes not reflected in the original bid documents.
The change added roughly over a thousand dollars to the contract with Siebenaler Construction Company.
Additionally, another ordinance was passed to establish a “Committee of the Whole” structure for standing committees of the Bryan City Council.
What was originally a 33-member-strong Board, will now shrink to 11 total members. Bryan Wieland of the Williams County Engineer’s Office was appointed to the board for a three-year term. Mayor Carrie Schlade was named as the designated alternative representative.
Under this system, all council members will serve on each committee unless otherwise decided by majority vote. Committees include Budget, Finance and Audit, Wage, Negotiations, Revolving Loan Fund, and BIPAC. Chairs will be appointed annually or as needed when vacancies occur.
The council also approved entering into a contract with Bryan Excavating LLC for the Autumn Chase Phase IV Improvements project, with the company submitting the lowest and most qualified offer. This will be funded through Fund 401 upon invoice approval.
The Bryan Fire Department made a closing remark as the council wrapped up its June 2 meeting. Fire Chief Douglas Pool spoke about fireworks and the city ordinance.
While state regulations permit the use of fireworks during a holiday such as Memorial Day, the City of Bryan does not allow the discharge of fireworks within its town limits. He reported related incidents happening last weekend and reminded residents to use their fireworks elsewhere.
With no further business to attend to, the meeting adjourned at 6:22 p.m.