Skateboard plan pulled from agenda

FLORENCE - For all the items on the city council's three-page agenda Tuesday, the most discussion surrounded a resolution that had been removed.

Mayor Bobby Irons pulled a proposal he had sponsored that would have forbidden skateboarding in city streets and sidewalks.

Irons said during Tuesday's council meeting that he didn't like the wording in the proposal and it did not match the intent of the measure. "The resolution was too restrictive," he said.

Irons said its intent was to prevent skateboarding in business areas and places such as parks, where it causes hazards and has resulted in damage. He mentioned downtown areas in particular where damage has occurred.

Irons said he plans to introduce another version.

"It will make it more clear in the resolution which areas are included," he said.

Still, the proposal drew the ire of council members Angie Pickens and Scott Carrier, who said they were unaware of it until they read an article about it in Monday's TimesDaily.

"I didn't like that kind of communication," Pickens said.

She said the proposal went way overboard. She said it would have made it illegal to play any game or roller skate or use scooters, tricycles, coasters or skateboards on any streets or sidewalks citywide. The city has a similar ordinance now but is rarely enforced, city officials said. The only significant change would have been the additional reference to skateboarding.

Pickens said if there is a problem involving vandals, the offenders should be arrested, but that doesn't mean all skateboarders should be treated as criminals just because of their hobby.

Pickens added that skateboarding is good exercise, something Florence should promote rather than prevent.

Carrier said the ordinance that was withdrawn Tuesday "looked like the city was declaring war on skateboarding."

"If you really read the resolution, it's ridiculous," he said. "It makes it sound like every kid on a bicycle or skateboard is a law-breaker."

The city's skateboard park in north Florence has been vandalized in recent years, with some key equipment being destroyed.

In other action, the council: