Safety committee refers deer-hunting ordinance to council; proposes online parcel map for notices

The North Ridgeville Safety Committee moved on Sept. 15 to refer an ordinance amending the city's deer-hunting rules to city council, including a change from mailed adjacent-owner notices to an online interactive parcel map and an administrative change replacing a safety service director signature with the mayor.

Committee members and police officials said the proposed system would simplify administration and broaden public notification. "The way we're doing it is adjacent landowners receive notification," the Chief of Police said, describing the current process of preparing and mailing envelopes to each neighboring parcel. Under the proposal, a map on the city's website would allow anyone to click a parcel and see whether hunting is registered there.

The switch aims to reduce staff time and postage costs. Summer, a police department secretary, told the committee the department mailed 664 letters last year at 78 cents per letter, a postage cost of $517.92. Police staff also said new applicants would still be required to apply and show proof of landowner permission and a hunting license; permits remain year-to-year and are renewed annually.

Why it matters: The change alters how residents near permitted hunting parcels learn about hunting activity and shifts administrative duties to an online tool. Committee members discussed safety, privacy and how to notify residents who do not use the web.

Committee discussion and concerns

Committee members and the mayor's office emphasized safety controls tied to permits. The chief said staff can place seasonal or location-based restrictions (for example, limiting hunting in months when nearby parks are busy or prohibiting elevated blinds in certain corners of a parcel), and that permits can be revoked for safety violations.

Council President Jacobs said he supported the map but worried that removing mailed notices could alarm neighbors who unexpectedly see someone with hunting gear. "I think the map is a great idea," Jacobs said, "but . . . some people would be very alarmed if they looked out and they saw somebody, with a weapon, not necessarily knowing what they were there for." Several committee members proposed a compromise to mail notices for first-time applicants and rely on the map for renewals.

The committee also confirmed the online map would show parcel numbers only; it would not publish hunters' names, addresses or phone numbers. Officials said the police department would administer the map and that the city would promote the new system through the city's website, Facebook pages and the city's one-call notification system.

Timing and next steps

Committee members noted the change cannot affect the current hunting season unless council adopts an emergency clause. The chief said deer season typically runs from late September through February and starts Sept. 27 this year; because the law director was absent, the committee did not attempt an emergency adoption that night. A committee report is expected at the October meeting so the full council can consider the ordinance. The committee moved to send the ordinance to city council for consideration; the motion was seconded and referred to council.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to send the ordinance amending North Ridgeville's deer-hunting rules (longbow/crossbow notification method and administrative signature change) to city council: moved by AWIG; seconded by Swank; motion carried as a referral to council (no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript).

Ending

If council approves the ordinance and does not adopt an emergency clause, the online notification system would take effect for the season after the ordinance's effective date. The committee asked staff to plan public outreach to help residents find the new map and suggested mailing notices to first-year applicants during the transition period.