Council gives first reading to ban on gates over public streets, adopts scoring matrix to review existing obstructions

At its June 9 meeting the Wildwood City Council gave first reading to Bill 29‑94, an ordinance that would prohibit obstructions — including gates — on public rights-of-way, and approved Resolution 2025‑18 directing staff to score and report on existing obstructions across the city.

The proposal would make clear that gates are not allowed on public streets; exemptions in the draft are focused on emergency-access ways and criteria for private-street gates. City Attorney John Young summarized the draft exceptions as a narrow set of limited circumstances and said the exception language preserves a set of private‑street criteria while keeping the general rule for public streets. Council member Joe Farmer, who helped draft the ordinance language, said the measure is intended to prevent recurring disputes with developers over gated access and to make future permitting simpler.

Council members and staff emphasized the rule is forward looking. Director of Planning and Parks Tim Vunich said the ordinance is intended mainly for new developments, and city staff and the fire and police departments do not intend to take immediate enforcement action on existing gates or obstructions without additional study. Vunich added that staff will prepare revised language and return the ordinance for final action after additional edits requested by council members.

Alongside the ordinance, the council approved a companion scoring resolution (Resolution 2025‑18) that directs staff to inspect and score the handful of existing gated or obstructed locations using a documented matrix. The resolution authorizes staff to report back on which sites meet safety and maintenance expectations and which do not; for sites that fail the scoring, the city would then follow the resolution’s process to determine next steps. Council discussion noted the matrix is intended to be transparent and to limit ad hoc decisions about existing gates.

Council members stressed limits on city authority. City Attorney Young and staff repeatedly clarified that the city already retains statutory authority over its rights-of-way and that the ordinance would not automatically force immediate removal of every existing obstruction; rather, the scoring and follow‑up process will determine whether and when modifications occur. The council completed a voice vote on the first reading of Bill 29‑94 and later passed the scoring resolution by roll call.

The ordinance returns for a second reading and final adoption at a future meeting after staff prepares the amended language requested by council members.