Rules committee tables heavy-equipment timeline and drone alignment, approves tighter peddler/solicitor rules

Rules, Ordinances and Ethics Committee chair Councilman Martin on Tuesday moved to table a citizen-led proposal to limit how long heavy machinery may remain on private property and to table a proposed local drone ordinance that would align city rules with recently adopted state law; the committee approved updated peddler and solicitor regulations under Chapter 167.

The heavy-equipment item was introduced by Councilman Justin Morrow, who told the committee he drafted language that would set a timeline on heavy-equipment permits after noting what he described as a potential “loophole” allowing equipment owners to repeatedly pull permits to store equipment at private properties. Morrow said the proposal was meant to prevent long-term on-site storage that could otherwise evade storage fees or regulations. “My proposal would be to... put some sort of timeline because I look at it like a loophole,” Morrow said.

Councilman Martin said the city law department had not yet reviewed…