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 Morrow’s draft and moved to table the item until legal review and further benchmarking against peer cities. The motion to table passed on roll call votes recorded in committee.

On drones, Martin presented an ordinance drafted to align local rules with language found in the Ohio Revised Code cited in the draft as "45 61 dot 5 0 through 45 61 dot 5 3." The draft would adopt state definitions for unmanned aerial vehicle systems and incorporate prohibitions and penalties parallel to the state law, including prohibiting operation that knowingly endangers persons or property or that interferes with emergency personnel. Martin told the committee the state law becomes effective April 9 and the city’s third reading would follow that effective date.

Members expressed concerns about terms in the state law described as subjective, especially the criminal standard of acting "recklessly." Mayor Villasiana and other members said the language will create a community standard and that courts will ultimately clarify the criminal standard in future cases. A committee member also asked how the state and federal jurisdictions (the Ohio Revised Code and the FAA) intersect; a precinct-level description of FAA flight layers was discussed and committee members noted low-level, neighborhood flights are the principal enforcement concern. The committee voted to table the drone item to allow law and administration additional review and clarification.

The committee approved updated language to Chapter 167 governing peddlers and transient dealers and solicitor licensing, a package the committee described as tightening hours of operation, adding fingerprint-based background checks for certain applicants, clarifying fines and the appeals process, and updating permit fees. Police leadership told the committee fingerprint checks are necessary to detect convictions for offenses such as crimes involving moral turpitude that a name-based check could miss. The committee approved the updated language by roll call.

Votes at a glance - Heavy-equipment permit timeline: motion to table pending law review; mover: Councilman Martin; second: not specified; roll call recorded: Elliot — yes; Martin — yes; outcome: tabled. - Drone ordinance aligning with Ohio Revised Code ("45 61 dot 5 0 through 45 61 dot 5 3"): motion to table for law/administration input; mover: Councilman Martin; second: not specified; roll call recorded: Elliot — yes; Martin — yes; outcome: tabled. - Chapter 167 update (peddlers, transient dealers, solicitor licensing): motion to approve updated language for consideration (no emergency requested); mover: Councilman Martin; second: Councilmember Elliot; roll call recorded: Elliot — yes; Martin — yes; outcome: approved.

The committee indicated the tabled items will return after the city law department and administration provide reviews and, in the heavy-equipment case, after the committee has had an opportunity to benchmark other cities’ approaches.