Council to consider ordinance aligning ‘minor’ age with state law

The Riverview City Council introduced an ordinance to amend portions of the city code that define a “minor,” changing the age threshold from under 17 to under 18 to conform with a recent change in state law. Speaker 1 read the ordinance’s sections by number and described the change as limited to the age definition; Speaker 4 (the chief) confirmed "that's really the only change."

Council members indicated the measure will be formally brought back for a vote at next week’s meeting. "So is this something that we vote on next week?" one councilmember asked; Speaker 1 replied, "Yes. I'll bring it in for you." City staff said the city had not altered other offense provisions in the sections named and that the update was prompted by recent incidents in which the age distinction became relevant.

Because the ordinance is at the introductory stage and no final vote was recorded in the meeting transcript, the council has not yet adopted the change. If approved next week, the ordinance would change the local code's definition of who is classified as a minor from persons under 17 to persons under 18. The transcript references the state change but does not name a specific statute or citation; the article therefore reports only that the adjustment is being made to align with "state law," as described by council discussion.

The council did not vote on the ordinance at this session; staff said the item would be scheduled for the council agenda next week for final action.