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Downtown Skaters To Draw A Fine

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By NICOLA M. WHITE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 29, 2008

ZEPHYRHILLS - Despite the protests of a several skateboarders, the city council moved forward with a law that would impose stiff penalties on those who skateboard downtown.

Those caught skateboarding there or in any other prohibited area would be slapped with $75 fines. On the second offense, the fine would double, to $150; on the third, $300; on the fourth, $500. Anyone caught skating on a handrail, fence or bench would be charged $500.

The ordinance requires another public hearing before it becomes law. The ordinance passed its first hurdle Monday night with a unanimous vote from the council. A second vote is set for Feb. 11.

"I mean, this ordinance is ridiculous," said skateboarder Nick Kenny, 18, who told the council police should crack down on drug dealers downtown, not the skateboarders.
City council members were not swayed.

"I've been cussed at it," Mayor Cliff McDuffie said. "I've had words used on me by a 13- or 14-year-old kid that I don't use myself. I resent that, and I'm not going to stand for it."

The idea to impose stiff anti-skateboarding penalties was presented to the city council in October by Councilman Danny Burgess, who also suggested police should be allowed to confiscate the boards of those who illegally skate. At the time, dozens of skateboarders rolled into the city council meeting and pleaded with the city to work with them to make the city-run skate park at Krusen Field, on the south end of town, more appealing. That way, they wouldn't have to skate downtown.
City officials and skaters got together a few times; eventually, though, momentum fizzled. This month, city leaders said the situation had reached a boiling point; downtown business owners and residents continued to complain about the crowds, and city workers had to haul away four picnic benches that were bent from skating. One skateboarder gave the mayor the finger when he tried to tell a group of skaters not to skate on his church property.

The council Monday night also approved a rezoning that would allow the Zephyrhills Spring Water Co. to build a retention pond on land adjacent to the bottling plant.

Initially, the plan was met with opposition from neighbors, who feared the pond - and the land-use change from residential to light industrial use - would set in motion further expansion of the plant. Scores of water plant employees packed the council chambers to support the company.

Council members - all but one of whom, Kent Compton, were drinking pint-sized bottles of Zephyrhills spring water on the dais - voted unanimously in favor of the land-use change.

Reporter Nicola M. White can be reached at (813) 779-4613 or nwhite1@tampatrib.com.

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