Minutes 11-09-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

10 Commissioner Marcoplos said what is the neighborly thing to do, and he usually tells his neighbors if he is having a party; and that is what people should do even with shooting. He asked if there is any way to require people to talk to their neighbors. John Roberts said communication cannot be required, but an educational campaign that encourages such communication could be done. Chair Dorosin said a good neighbor campaign could be tried, and perhaps the National Rifle Association (NRA) could help. Commissioner McKee agreed, and it worked with the deer hunting issue, which is greatly improved. Chair Dorosin said there is value to educating residents on the limitations of the State law and the County ordinances. Commissioner Marcoplos said he is totally against involving the NRA, and the County should create its own campaign. Commissioner Rich said it is important for residents to move away from the belief that the BOCC is doing nothing about issues about the noise around the Barn. She said the BOCC is listening to the concerns, but there are limits on what the BOCC can do. Commissioner Marcoplos said to have a public neighbor campaign, encouraging residents to communicate with neighbors, and be more cognizant of how actions are affecting their neighbors. He said a large part of this is explaining the limits of the law/ordinance. Chair Dorosin said there appears to be some interest in adding time limitations to gun shooting/practicing. Commissioner Jacobs said it does not hurt to have an education campaign stating, “in accordance with State law on restricting the hours of hunting, Orange County asks that you restrict your shooting to a certain time frame. And if you plan to shoot, please notify your neighbors of what you are doing”. He said a combination of both an educational campaign and time limitations may be wise. Commissioner Rich asked if there is a reason that this did not get resolved during the firearms safety committee. Commissioner McKee said the dialogue at the final meetings was scattered, and an agreement could not be reached. He said as the discussion started to dissolve, it became more acrimonious and personal, with no hope of compromise. He asked Commissioner Marcoplos if there is a reason why he feels so strongly about not involving the NRA. Commissioner Marcoplos said the County can achieve such a campaign on its own without involving the NRA, which only wants to expand the use and sale of guns. Commissioner McKee agreed that the NRA is not interested in expanding regulations, but he found the deer hunting campaign to be far more effective due to the involvement of the NRA. He said he would not want to close the door on the involvement of the NRA. Commissioner Marcoplos said a good neighbor policy should require gun shooters to consult their neighbors, but should also require neighbors to be amenable to the conversation about reasonable times of shooting. Chair Dorosin summarized the agreed upon actions: taking out the exception; time limitations; educational campaign. Commissioner Jacobs said if this comes back to the BOCC, it should be placed as a regular item on an agenda, and not as a consent agenda item. Commissioner Price asked if this discussion only pertains to firearms noise, or does it pertain to all noise, such as a chainsaw, etc. Chair Dorosin said those other items are already in the ordinance.