Agenda 10-01-19 Item 8-a - Minutes

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7 1 Commissioner McKee said he and former Commissioner Jacobs sat on a Firearms Safety 2 Committee a few years back, which included people from both extremes of the gun debate. He 3 said this group worked for several months, and was able to make changes to safety. He said no 4 changes could be made to address noise. He said noise could not even be defined. He said he 5 shoots occasionally on his own property, and he is very concerned about shooting occurring in 6 densely populated areas, but he sees this example tonight as totally unenforceable. He said he 7 would like to see some regulations that are enforceable and reasonable, and nothing that he has 8 heard tonight or seen in the packet will address noise. 9 Chair Rich said she is hearing consensus on wanting the following: 10 • Definitions 11 • Suburban density 12 • ETJ follow up 13 • Safety vs. noise ordinance 14 • How to search for sound 15 • Overall enforceability 16 • Additional maps that include names of sub-divisions and road names 17 She asked if there was anything else. 18 Commissioner Dorosin said to pull up the County GIS during next discussion and zoom in 19 on any location. He said the only consensus he heard was around higher density subdivisions, 20 as well as looking at ETJs. 21 Chair Rich asked if there is a process for the Board to continue the conversation. 22 John Roberts said he has not heard any firm direction to bring this back for a vote, so it 23 would be a work session item. He said he does not know how long it would take GIS staff to 24 have to blow up maps of all of these subdivisions. He said this would be a lot of maps. 25 Commissioner Marcoplos said, in the interest of time, perhaps the Board could look at 3 26 or 4 prominent, dense areas, and discuss in principle what is learned. 27 John Roberts said it would be a good idea for Planning to define suburban density, and 28 then pull up some subdivisions that meet the criteria. 29 Commissioner Price said some newer subdivisions are well defined, while other older 30 subdivisions are not. She would like to include some of these older subdivisions in the samples 31 for discussion. 32 Commissioner Bedford asked if the state statute says that any existing ranges 33 (regardless of any changes that are made) are exempt. She said any changes would be 34 prospective, unless there is a major change in the activities of the range. 35 John Roberts said that is exactly what is says for noise and nuisance ordinances. He 36 said a public safety ordinance would not fit within a noise or nuisance ordinance. 37 Commissioner Marcoplos said he is not comfortable with the subdivision density idea, 38 without knowing what it is. He said one house per acre is dense enough to be considered for 39 this issue, but he agrees with 10 houses or greater. 40 John Roberts said he will speak with staff, and will leave 10 or greater in place, as well as 41 other options for suburban density definitions. 42 Commissioner Price clarified that state law protects the sports shooting range. 43 John Roberts said yes, from noise and nuisance regulation. He said a noise ordinance 44 can be enforced going forward from the date of the ordinance being adopted, and would not 45 impact existing shooting ranges. 46 Commissioner Price clarified that noise is not being considered here. 47 John Roberts said no, because it is has been discussed many times, but never pursued. 48 Commissioner Bedford asked if the new Board members could see a copy of the gun 49 safety committee report.