The Puyallup City Council approved an ordinance that expands the downtown areas in which roller skates, skateboards and motorized scooters are prohibited.

At its Sept. 30 meeting, the council voted 6-1 to adopt the ordinance, which adds properties such as city hall, Pioneer Park and the public library to existing Central Business District (CBD) zones that already outlaw the use of skating equipment.

When the council conducted first reading of the proposed law on Sept. 1, three officials publicly opposed the plan: Deputy Mayor George Dill and Councilmembers Rick Hansen and John Knutsen. But Dill and Hansen changed their minds last week, saying they felt the ordinance does address some ongoing issues with property damage.

"Whichever way you go on this, somebody is going to be unhappy with this," Dill said of the ordinance. "I voted against it on the first reading and I had discussions with many people about this. My concern was the size of the area and, �Is this enforceable or not.�"

Hansen cited damage at the Pioneer Park bandstand, which was constructed in July, as a reason for supporting the ordinance. But he cautioned that a new law might not be the best way of stopping vandalism.

"I�m concerned sometimes that we go a little bit overboard," Hansen said.

Mayor Don Malloy and Councilmembers Tami Brouillet, Mike Deal and Kathy Turner continued their support for the ordinance, saying it gives police another way to deal with vandalism and public safety concerns. Violators can be fined up to $250.

"With this tool, a police officer can warn and then deal with the issue if it doesn�t go away," Turner said. "(Police) certainly don�t expect to use the tool to arrest little girls on roller skates."

Knutsen continued to be the most outspoken critic of the ordinance. He countered Turner�s claim that police officers support the move, saying he knows officers who don�t.

"They want to deal with vandals as vandals," Knutsen said. "They don�t want to act on things that were made illegal that are nonsensical."

The CBD covers several blocks of downtown radiating from Puyallup�s center at Meridian and Pioneer. Business owners located within the CBD have also been concerned about skaters from a public safety standpoint, said Arla Cuddie, owner of Newell Hunt Furniture.

"At our store we often walk our customers out to their cars with their purchases, just to help them avoid an encounter with a bicycle or skateboard," Cuddie said. "I would also imagine that those who enjoy skate (and) bike sports would also prefer not to be concerned about colliding with young children, business patrons, elderly walkers and parents with strollers."

Knutsen pointed out that the ordinance doesn�t reference bicycles. He also believed many families don�t use the city�s skate park on Fourth Avenue Northwest because they prefer skating on flat surfaces.

"Were I the kind king of Puyallup, I would eliminate the whole (no skating) area except for the city parks and specific areas that have a specific need to keep skateboards out," Knutsen said.

Reach Assistant Editor/Reporter Neil Pierson at 253-841-2481 ext. 313 or by e-mail at neil.pierson@puyallupherald.com.