Bicycle ordinance will be drafted

After taking some time to review the idea, Portland City Council took a step toward creating a bicycle safety ordinance.
Council on Monday asked city attorney Bill Hinkle to write a proposed ordinance based on one that has already been enacted in South Bend. Theresa Inman had requested the ordinance, which would include requiring drivers to allow a distance of at least 3 feet when passing a bicycle, at the April 20 meeting.
Also Monday, council  sent a tax abatement request to the advisory committee.
At the previous meeting, some council members had questioned whether the bicycle ordinance was necessary and if such issues were already covered in the Indiana driving manual. They also brought up concerns about unduly effecting drivers on narrow city streets.
After reviewing the issue, council member Mark Hedges said there is a need to clarify the rules. Indiana is one of 17 states, along with Ohio, that has no specific law regarding bicycle passing, and Hedges noted that the driving manual is vague.
“I agree that we certainly need to make some movement to modify what we have,” he said.
Samantha Thomas emphasized the importance of bicycle safety, especially for children who may be riding to the city’s three elementary schools, East Jay Middle School, Jay County Public Library and Jay Community Center. In addition to improving safety, Inman said, such an ordinance could help the area earn grant funding.
Answering a question about enforcement, police chief Nathan Springer said he believes such an ordinance could be helpful.
 “I don’t think this is one of those ordinances that you’re going to see enforced a lot. It’s going to be an ordinance that draws awareness toward bike safety,” he said. “But on the other hand, if there is an accident or something happens, that’s just another tool for us.”

Council members Bill Gibson, Judy Aker, Kent McClung, Mark Hedges, Kip Robinette, Michael Brewster and Don Gillespie asked Hinkle to draft an ordinance to be reviewed at either the May 18 or June 1 council meeting.
They also sent a request from Pennville Custom Cabinetry for a tax abatement on $325,000 in real property to the city’s tax abatement advisory committee.
The abatement would be on an expansion of about 7,000 square feet to the facility at 600 E. Votaw St.
Mark Goldman said his business has grown to $2.46 million in sales last year from $1.35 million, and is in need of more space. He noted that payroll has increased by 52.8 percent to $966,000.
After a brief back-and-forth during which Hedges cited paperwork related to the abatement request and questioned if Pennville Custom Cabinets is creating jobs, council voted unanimously to send the request to the advisory committee.
In other business, the council:
•Approved the sale of the former fire station, 110 N. Commerce St., to Brian Barnett for $32,500.
•Paid claims totaling $1.11 million.
*Approved an amendment change that will send all township firefighting finds into the Portland Fire Department Non-Reverting Fire Equipment Fund. Previously, some of the money collected had been directed to the general fund.
•Heard reminders from Mayor Randy Geesaman that this week is clean-up week, Run for the Fallen is scheduled to come through Portland at 5 p.m. May 15 and the city’s community cookout will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 19 behind city hall.
•Approved a request from Arts Place to close Walnut Street between Harrison Street and Pink Alley (a half block to the west) from 1 to 6 p.m. May 17.