By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

LOVELAND - In a mural of Loveland sites on the wall of city council chambers, there is an image of a boy airborne on a skateboard. But after a 5-2 vote Tuesday, skateboarders will still only be on the city hall wall and not on city sidewalks.

Council voted to table an ordinance that would have lifted a ban from the 1980s on the sport on all public streets, sidewalks and in city parks.

"I'm not against skateboarding, but I do think to just say it's open season anywhere in the city is a neglect of duty," said Harry Lofland, a retired police officer who drafted the original ordinance and spoke to council Tuesday.

Vice Mayor David Bednar agreed, asking that council take more time to create skate and no-skate zones in the proposed ordinance.

The issue was brought before council after Councilman Rob Weisgerber asked that the ordinance be reconsidered.

"The policy was written a long time ago when the sport had a negative reputation," he said. "As my son is fond of saying, the sport that he loves was banned before he was even born."

Weisgerber has three sons, ages 20, 16 and 9, all of whom skateboard.

"I've been able to be exposed to the sport through their eyes. It's really about letting kids express themselves in an individual sport," he said. "Loosening the rules allows them to do that and not be criminals."

The city has set aside land in a park for a skateboard area, but there is no funding allotted to construct it. Members of a private group are working to raise money for the skate park.

Council member Brad Greenberg, who voted with Weisgerber against tabling the ordinance, said, "I don't feel skateboarding is a crime and I don't see why we should treat it any different than rollerblading or bicycling."

For Weisgerber, changing the law is a way for the council to take action where they haven't been able to spend money.

Council will reconsider the issue in August.