Spring Break
Council approves revised ordinances
Legislation limits use of outside furniture, increases penalties for existing restrictions
Christopher Washington
Issue date: 4/6/07 Section: Front Page
After an Oxford city council meeting Tuesday, Miami University students can partially relax, as council voted on ordinances that would not completely take away students' outdoor beer game privileges. Yet off-campus students and Oxford residents will still be facing tougher fines for outdoor furniture, litter and noise in the coming months.
In a 7-0 vote from council members, the revised furniture, litter and noise ordinances passed, after a change to the debated furniture component.
Under the new furniture ordinance, Oxford residents and Miami students are forbidden to keep, store or allow to remain outside any couches, chairs, tables or other furniture not manufactured for outdoor use - including plywood boards, construction materials, saw horses, tubes, pipes or rigid materials suspended between two supports, so as to be used as a table.
According to Oxford City Manager Jane Howington, the new furniture ordinance is an extension of the current furniture ordinance because it includes tables. Prior to the new legislation - which excluded tables - only indoor furniture, such as couches, were not permitted to be stored outside.
"The purpose of the ordinance is not to prevent someone from using a beer pong table or having indoor furniture outside," Howington said. "What it does say is, you can't leave it out there overnight and when you're done with it, you need to put it away."
The three ordinances will be effective 30 days subsequent to the April 3 council meeting.
When discussion began in October 2006 regarding the failed outdoor drinking game ban proposal, city council expressed concern pertaining to the image of the city.
Miami sophomore Taylor Robinson said the new furniture ordinance is a more efficient way to clean the town and will add a new vibrancy to Oxford.
"I think it gives students the ability to still be able to live off campus the way they want, but they also have to have responsibility for their homes and take care of the way their city looks," Robinson said.
In a 7-0 vote from council members, the revised furniture, litter and noise ordinances passed, after a change to the debated furniture component.
Under the new furniture ordinance, Oxford residents and Miami students are forbidden to keep, store or allow to remain outside any couches, chairs, tables or other furniture not manufactured for outdoor use - including plywood boards, construction materials, saw horses, tubes, pipes or rigid materials suspended between two supports, so as to be used as a table.
According to Oxford City Manager Jane Howington, the new furniture ordinance is an extension of the current furniture ordinance because it includes tables. Prior to the new legislation - which excluded tables - only indoor furniture, such as couches, were not permitted to be stored outside.
"The purpose of the ordinance is not to prevent someone from using a beer pong table or having indoor furniture outside," Howington said. "What it does say is, you can't leave it out there overnight and when you're done with it, you need to put it away."
The three ordinances will be effective 30 days subsequent to the April 3 council meeting.
When discussion began in October 2006 regarding the failed outdoor drinking game ban proposal, city council expressed concern pertaining to the image of the city.
Miami sophomore Taylor Robinson said the new furniture ordinance is a more efficient way to clean the town and will add a new vibrancy to Oxford.
"I think it gives students the ability to still be able to live off campus the way they want, but they also have to have responsibility for their homes and take care of the way their city looks," Robinson said.
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