Ordinance and Rules Committee — Charleston, WV
Date: 2025-12-01
Time: 18:30

CITY OF CHARLESTON
 WEST VIRGINIA

 Council Member – Ward 20

Chad Robinson Ordinance and Rules Committee, Chair
793 Lower Donnally Rd. Parks and Recreation Committee
Charleston, WV 25304 Finance Committee
304- 389-7373 Parking Facilities Committee
chad.robinson@cityofcharleston.
org



 A meeting of the Council Committee on Ordinance & Rules will be held on Monday, December 1,
 2025 at 6:30 PM. To be held in person
 AV ROOM #308, CITY HALL

 Agenda

APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

 1. 5-19-2025

BILLS

 1. Bill No. 8061 - A BILL to amend the Municipal Code relating to prohibiting the use of
 fireworks in any City park or on City-owned property without approval.




CR/ns
*Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk.com

CITY OF CHARLESTON
 WEST VIRGINIA

 Council Member – Ward 20

Chad Robinson Ordinance and Rules Committee, Chair
793 Lower Donnally Rd. Parks and Recreation Committee
Charleston, WV 25304 Finance Committee
304- 389-7373 Parking Facilities Committee
chad.robinson@cityofcharleston.
org



 A meeting of the Council Committee on Ordinance & Rules will be held on Monday, December 1,
 2025 at 6:30 PM. To be held in person
 AV ROOM #308, CITY HALL

 Agenda

APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

 1. 5-19-2025

BILLS

 1. Bill No. 8061 - A BILL to amend the Municipal Code relating to prohibiting the use of
 fireworks in any City park or on City-owned property without approval.




CR/ns
*Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk.com




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 MINUTES
 ORDINANCE AND RULES COMMITTEE MEETING

 5:30 P. M., MAY 19, 2025

THE MEETING WAS HELD IN PERSON IN THE AV ROOM #308 IN CITY HALL.

Chad Robinson, Chairperson, called the meeting of the Charleston City Council
Committee on Ordinance and Rules to order at 5:30 p.m., May 19, 2025.

Committee Members Present:
Chad Robinson, Chair
Patrick Salango, Vice Chair
Frank Annie
Becky Ceperley
Joseph Jenkins (arrived at 6:21, after all votes)
Sam Minardi
Harper Gardner

Absent:


Other Councilmembers Present:
Joe Solomon
Mary Beth Hoover
Beth Kerns




 1. Approval of Previous Minutes –

Councilmember Pepper motioned to approve the previous minutes from 11-18-2024.
Councilmember Annie seconded the motion. With those being present having voted
unanimously in the affirmative, the Chair declared the minutes as approved as
amended.




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 2. Bill No. 8053 Committee Substitute - A BILL to adjust PARKING PROHIBITED
 times on several streets, in order to accommodate street sweeping at a later time
 of day; and amending the Traffic Control Map and Traffic Control File

City Attorney Kevin Baker explained the committee substitute and bill changes the time
when parking will be prohibited during street sweeping on the southerly side of certain
streets on the East End. It will change the time from 9am to noon to noon to 2pm, which
will match the times of the northly side of the streets.

Councilmember Pepper, as the sponsor, added that he appreciated cooperation of the
Planning, Streets and Traffic Committee.

Councilmember Ceperley confirmed with Baker that the effective date will be April 1,
2026.

From the audience, Councilmember Hoover, as Chair of the Planning, Streets and
Traffic Committee, that this has been in the works for several months. They had several
meetings and went door to door in the neighborhood.

Councilmember Robinson confirmed with Baker that the State employees should not be
affected other than the time change.

Mayor Goodwin added that the City is aware that there will need to be an increase in
communication for those that park along those streets as April 1st get closer.


Councilmember Annie motioned to approve Bill No. 8053 Committee Substitute.
Councilmember Gardner seconded the motion. With those being present having voted
unanimously in the affirmative, Chair Robinson declared Bill No. 8053 Committee
Substitute as approved.



 3. Bill No. 8055 - A BILL to amend the Municipal Code relating to updating
 regulations regarding Private Outdoor Designated Areas.


Baker stated that WV Legislature passed a bill that updated PODAS. The proposed bill
conforms City code to match that. A new permit has been created, S4N, a special
permit for non-profits. The bill also adds language that gives the City Manager the
authority to temporarily reduce, expand or modify the hours of a PODA for special
events/circumstances. The bill also changes the hours of the PODAS so that holidays
have the same hours as Saturdays and Sundays.

Councilmember Annie motioned to approve Bill No. 8055. Councilmember Gardner
seconded the motion. With those being present having voted unanimously in the
affirmative, Chair Robinson declared Bill No. 8055.




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 4. Discussion - Discussion on dilapidated housing.


Councilmember Robinson stated that he wanted to start the discussion about the
dilapidated housing process. They should start by discussing the current process.

Building Commission Director Billy Smith added that they follow State Code and the
Property Maintenance Code. The process involves: contacting the owner, a certified
violation letter with documented pictures, a certified demo letter if deemed
uninhabitable, a search warrant to determine if the inside of the structure can be
rehabbed with an accompanying letter, a Class II legal ad, a title search (if a new owner
is discovered at this point, the process has to start over from the beginning), an
asbestos survey and abatement if necessary, and then full demolition. This process can
take up to several years. Smith added that the new Enforcement Supervisor Ashley
Carr has been very helpful. He added that the biggest hurdles are the legal ones –
probate, etc.

Councilmember Ceperley asked if the property search could be done sooner in the
process. Smith replied that they have tried to do title searches earlier in the process.

Planning Director Dan Vriendt added that the administrative search warrant is a new
process they have implemented and has helped to streamline the process. He added
that the City rarely recovers its money after tearing down a house. They try very hard to
have the property owner pay for it.

Councilmember Robinson confirmed with Vriendt and Smith that approximately 10% of
homeowners end up paying for the demolition. Councilmember Robinson asked if the
current fines were similar to other cities. Vriendt replied that he didn’t think a lot of cities
were doing what Charleston is doing as he did not think the fees were a motivator. For
every 500 letters sent out, they typically hear back from 20.

Vriendt added that the Vacant Structure Registry is used as an indicator. If properties
are on that list, it does not necessarily mean they are on the demolition list. He added
that property owners are supposed to self-register although hardly anyone does.

Councilmember Pepper asked if the demolition list is frequently updated. Smith replied
that it is frequently reviewed and prioritized as needed. They try to have at least 30
houses ready to be demolished. Smith confirmed that they average approximately 100
demolitions per year.

Councilmember Annie added that he thought the public had a lot of misinformation
about this process. He asked if there was anything that the Committee could change or
streamline. Vriendt replied that they are currently in a good place, adding that 100
structures a year is close to the limit that they can process with the current staff and
resources.




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From the audience, Councilmember Kerns added that local LLCs used these properties
for various purposes. There should be a way that the City could make these owners do
something with their properties in that type of situation.

Councilmember Jenkins added that the City is missing out on millions of dollars in fines,
and suggested more follow-up using the vacant registry.




Councilmember Annie motioned to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned.




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 Bill No. 8061

 Introduced in Council: Adopted by Council:

 August 4, 2025

 Introduced by: Referred to:

 Caitlin Cook and Joseph Jenkins Ordinance & Rules


 1 Bill No. 8061 - A BILL to amend and reenact Section 54-191 of the Municipal Code of
 2 the City of Charleston, as amended, relating to prohibiting the use of fireworks in any
 3 City park or on City-owned property without approval.
 4
 5 Now, therefore, be it ordained by the Council of the City of Charleston:
 6
 7 That Section 54-191 of the Municipal Code of the City of Charleston, as amended, be
 8 amended and reenacted to read as follows:
 9
10 Sec. 54-191. - Consumer fireworks; regulations, prohibited actions, and
11 exceptions.
12
13 (a) Any person igniting, discharging, detonating or otherwise using (hereinafter,
14 collectively "use" or "using") consumer fireworks within the city and, consistent with W.
15 Va. State Code § 8-12-19, within one mile beyond the corporate limits of the city, but not
16 including areas within the corporate limits of another municipality, shall:
17 (1) Not be under the influence of intoxicating liquor, non-intoxicating beer, any
18 controlled substance, or any combination thereof; and
19 (2) Be 18 years of age or older or shall be under the direct supervision of his or
20 her parent, guardian, or other adult person responsible for the care and custody of the
21 minor; and
22 (3) Be responsible for the prompt removal of all debris resulting from the use of
23 fireworks and such completed removal shall not exceed 24 hours after use; and
24 (4) Be financially responsible for cleanup costs and/or damages resulting from
25 the use of fireworks; and
26 (5) Be responsible for all costs associated with fire suppression efforts related to
27 the use of fireworks; and
28 (6) Not use fireworks within 100 feet of any building or structure unless
29 permission of the owner of the building or structure has been obtained or in any City
30 park or on City-owned property without the advanced written approval of the City of
31 Charleston; and
32 (7) Not use fireworks from any motor vehicle or boat; and
33 (8) Store fireworks in a safe, secure and responsible manner, and separate from
34 any possible ignition source; and
35 (9) Not use fireworks in a manner that fireworks travel through, come in contact




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36 with, discharge, or explode on any public street, highway, or sidewalk, or in or on any
37 building, or near any person, or within 500 feet of any location posing a special fire
38 danger, such as a gas station, chemical storage area or other similar location; and
39 (10) Not use fireworks during periods of very high or extreme fire danger as
40 determined by the Charleston Fire Department or the West Virginia Division of Forestry,
41 or while wind conditions are such that proper fireworks control cannot be exercised; and
42 (11) Not be permitted to use fireworks, except between the hours of 11:00 a.m.
43 and 11:00 p.m., on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, or between 11:00
44 am on December 31 and 1:00 am on January 1; provided, however, that a person may
45 request permission from the chief of police to use fireworks for a special event or
46 occasion at other days or times not regularly permitted herein, and the chief of police
47 shall have reasonable discretion, on a case by case basis and after consultation with
48 the chief of the fire department, to approve such a request.
49 (b) This section, and the prohibitions contained herein related to the use of
50 consumer fireworks, is not intended to prohibit use of display fireworks within the city at
51 any day or time so long as the use is sponsored or approved by the city.
52




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MINUTES
 ORDINANCE AND RULES COMMITTEE MEETING

 6:30 P. M., DECEMBER 1, 2025

THE MEETING WAS HELD IN PERSON IN THE AV ROOM #308 IN CITY HALL.

Chad Robinson, Chairperson, called the meeting of the Charleston City Council
Committee on Ordinance and Rules to order at 6:30 p.m., December 1, 2025.

Committee Members Present:
Chad Robinson, Chair
Frank Annie
Becky Ceperley
Harper Gardner
Joseph Jenkins
Emmett Pepper

Absent:
Patrick Salango, Vice Chair


Other Councilmembers Present:
Caitlin Cook
Chelsea Steelhammer




 1. Approval of Previous Minutes –

Councilmember Annie motioned to approve the previous minutes from 5-19-2025.
Councilmember Ceperley seconded the motion. With those being present having voted
unanimously in the affirmative, the Chair declared the minutes as approved as
amended.
 2. Bill No. 8061 - A BILL to amend the Municipal Code relating to prohibiting the use
 of fireworks in any City park or on City-owned property without approval.


As the bill’s primary sponsor, Councilmember Cook addressed the Committee from the
audience. Councilmember Cook stated that they have consistently heard from
constituents about fireworks in public parks. The matter is a safety concern as well as a
protection of the investments the City has made into the various turfed fields.

Councilmember Jenkins added that he is also a sponsor since a citizen in his Ward also
discussed the issue with him. Fireworks have always been a concern in Danner
Meadow as it is closely surrounded by homes.

Councilmember Cook added that the availability of fireworks are easier to acquire and
the fireworks themselves are bigger than was previously available.

Councilmember Pepper spoke in support of the bill. He confirmed with the Committee
the dates and times it is legal to set off fireworks.



Councilmember Ceperley motioned to approve Bill No. 8061. Councilmember Annie
seconded the motion. With those being present having voted unanimously in the
affirmative, Chair Robinson declared Bill No. 8061 as approved.




The Committee briefly discussed the possibility of looking into depilated structures,
Council Rules and attendance requirements in the future.




Councilmember Jenkins motioned to adjourn the meeting. Meeting adjourned.