Farmington Hills Ordinance Would Keep Minors from Mixed Martial Arts Events
Officials are expected to hear more public comment on the proposed ordinance at their Feb. 11 meeting.
Photos
If promoters bring mixed martial arts, wrestling or similar events to Farmington Hills, city officials want to make sure young people aren't exposed to the violence.
Council members agreed during a Monday study session that new rules, discussed at a November study session and tabled Dec. 10, should include a provision that prohibits anyone under age 18 from attending the matches.
"I don't like the idea of kids watching this stuff," council member Randy Bruce said. "Kids really don't have the ability to put these things in perspective. To me, this is an adult activity."
The ordinance, drafted after Police Chief Chuck Nebus received inquiries from event organizers, would replace an existing ordinance that is only about a sentence long. While State of Michigan rules govern professional mixed martial arts events, there are no state-wide rules for amateur events.
City attorney Steve Joppich said the proposed ordinance is "totally defensible on a legal basis". It requires a detailed application with information about the promoters, the nature and layout of the event, and acknowledgement that the organizers will bring in their own emergency medical and security personnel, among other things.
Joppich said he doesn't know of any other city that has been as restrictive.
"This ordinance is meant to keep the unscrupulous people out of our city," Mayor Barry Brickner said. "I would just as soon not have (the events) at all."
Resident Mary Johnston railed at officials for not banning the sport.
"This entire discussion is appalling," she said. "You're talking about doing things people get arrested for ... This is not a sport at all, this is unadulterated murder."
Johnston said there should be a public hearing, and Brickner said members of the public will be able to comment when the ordinance is introduced. City manager Steve Brock said that will likely be at the council's Feb. 11 meeting.
Officials noted they cannot ban any business that is allowed under Michigan state law. Brock said anyone looking for a channel through which to ban the sports should contact state legislators.
In This article
-
City of Farmington Hills Municipal Offices
31555 W 11 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills, MI -
-
Farmington Hills Police Department
31655 W 11 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills, MI
KP
8:27 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
I can't believe we are wasting council time on ordinances like this. Isn't there anything better, they could be working on, like a blight ordinance for rental properties, or fixing our roads.
Marie Silver
9:42 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Agree completely about more stringent oversight for rental properties. Unfortunately, even though two groups of the FH 2020 visioning committee recommended this, council ruled that existing ordinances were enough. So, we responsible homeowners forced to live near trash rental properties bear the burden of blight, irresponsibility and devalued neighborhoods.
DCC
10:29 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
More stringent oversight of rental properties, including inspections, would help resist the tendency for the property manager to let things go and the renters to endure an ever declining standard of behavior. Higher end property values in certain neighborhoods are protected by ordinance and by localized agreements. All of our neighborhoods should get the same level of protection, and for the same reasons.
Jimmy
12:17 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
I agree... Parts of section 36 are starting to look like westside Detroit. I want the aesthetics of this city to be desirable so businesses move in and new residents choose to make Farmington Hills a place to raise their family.
Charlie Clark
9:32 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Really we are no better than murderers that's the funniest statement ever we as fighters are highly trained athletes
Kelly Goldberg
11:05 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Stereotypes and shoddy information should not guide our city leaders. Mixed martial arts is a very wholesome, disciplined family oriented activity. My three teens are extremely disciplined and far LESS likely to be a problem because they have trained for ten years to exercise, courtesy and self control. As a mixed martial arts family, we attend classes four -five days a week at our dojang. The leadership team is amazing. Teens mentor younger children who look up to them. My sons have both taken medals in jiu jitsu tournaments where the utmost respect and good sportsmanship rule the day. Are you going to ban hockey, football, lacrosse, soccer, because there is "violence"?
City officials should not interfere with our ability to raise our children. Require an adult in attendance at events if you must. But please let me judge what is appropriate for my kids. Wherever they go they are praised because they are great people. I didn't do that alone; our martial arts community is the village that has helped them become considerate, generous, hard working people.
Would you ban the Self Defense classes for women, which the City of Farmington Hills has sponsored in conjunction with our dojang?
I plead with our city leaders to gather information and listen to practitioners of mixed martial arts before condemning this wholesome sport. I plan on attending the public hearing.
Respectfully,
Kelly Goldberg
Bryce
1:10 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
+1 Kelly Goldberg
Dustin Babler
3:13 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
You're seriously going to waste your time on this crap?!
Are we going to start outlawing anyone below 18 to go and watch the NFL, because last time I checked there were more suicides, rapist and (alleged) murders playing professional sports there.
Or MLB, NHL, NBA because holy crap they have alcohol sponsors!?!?
Fix the damn roads or something, or let someone who actually cares about this city and not just showing how much "power" they have on a freaking city council
Robert
3:40 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Not to say you don't have a point Dustin, but a quick Google Search of your name shows that you might be the same Dustin Babler that's an MMA fighter in Metro Detroit? If so, I can see the rationale for your opposition. However, keep in mind that the reason council is looking into this issue period is simply because it's new to the city. They didn't seek it out, they simply decided to examine the activity in greater detail. The results of that examination, in their opinion, was to look at creation of an ordinance to address any concerns of residents. They're simply performing their due diligence on the issue and not necessarily showing off their "power."