It was a busy council meeting in Youngstown Wednesday evening with topics such as FirstEnergy power lines and an ambulance study.

One item not on the agenda, the hunting of deer at Mill Creek MetroParks, did arise after a concerned citizen brought up the topic.

After hearing continued concerns from residents about the potential dangers of hunters controlling the deer population, Youngstown Law Director Jeff Limbian announced there will be no deer hunting in the sections of Mill Creek MetroParks that fall within city limits.

Limbian said city laws and ordinances governing hunting and the discharging of weapons apply within MetroParks areas just the same.

He said anyone who does hunt or fire a weapon within park portions of the city would face a misdemeanor charge.

Below are the Youngstown City Ordinances regarding discharging firearms and hunting:

549.08 DISCHARGING FIREARMS.
(a) No person shall discharge any air gun, rifle, shotgun, revolver, pistol or other firearm within the corporate limits of the Municipality.

(b) This section does not apply when firearms are used in self defense, in the discharge of official duty or in regard to law enforcement officers engaged in supervised firearm training at the F.O.P. sponsored training facility at 127 North West Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio 44502 or when otherwise lawfully authorized.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(d) Forfeiture of property is specifically authorized herein pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2981 et seq. or pursuant to the Codified Ordinances of the City of Youngstown.
(Ord. 13-202. Passed 6-19-13.)

505.11 HUNTING PROHIBITED.
(a) No person shall hunt, kill or attempt to kill any animal or fowl by the use of firearms, bow and arrow, air rifle or any other means within the corporate limits of the Municipality.
(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

Mill Creek Park is the largest area of the MetroParks system in Mahoning County, encompassing more than 2,658 acres in Youngstown and Boardman.

Mill Creek Park represents more than half of the MetroParks property.

In the City of Youngstown, Mill Creek extends from the Mahoning River southward along Mill Creek, including Fellows Riverside Garden, the Ford Nature Center, the Lily Pond, Pioneer Pavilion, and Lanterman's Mill to Youngstown's City Limits at Midlothian Boulevard. Also inside the city limits is the 65-acre Mill Creek Wick Recreation Area.

The city's prohibition on discharging firearms does not apply to the remaining portion of Mill Creek, south of the Youngstown city limits continues through Boardman Township to Western Reserve Road.

Nor does the ordinance cover more than the remaining 2,300 acres of the MetroParks System outside of Mill Creek Park.