AUBURN – An ordinance to ban ATVs in Auburn failed Monday on a procedural vote.

The city council gave first reading to the ordinance in February and Mayor Chris Erickson asked for a motion to advance the ordinance to reading Monday in accordance with the agenda. The motion failed on a 5-0 vote, however, prompting the mayor to announce that the matter was finished.

Prior to the vote, Larry Draper of Auburn said he pushed for the ordinance 11 years ago and said residents purchased ATVs after the ordinance was unanimously approved. He said it is unfair to them to repeal the ordinance now.

Draper: “I am here defending the ATV owners since I pushed for the ordinance to begin with. In the 11 years since the ordinance was passed I have not seen a lot of reasons to prohibit the use of ATVs.”

He said people enjoy driving the ATVs and the public is generally supportive.

Draper: “My feeling is it’s a shame that a handful of individuals could ruin things for everyone else, but it seems that’s how our cities and our country operate these days.”

He said council members who vote to ban ATVs probably don’t own an ATV or they are just fun haters.

Draper: “I’m asking you not to be a fun hater.”

Stephanie Holmes of Auburn said the current ordinance has served its purpose for over a decade and asked for transparency from city government if there is evidence of misuse of ATVs.