Portland officials are considering a proposed ban on skateboarding in the Old Port and Arts District.

Councilor David Marshall, committee chairman, said the proposal came from representatives of Portland's Downtown District. The ban would apply to the city's pedestrian activities district.

The Portland City Council's public safety committee will consider the proposal at 5:30 p.m. today in the Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall on Myrtle Street.

Marshall said a group of skateboarders has circulated a petition to protect their right to use skateboards as a mode of transportation.

The police department wants to clarify a city ordinance so officers can enforce a ban on doing skateboard tricks on city streets and sidewalks, Marshall said.