XENIA — The City Council voted 7-0 Thursday, April 24, to join a handful of Ohio cities that are not waiting for the state to increase regulations on payday lenders.

Xenia's council moved to halt, for up to a year, the issuance of new zoning permits for cash advance and payday lending stores while city officials research how to strengthen regulations.

The 11 payday lenders and cash advance stores already in the city spurred the resolution, said Council member Dale Louderback, who campaigned on the issue last fall.

"When people drive through downtown, all they see are check-cashing places and bail bondsmen," he said. "To me they're nothing short of a loan shark. They prey on the disadvantaged."

City officials said a 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling allows for the moratorium.

Clayton City Council approved a similar measure March 30.

State lawmakers have discussed restrictions on the industry, without consensus. Cleveland and Columbus also have new regulations.

The number of payday lenders in Ohio jumped in the past decade from 107 to 1,562 in 2006, according to Policy Matters Ohio.

Darryl Dever, an industry lobbyist, said politicians are overreacting.

"They're reacting to the emotional side of sensational claims people throw out there," he said. "People make a conscious decision to use this product."

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