TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Jason Yarborough, ICMA-CM, Interim City Manager
TITLE: An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Amending the Code of the City of North Port, Florida, by Amending Chapter 74, Article VI, Related to Golf Carts and Low Speed Vehicles; Providing for Adoption; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; Providing for Codification; and Providing an Effective Date
Recommended Action
Continue Ordinance No. 2020-44 to second reading.
Recommended Action for Second Reading
Approve Ordinance No. 2020-44.
Background Information
At the March 5, 2020, City Commission Special Meeting, the Commission directed the drafting of an ordinance related to the use of golf carts, low speed vehicles (“LSV”), and personal transportation vehicles (“PTV”) on City roads.
The Commission took the following action, specifically directing City staff to:
1. Work with the Police Department in conjunction with the City Attorney’s Office to draft an ordinance to bring back to Commission regarding definition and usage of golf carts only on golf courses, PTV’s being utilized within local roads, barring from arterial and connector roads, crossing at certain intersections and crosswalks.
2. Draft an ordinance addressing the allowance of rentals of golf carts, PTVs, and LSVs within City limits.
3. Bring back a definition for PTV, and to allow PTVs to utilize multi-modal and multi-use pathways.
No legal review was requested or conducted prior to the Commission’s consideration of or direction on this item. As further explained in the attached memorandum, some Commission direction is preempted by State law. The attached ordinance attempts to capture Commission direction that is not otherwise preempted, taking into consideration input from the Police Department and City staff.
The proposed ordinance provides the following:
1. The operation of a golf cart is limited to private property, golf courses, and golf course property, except where the Commission designates a City road as authorized for golf cart operation. In keeping with the Commission’s motion, no roads are designated in this ordinance.
2. Deletion of the prohibition on golf cart rentals in the City.
3. The operation of LSV is allowed on City-owned multi-modal and multi-use pathways.
Background Information for Second Reading
On November 10, 2020, the City Commission conducted the first reading of Ordinance No. 2020-44 and continued it to second reading on a date to be determined by staff, with the following changes:
1. Remove references allowing low speed vehicles on multi-modal and multi-use pathways; and
2. Designate roadways in the Holiday Park Recreational District, Lakeside Plantation Community Development District, and identified in the Traffic Enforcement Agreement with the West Villages Improvement District for the use of golf carts where appropriate signage is posted.
Additionally, the Police Department has included roadways in Cedar Grove Phase 1A as designated for golf cart use. This area is now a public road and is maintained by the City. If approved, the City would be responsible for posting appropriate signage in this area.
Strategic Plan
Infrastructure
Financial Impact
N/A
Procurement
N/A
Attachments:
1. Ord 2020-44. First Reading. Golf Carts and Low Speed Vehicles
2. Ord 2020-44. Second Reading. Golf Carts and Low Speed Vehicles
3. Memorandum to City Attorney
4. March 5, 2020 Commission Meeting Minutes
Prepared by: Michael Golen, Assistant City Attorney
Department Director: Amber L. Slayton, City Attorney