Holmes Beach officials eased off the brake on residential golf carts.
City commissioners unanimously voted April 12 to send a golf cart safety ordinance to a second and final public hearing minus the planned sunset that would have phased out the vehicles.
The commission has discussed measures to improve traffic and roadway safety for months, leading to the adoption of a citywide 25-mph speed limit and action toward regulating golf carts and low-speed vehicles.
State law prohibits the use of golf carts on state roadways, such as Manatee Avenue and East Bay Drive, but allows municipalities to permit their operation on city streets.
In Holmes Beach, the code allows golf carts on all streets except Gulf, Palm and Marina drives, where they are only allowed to cross the roadways.
The proposed ordinance would require residency to obtain registration to operate a golf cart on city roads, the inclusion of certain safety equipment on the vehicles and establishes a 16-year-old age requirement for drivers.
The ordinance would not regulate LSVs, which state and federal law classifies and regulates differently than golf carts.
The proposed ordinance originally included a sunset period of five years for registered golf carts. Commissioners later revised the provision to allow residents to use registered golf carts for the lifetime of the vehicle but prohibit the registration of new ones.
However, Commission Chair Carol Soustek, who voiced hesitant support for the sunset provision at previous meetings, said April 12 that she wanted to eliminate the provision moving forward.
Soustek said she’d received feedback from several older residents who rely on their golf carts to get around via secondary roadways.
“We can’t ask residents to give up their golf carts,” Soustek said.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer also reversed gears.
Commissioner Pat Morton moved to approve the proposed ordinance with changes, including the removal of the sunset provision.
Commissioner Kim Rash seconded the motion, which passed.
The commission will meet next at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive. The meeting will be open to the public. Directions to attend can be found at the city’s website, holmesbeachfl.org.