Reception to Holmes Beach’s new citywide 25-mph speed limit remained mixed two weeks after it went into effect.
The resolution-based measure, which city commissioners approved Feb. 8 by a 3-1 vote, went into effect Feb. 17 after city staff switched out the 35-mph signs, according to Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer.
The change is intended to improve traffic safety and better integrate golf carts and low-speed vehicles onto city roads. It impacts three stretches of roadway — Gulf, Marina and Palm drives — where the speed limit had been 35 mph.
Tokajer, one of the resolution’s original proponents, told The Islander that the transition went without issue and police had yet to issue any speeding tickets since the lower speed limit was established.
“I don’t expect that we’re going to have a large amount of traffic tickets issued to people in a 25 (mph zone),” Tokajer said. “We truly do not issue a tremendous amount of speeding tickets.”
But the plan has polarized public opinion.
All eight speakers supported the speed reduction during public comment at a Jan. 25 work session.
The change elicited the opposite response when three people spoke during public comment at the Feb. 8 public hearing.
Opinion remained polarized at the commission’s Feb. 22 meeting, when two speakers took opposite stances on the issue.
Resident Stuart Bardwell commended commissioners for adopting the speed reduction. Bardwell said he’d seen traffic begin to slow due to the change.
“It’s slowing down and it’s a pleasure,” Bardwell said. “It’s just safer.”
Resident Marjorie Motzer said the reduction failed to address the issues caused by golf carts and LSVs, which she said still inhibit traffic flow since many of the vehicles could not reach or maintain 25 mph.
Motzer added that many of the vehicles are not insured and questioned the city’s decision to open its roads to them.
Mayor Judy Titsworth said the speed limit reduction was the first part of the city’s plans to address traffic safety — to be shortly followed by an ordinance regulating golf carts and LSVs.
Titsworth said city staff was working on an ordinance that may require owners to register their vehicles with the city and/or prohibit golf carts from traveling on “main roads.” She said it would be discussed at the next city meeting.
“We haven’t really addressed the golf carts yet with the speed limit change,” Titsworth said. “We’re looking at the whole thing.”
Commissioner Terry Schaefer asked for people to exercise patience as they evaluate the lower speed limit and explore additional changes.
“I would hope the community would be patient in giving us time to evaluate what we’ve done to determine whether we’ve gotten our anticipated results,” Schaefer said. “And, if not, we may need to rethink.”
The commission will meet next at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive. The meeting will be open to the public. Directions to attend via Zoom can be found at holmesbeachfl.org.