Somewhere down the road in Holmes Beach there might not be golf carts.
City commissioners voted 3-2 March 8 to move forward with a draft ordinance that would regulate the vehicles for residential-only use and set a five-year sunset period.
Commission Chair Carol Soustek and Commissioner Terry Schaefer voted against the motion, instead supporting a 10-year sunset.
The ordinance would not include regulations for low-speed vehicles, which differ from golf carts in a few ways.
Golf carts typically only go up to 20 mph and, while they can be powered by electric motors or internal combustion engines, they are not classified as motor vehicles under federal law.
Thus, golf cart operators are not required to have driver’s licenses and are allowed to drive the vehicles on designated public roadways by the age of 14.
LSVs, on the other hand, must weigh less than 3,000 pounds, have a top speed of more than 20 mph and are recognized as motor vehicles under federal law, so operators must be licensed.
When registered with the state, LSVs are allowed on roadways with speed limits of 35 mph or less, under state code chapter 316. The use of golf carts on roadways is prohibited by state law unless a city allows for their operation.
Holmes Beach city code allows people to operate golf carts on any street with a speed limit of 25 mph or lower but requires riders wear seat belts.
The vehicles are not permitted on Manatee Avenue or East Bay Drive, as well as portions of Gulf and Marina drives.
The city has explored several options to improve traffic and pedestrian safety in recent months, leading to the commission’s adoption in February of a resolution establishing a citywide 25-mph speed limit.
City officials have called the resolution a “first step” in improving roadway safety while discussing regulations for both LSVs and golf carts.
However, city attorney Erica Augello said that due to state and federal preemptions on LSV regulations, the commission must separately regulate the vehicle types.
She presented a draft ordinance with her recommendations, such as requiring golf cart owners to register their vehicles with the city within three months of the ordinance’s adoption, be a homesteaded resident and to establish a 10-year sunset period on the permits. The ordinance eventually would eliminate all golf carts from operating on city streets.
Augello said her initial recommendation was to ban all golf carts from city streets to prevent legal confusion.
The draft ordinance also would require golf carts to have certain safety features, such as headlights and brake lights, as well as sideview and rearview mirrors.
Several commissioners spoke in support of banning the vehicles outright, including Kim Rash, who said many golf carts were uninsured and should not be allowed on roadways.
Police Chief Bill Tokajer said the draft ordinance would require golf cart owners to sign affidavits stating they will maintain insurance for the vehicles during the proposed registration process.
Commissioner Jayne Christenson said allowing 14-year-olds to drive on city streets was a “setup for disaster” and supported sunsetting the permitted use of golf carts. She proposed reducing the sunset period to five years.
“The sooner we sunset it, the better,” Christenson said.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said he supported a sunset period and registration process but opposed residents registering their golf carts.
Tokajer said the registration program would require the city to purchase stickers for the vehicles, which would not be a significant cost.
In other matters…
City commissioners also:
- Voted to send an ordinance updating the city’s comprehensive plan to a second, final reading;
- Unanimously voted to authorize Mayor Judy Titsworth to hire Sarasota-based Progressive Water Resources for $80,000 to assist the city with resiliency planning;
- Unanimously voted to allow commissioners to participate in meetings with the Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials.
The commission will meet next at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, 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.