HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.B.2. Motorized Golf Carts-Ord. No. 764
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CITY OF SHAKOPEE
Police Department COt~sEr~T
Memorandum
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
FROM: Dan Hughes, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Motorized Golf Carts
DATE: July 5, 2006
INTRODUCTION
The Police Department is requesting council approval to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 764,
A NEW ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA PERMITTING
MOTORIZED GOLF CARTS ON DESIGNATED ROADWAYS.
BACKGROUND
Mr. Gerald Aman has requested permission from the police department to authorize his
father, Henry, to operate a motorized golf cart on designated city streets. According to
Mr. Aman the ability for his father to increase his mobility represents a significant quality
of life improvement. Communities throughout the state permit the use of motorized golf
carts, including the City of Chaska.
State law authorizes a city to adopt an ordinance allowing the operation of motorized golf
carts on designated roadways in the City. The City's ordinance would allow operation of
motorized golf carts by persons who are physically handicapped, as defined by
Minnesota Statute 169.345, Subdivision 2. The operation of these motorized vehicles is
limited to designated roadways, during.daylight hours, when visibility is not impaired.
Furthermore these vehicles must display a slow moving vehicle emblem and a permit
issued by the local jurisdiction. Those permitted to operate a motorized golf cart have all
the rights and duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under the provisions of
Chapter 169 of Minnesota Statue. City Council may suspend or revoke a permit with any
violation of Chapter 169 of Minnesota Statute, or when there is evidence that the
permittee cannot safely operate the motorized golf cart on designated roadways.
It will be necessary for the City of Shakopee to adopt a new ordinance permitting
motorized golf carts on designated roadways. The attached amendment has been
reviewed and approved by the City's Attorney, Mr. James Thomson.
VISIONING RELATIONSHIP
This action supports: Goal B: To Provide High Quality of Life
Strategy 2: Enhance physical, mental, spiritual health;
Strategy 7: Make the community welcoming.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Adopt ORDINANCE NO. 764, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF
SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA ADOPTING A NEW ORDINANCE PERMITTING
MOTORIZED GOLF CARTS ON DESIGNATED ROADWAYS.
2. Reject the police department's request.
3. Table the request for more discussion.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends alternative #1.
ACTION REQUESTED:
If council concurs, they should by motion offer Ordinance No. 764, Fourth Series, an
Ordinance of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota Amending Chapter 8 by Adding New
Section 8.31 to Permit Motorized Golf Carts on Designated Roadways within the City,
and move its adoption.
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ORDINANCE NO. 764, FOURTH SERIES
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA
AMENDING CHAPTER 8 BY ADDING NEW SECTION 8.31 TO PERMIT
MOTORIZED GOLF CARTS ON DESIGNATED ROADWAYS WITHIN THE CITY
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA, ORDAINS:
Section 1 - City Code Chapter 8 is amended by adding new Section 8.31, MOTORIZED
GOLF CARTS as follows:
SEC. 8.31. MOTORIZED GOLF CARTS.
Subd. 1. Purpose. Pursuant to its authority under Minnesota Statutes, section 169.045,
the City authorizes the operation of motorized golf carts on designated roadways as
permitted under this section.
Subd.2. Permit ReQuired. No person may operate a motorized golf cart without fIrst
obtaining a permit from the City.
Subd. 3. Permit Application. Every application for a permit must be made on a form
supplied by the City and must contain the following information:
A. Date;
B. The name, address and phone number of the applicant;
C. The nature of the applicant's physical disability;
D. The roadways on which the motorized golfcart will be operated;
E. The time of operation of the motorized golf cart;
F. Such other information as the City may require.
Subd. 4. Permit.
A. Term of Permit. Permits are effective for one year from the date of
issuance and may be annually renewed.
B. Condition of Permit. Permits are subject to the following conditions:
1. The applicant must demonstrate that he or she meets the definition
of a "physically disabled person" under Minnesota Statutes,
section 169.345, subd. 2.
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2. The applicant must submit written documentation from a physician
that the applicant is able to safely operate a motorized golf cart.
3. The applicant must provide evidence of insurance complying with
the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, section 65B.48, subdivision
5. Applicants not able to obtain liability insurance in the private
market may purchase automobile insurance, including no-fault
coverage, from the Minnesota Automobile Assigned Risk Plan at a
rate to be determined by the commissioner of commerce.
Subd. 5. Designated Roadwavs. The City designates the following roadways for
use of motorized golf carts as permitted under this section:
Miller St. to Dalles Dr.
Dalles Dr. to Ramsey St.
Ramsey St. to Vierling Drive
Miller St to Vierling Drive
Vierling Drive from Saphire to Sage Ln.
Subd. 6. Times of Operation. Motorized golf carts may only be operated on the
designated roadways from sunrise to sunset. They shall not be operated in inclement
weather or when visibility is impaired by weather, smoke, fog or other conditions, or
at any time when there is insufficient light to clearly see persons and vehicles on the
roadway at a distance of 500 feet.
Subd. 7. Slow-moving Emblem. Motorized golf carts must display the slow-
moving emblem as described in Minnesota Statutes, section 169.522, when operated
on designated roadways.
Subd. 8. Crossing Intersecting Highwavs. The operator, under permit, of a
motorized golf cart may cross any street or highway intersecting a designated
roadway.
Subd. 9. Application of Traffic Laws. Every person operating a motorized golf
cart under permit on designated roadways has all the rights and duties applicable to
the driver of any other vehicle under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 169, except when
those provisions cannot reasonably be applied to motorized golf carts and except as
otherwise specifically provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 169.045, subd. 7.
Subd.l0. Suspension or Revocation of Permits. The City Council may suspend or
revoke a permit if the permittee has violated any of the provisions of this section or
Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 169 or if there is evidence that the permittee cannot
safely operate the motorized golf cart on the designated roadways.
Subd. 11. Penaltv. A violation of this section is a petty misdemeanor.
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Section 2 - Effective date. This ordinance becomes effective from and after its passage and
publication.
Adopted in session of the City Council of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota, held
this day of ,2006.
Mayor of the City of Shakopee
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Published in the Shakopee Valley News on the day of ,2006.
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