Fairfield council pauses decision on e-bikes in Rockville Hills, asks staff to return with funding and staffing plan

Jared Preston, chair of the Rockville Hills Regional Park Citizens Advisory Committee, told the City Council the committee has studied e-bike access and the park’s management plan and recommended three options: allow Class 1 e-bikes outright; allow them only if minimum staffing is provided; or allow them contingent on securing funding to implement the park management plan.

The council heard about the condition of the park and the role of a park ranger from Preston and other speakers. Preston said the park’s management plan remains viable but is not being implemented because of budget constraints and the absence of a full-time ranger, and estimated $300,000–$400,000 in annual recurring costs and roughly $1 million total to bring the park up to the management plan standard. He added that CFD 4A, a community facilities district fund with a balance of about $1.6 million, might be repurposed to fund maintenance if the council chose that path.

The RCAC presentation and public comment split between users who said e-bikes make the park accessible to older residents and those who urged caution until staffing and trail maintenance improve. Jim Carr, speaking for a user group he called the OGs, said e-bikes “opened a whole new world” for older riders and urged that the park be available to all. Volunteer Julie Baptista and former RCAC member Veronica Cornett urged delay until a full-time ranger returns, arguing that ranger presence is essential for education, enforcement and trail maintenance. Cornett also raised safety concerns about lithium batteries on some e-bikes.

Council members debated liability, park conditions, and creative staffing or volunteer options. Councilwoman Pam Bertani said she would not support overturning the ordinance that currently prohibits e-bikes while the park lacks adequate ranger staffing, citing safety and legal exposure. City Attorney commentary (on record at the meeting) noted that liability questions are fact-specific and that the city has some legal defenses while an ordinance prohibiting a use remains in effect, but that crafting a conditional ordinance (allowing e-bikes only when certain staffing or funding benchmarks are met) would be within the council’s discretion.

After extended discussion, the council did not change the ordinance that currently bans e-bikes. Instead it directed staff to return with a combined report and draft ordinance that would include: (1) paths for securing funding for the Rockville Hills Park management plan (including a possible amendment to CFD 4A to permit maintenance spending), (2) minimum staffing options (including whether a park ranger or supervised volunteer/temporary program could meet those requirements), and (3) language for a conditional policy allowing Class 1 pedal‑assist e-bikes only when the staffing and funding conditions are met. The council emphasized outreach, fee updates already approved by the RCAC, and exploring volunteer partnerships to help maintain the park.

The council specifically asked staff to report back on the feasibility and legal mechanics of repurposing CFD 4A, updated gate and user-fee revenue projections, and potential temporary staffing models that could support a safe e-bike transition. No ordinance change or vote on e-bike access occurred at the meeting.