Fate City Council voted Nov. 11 to lower speed limits on a list of downtown roads from 30 to 25 miles per hour, approving an ordinance that excludes certain segments after council amendments and passed on a 4–3 vote.

Assistant staff presenting the item said lowering limits from 30 to 25 mph does not require a traffic study under state rules for the two‑lane, undivided roads at issue, and shared sampled speed data indicating average travel speeds in many downtown east‑west streets of 12–15 mph and 90th‑percentile speeds near the mid‑20s on north‑south streets. The estimated cost to install signs downtown was roughly $9,000.

Several councilmembers said the data did not show a broad speeding problem and questioned spending $9,000; Councilmember (speaker 15) said she did not support changing the speed limit based on the data presented. Other members supported a lower limit for pedestrian and child safety. After amendments excluding Black Hawk Lane and a portion of Fayette Main Place east of Daisy Lane, a motion to adopt the ordinance carried 4–3.

Council discussion included options to extend similar changes to other neighborhoods in the future and a note from staff that moving from 30 to 20 mph would require a more comprehensive study and additional costs. The ordinance takes effect after standard administrative processing and installation of signage; staff said they would handle sign placement and state reporting requirements.

The council’s vote narrows the downtown change to streets the council specifically listed and left open the option of future reductions in other neighborhoods, pending additional study or state law changes.