Committee directs staff to revise draft private-cart policy after residents raise insurance, tire and capacity concerns

The San Clemente City Parks and Recreation Committee directed staff to revise a draft policy that would regulate private golf carts at the San Clemente Municipal Golf Course after residents told the committee the draft's insurance and equipment rules could be infeasible for many owners.

Samantha White, Beaches Parks and Recreation director, presented the draft as "a very first draft attempt" intended to protect the course and give the pro shop clearer authority to approve or deny private carts. She outlined key elements including a minimum driver age of 18, proposed limits on tire tread and knobbed tires, passenger limits and insurance requirements, and updated identification stickers for privately owned carts.

The policy drew sustained questioning from committee members about enforceable standards. One member suggested using curb weight or cart length to limit the heaviest models, noting "the 4 seaters weigh about just under 1,500 pounds" and 6-seaters "16 or 1,700 pounds" (member comment). Members asked staff to provide specific tire specifications or photos so marshals and pro-shop staff can apply rules consistently.

Multiple public commenters told the committee the draft insurance limits appeared out of reach for many private owners. Rebecca Farrell said she contacted several insurers and was told personal golf-cart coverage often tops out near $500,000, and that "the only way you can get over $1,000,000 dollars...anything over 500,000 dollars, you have to have a commercial policy." John Breer and others described difficulty finding personal policies at the higher limits and urged staff to check what carriers actually offer before finalizing a requirement.

Staff acknowledged those concerns. White said insurance was already a requirement under current private-cart usage rules but confirmed the draft's higher limits were new and she would "go back to our risk manager or our insurance company and work through that." She also said tire definitions are "super easy to do" and that staff can narrow specifications and work with the pro shop on enforcement.

After public comment and committee discussion, a committee member moved to direct staff to revise the draft based on public and committee comments and return a revised draft at the next regular meeting; the motion was seconded and the committee voted in favor.

Next steps: staff will consult the city's risk manager and insurers about realistic liability limits, produce clearer tire and equipment specifications (including examples or photos), and bring a revised draft back to the committee for further review.