Menasha council refers draft e-bike ordinance back to staff after stakeholder objections

The Menasha Common Council voted to refer Ordinance O-10-26 — a proposed code regulating electric scooters and electric bicycles — back to staff for revision after public comment and aldermanic concern about statutory conflicts and device targeting. The motion to send the draft ordinance back to staff passed by a close vote.

Why it matters: The ordinance would set local rules for e-bikes and e-scooters across Menasha and neighboring municipalities that have been coordinating on the issue. Supporters say rules are needed for public safety; critics say the draft is overly broad and risks penalizing legally compliant, low-speed assist e-bikes while failing to target faster, altered motorized vehicles.

Dennis Kittle, president of Fox Cities Greenways, urged the council to pause the ordinance or send it back to committee for more stakeholder work. "This ordinance kind of villainizes e-bikes," Kittle said, arguing the draft fails to distinguish ordinary class 1–3 pedal-assist e-bikes from modified or motorized vehicles capable of 25–50 mph. He asked the council to coordinate regionally and to include trail stakeholders in redrafting the rules.

Alderman Chris Rand moved to refer the ordinance back to staff with direction to engage Fox Cities Greenways and other stakeholders and to address statutory-conformity concerns; Alderman Perkins seconded the motion. Rand read into the record a set of statutory points he said the draft did not track, including potential conflicts with Wisconsin forfeiture caps and bicycle definitions under state statute. "I would rather take the time to get it right," Rand said during debate.

City legal and police staff described the collaborative drafting process with neighboring municipalities and local enforcement. City Attorney Stroop said the council would retain final authority over where signs restricting bicycle or e-bike use could be erected under the proposed language but encouraged the body to be as descriptive as possible when authorizing restrictions.

The council approved the referral motion (recorded as a close vote). The mayor said the ordinance "will get referred back to staff," concluding action on O-10-26 for the evening. Staff were directed to return with a revised draft informed by additional stakeholder input.

Next steps: City staff will work with stakeholders including Fox Cities Greenways and regional partners; the council will consider the ordinance again after staff reports back.