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Florence council debates rules for e-bikes, scooters and UTVs; staff proposes mailed postcard survey
Summary
City staff recommended a public engagement campaign (online outreach plus a postcard mailer option) to inform possible rules for e-bikes, e-scooters, UTVs and golf carts. Councilmembers and the police chief flagged enforcement, safety and equity trade-offs; staff estimated $6,000$8,000 for a postcard push or up to $50,000 for a comprehensive mailed survey.
Florence City Council on July 21 heard a lengthy staff briefing and council debate about whether to pursue local rules for alternative mobility vehicles including e-bikes, e-scooters, UTVs and golf cartsand how to gather public input.
Josh, a city staff member, presented a memo outlining options from a social-media push to an online survey plus a postcard mailer. He said the online-plus-postcard approach has produced roughly 70% participation in other Florence workshops and estimated the postcard program would cost "about $8,000 not to exceed" and likely come in closer to $6,000; a full mailed survey with consultant support could require a budget amendment of roughly $50,000 to $60,000.
"There's not 1 clean ordinance that I would model," Josh told council, arguing the city must choose rules that fit local topography, road types and land uses. He recommended a staged outreach process and asked council whether it wanted an online-only effort, a postcard mailer or a mailed survey targeting specific households.
Chief Mallory cautioned about enforcement complexity. "We are getting calls," he said, noting that many incidents involve children on e-bikes or scooters in parks and on roadways and that categories of devices vary widely in speed and capability. "If we do find them and catch them, then the parents have to do their job," he said, describing current practice of citing juveniles and referring matters to parents or juvenile courts.
Several councilmembers raised safety concerns and practical questions. Miss Wingo and others said children riding at speed on sidewalks and multiuse paths are a real hazard and suggested helmet or age restrictions for younger riders; another member asked whether the city should coordinate with Boone County to avoid patchwork rules along jurisdictional boundaries.
Josh told the council the county attorneyand other local governmentsare already studying e-bikes, scooters and UTVs, and he recommended staff meet with county officials to align approaches before a city-specific ordinance is drafted.
Public-safety trade-offs were central to the discussion: enforcement tools (fines, juvenile citations), staffing implications for the police department, where devices would be allowed (roads, bike paths, sidewalks) and exemptions (mobility scooters subject to ADA protection). Council did not vote on an ordinance; members asked staff to return with options that include the recommended public outreach and with follow-up conversations with Boone County.
Next steps: staff will report back on coordination with the county and present a proposed public-engagement plan and timeline so council can decide whether to fund a postcard mailer or rely on online outreach.
