Ocean Springs aldermen debate new downtown parking ordinance for golf carts and low‑speed vehicles

Aldermen considered a draft ordinance to add a new section (proposed section 14-50) designating specific parking spaces for motor vehicles, golf carts and low‑speed vehicles between Cache Alley and Russell Avenue. City staff said the draft pulls definitions from chapter 14 of the city code and Mississippi statutory definitions where available, and that the plan includes pavement markings and a color-coded map to clarify which spots are for golf carts and which are for vehicles.

City staff who helped draft the proposal said the draft fee amount was a placeholder and recommended anchoring any specific fine amounts to the city fee schedule rather than hard-coding a $200 starting fine into the ordinance. "The idea was not to make it escalating for the sake of the police department so they're not having to track how many times somebody gets a ticket," the presenter said, urging using the fee schedule to simplify enforcement. Aldermen raised concerns that the ordinance should begin with a clearly stated, legally defensible purpose — for example public safety and efficient use of limited downtown parking — and discussed ADA parking counts and whether the narrow street widths would allow on-street ADA spaces.

Board members generally supported keeping the fee tied to the fee schedule and asked staff to draft clearer purpose language and to return with revised ordinance language and signage recommendations. The board did not take final action and directed staff to revisit signage placement, ADA compliance counts and fee-schedule language before the next meeting.