Council holds first reading of ordinance to regulate electric motorcycles

At the June 22 meeting the council heard the first reading of Ordinance No. 2839, a proposed Enumclaw municipal code chapter to define and regulate electric motorcycles, read by the city clerk and introduced with a staff report.

The clerk (speaker 10) read the ordinance title and a staff member (speaker 11, identified in the meeting as 'Chief') told council that high‑powered electric motorcycles and dirt bikes have increasingly been operated on public streets, sidewalks and multi‑use trails and that current municipal code does not specifically address these vehicles. The staff report said the ordinance would distinguish electric motorcycles from e‑bikes and mopeds based on power output, speed capability and design, would prohibit operation on sidewalks and trails unless authorized, and would set equipment and operator requirements including helmet and lighting standards.

The staff presentation referenced recent state legislation and a state work group: according to staff the passage of “gross substitute senate bill 61 10” has created a Department of Licensing work group with a due date of October 2027 for state regulations, and the proposed city ordinance is intended to complement—rather than conflict with—state law. The item was presented as a first reading; councilmembers were reminded they may propose changes at second reading. No final vote occurred on June 22.