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Council approves first reading of personal transportation ordinance (Ordinance No. 817)
Summary
Council held the first reading of Ordinance No. 817, redefining bicycle and personal transportation categories (including e-bikes and scooters) to aid enforcement and safety; council supports an education push as schools resume and approved the first reading 5–0.
Councilman Rudy Cataldo presented Ordinance No. 817, an update to the city’s bicycle code that recasts the rules as a broader personal transportation ordinance to address electric bikes, scooters and similar devices. Cataldo said the ordinance borrows definitions from the Iowa Code and the Iowa Bicycle Coalition language to provide clearer classification for enforcement.
Police Chief Matt Koch described enforcement options built into the ordinance: graded penalties with officer discretion, warnings before fines, a stair‑step penalty approach for repeat offenses, and the option to impound devices though impoundment is not preferred due to storage and liability. Chief Koch told the council the approach would allow officers to "use their discretion" and that the department planned an educational campaign with schools as the school year opens.
Mayor Dan Carver encouraged the council to perform all three readings to give the public review time on a sensitive topic; despite that suggestion the council approved the first reading by roll call, vote 5–0. Councilmembers discussed aligning fines with nearby cities and noted the ordinance differentiates device classes to assist officers in the field.
