Revamped golf cart ordinance comes with fees and concerns

At the Dec 8 city commission meeting, commissioners held the first public reading to amend the city’s golf cart ordinance to allow for golf cart rentals within the City of Apalachicola.

Entrepreneur Lisa Hooker requested the change several months ago to allow for the rentals, which the current ordinance prohibits. The commission moved unanimously with City Commissioner Mitchell Bartley making the motion to allow Ordinance No. 2009-05 to proceed forward through the adoption process with changes for final approval.

City Commissioner Brenda Ash recommended the inclusion of an annual registration fee for all golf carts including those rented.

Currently the city requires registration but collect no fees from the 75 or more golf cart users registered with the city.

“We… the city should at least tack on a registration fee for golf carts…I think that it’s something that can bring in more revenue to the city and there are an extremely lot of golf cart users in the city”, said Ash.

Also added at the suggestion of City Administrator Betty Taylor-Webb, was a provision prohibiting the use of golf carts on city sidewalks.

In addition, the commission agreed that no more than 30 total golf carts at any given time and no more than 10 per business shall be available for rent in the city. Further, the operator of the rented golf carts shall sign a hold harmless and indemnity statement to the City of Apalachicola.

However, Bob Dieter, Chair of the Franklin County Community Traffic Safety Team commented that with the advent of the golf cart ordinance, he has witnessed all sort of all terrain vehicles including Kawasaki Mules on the sidewalks and crossing U.S. Highway 98. Most without registration and often driven by kids less than 12-years old.

Dieter stated that from an enforcement point of view, the commission handed Chief of Police Bobby Varnes a runaway train. He cautioned that the golf carts are not insurable, and that those who sign waivers will not be able to defend the city in the event of an accident.