Greenville council adopts four ordinances on trails, parking, alcohol possession and yard waste

Greenville Mayor Jeff Scoby and the City Council unanimously adopted four ordinances March 5 that change how the city will regulate trail use, parking enforcement, minors’ possession of alcohol and yard waste disposal.

The most contested item, Ordinance No. 24-02, adds Section 42-7 to prohibit motorized vehicles on City-designated non-motorized trails while explicitly exempting wheelchairs, city and emergency vehicles and permitting Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles. The ordinance establishes a 20-mile-per-hour speed cap on designated non-motorized trails and makes violations municipal civil infractions with a minimum $100 fine. Councilperson Lehman moved to approve the ordinance after an unsuccessful attempt by Councilperson Moss to table it for further review; Councilperson Johnson seconded and the measure passed 7–0.

During the public hearing on the trail ordinance, residents offered mixed views on e-bikes and speed. Marv Lafler said he was concerned that “20 mph is too fast on trails around curves,” while Greg VanderMark said he was “happy about passing an amended version to allow class 1 and 2 e-bikes.” City staff will enact the ordinance by designating specific trails via council resolution and installing signage where the prohibition applies.

The council also approved Ordinance No. 24-03, which replaces Sec. 42-89 to create tiered parking penalties (Groups 1–4 with escalating fines from $15 up to $75 if paid within 30 days for specified groups), authorizes parking-enforcement workers and police to issue citations, and expands seizure and impoundment authority for vehicles with unpaid tickets. The ordinance also sets procedures for calculating release and impoundment costs; the vote was 7–0. During the hearing, resident Joe Knight asked about revenue from parking tickets.

Ordinance No. 24-04 updates Sec. 4-10 governing minors’ purchase, possession or consumption of alcoholic liquor. The ordinance establishes a graduated enforcement approach: a first violation is a civil infraction with fines up to $100, repeat violations escalate to misdemeanors (with increased fines and potential jail time), and courts may order substance-use screening, treatment, probation conditions and chemical testing where authorized. Text in the ordinance references state statutory provisions for procedural and record-keeping requirements. Council adopted the measure unanimously.

Finally, the council adopted Ordinance No. 24-05 amending Secs. 32-19 and 32-26 to prohibit yard waste dumping. The ordinance defines yard waste and prescribes escalating penalties: a first violation is a municipal civil infraction (minimum $100), a second violation within two years (minimum $200), and a third or subsequent violation within two years can be a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and up to $500 in fines. The measure passed 7–0.

All four ordinances include standard conflict-and-repeal and publication clauses; each ordinance becomes effective 15 days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the city, as stated in the ordinance texts. The council recorded unanimous votes on each ordinance: Ayes — Lehman, Cunliffe, Scoby, Johnson, Barrus, Moss, and Linton.

The council did not take additional substantive policy action on the trail ordinance at the meeting beyond adoption; staff will follow the ordinance’s requirement that the City designate specific trails and post signage before enforcement begins.