Council adopts local restrictions on NEVs and golf carts, adds Katie Mills Circle to prohibited roads

Council considered local regulations for off‑highway vehicles and neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs), proposing a framework that allows constrained NEV operation while prohibiting them on higher‑speed corridors and certain sensitive streets.

The ordinance restricts NEV/golf‑cart operation on listed roads (including Avenue D, Highway 90, Morton Road, Kingsland Boulevard, and others) and ultimately the council amended the motion to add Katie Mills Circle to the list of prohibited roads. The ordinance establishes local registration and insurance requirements and adds safety feature standards not mandated at state level (seat belts, lights, registration requirements) and restricts permitted hours of operation.

Proponents said the ordinance addresses a problem the city already has — people driving golf carts on public roads without safety equipment or regulation — and argued local rules can make those trips safer by requiring equipment and limiting locations and hours. One councilmember described the measure as more restrictive than state law and intended to make use safer for residents who rely on neighborhood carts.

Opponents warned of safety risks and the chances of serious crashes if low‑speed vehicles are allowed on some streets; Councilmember Robertson recorded a no vote. The ordinance passed with a 4–1 recorded vote.

Next steps: the city will finalize the ordinance text and implement registration/enforcement mechanisms; the police department will enforce the new prohibited‑street list and safety standards once the ordinance is effective.