Council weighs aligning greenway rules with state law as e-bikes and motorized vehicles surge

Police Chief Headland told the council the city is seeing a rise in electric bicycles and motorized personal vehicles and asked for a public discussion to clarify rules and enforcement.

"These types of vehicles are becoming more and more common and they're being used in places that they're legally not allowed to," Chief Headland said, and explained the code discrepancy: the current city ordinance references up to a 1,000‑watt motor for some e‑bikes while Minnesota statute limits motors to 750 watts.

The chief outlined three broad categories: pedal‑assist e‑bikes (generally allowed on greenways), motorized bikes that lack pedals and can reach up to 30 mph (not allowed on greenways or trails unless registered and insured like a motorcycle), and e‑motorcycles/dirt‑bike style machines (typically not street legal and usually limited to private property). He also noted age and helmet requirements mirrored in statute — riders must generally be 15 or older for some classes and under‑18 riders must wear helmets — and that penalties vary depending on whether an offense is a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail) or a petty misdemeanor (up to $300).

Council members focused on safety and enforceability. Council member Dil Helms and others urged clearer outreach and signage in heavy‑use greenway sections; one councilor suggested QR‑code signs linking to the ordinance. Several members expressed concern that faster motorized scooters and e‑motorcycles pose a risk to trail users and to wetlands and dike damage.

Chief Headland said the city can make its ordinances more restrictive than state statute but not less permissive, and recommended changing the wattage reference to match state law while giving council the option to explicitly prohibit certain vehicle types in the greenway.

The council asked staff to publish an expanded memo and FAQs on the city website, consider targeted signage and school‑based outreach, and draft ordinance language to correct the wattage limit and to clarify whether any motorized vehicles should be explicitly prohibited from the greenway. No formal ordinance change was voted on at the work session.