Where adults may ride e-bikes went back after another night
The City Commission spent still more July 13 time on Ordinance 26-06 — how tightly to police electric bikes, scooters, one-wheels, and other small electric rides — then sent the draft back to staff instead of taking a first-reading vote.
City Attorney John Steinmetz walked the board through a rewrite that dropped a blanket sidewalk ban and kept bans on courtyards, promenades, arcades, seawalls, and boardwalks, plus escalating fines and proof-of-ownership language. Commissioners then picked at definitions, officer discretion, and whether a sidewalk is a "pathway," after months of the same file.
Resident Nick Binder asked whether electric bicycles would be allowed on sidewalks and whether older adults on electric tricycles would still have somewhere legal to roll. The board's answer was more drafting. By consensus the item went back to staff to "simplify" before it returns.
The ordinance was still not adopted that night. It came back August 3.
Sources
- City Commission Meeting, July 13, 2026 minutes (PDF) Steinmetz presented Ordinance 2026-06 on first reading; the draft dropped a blanket sidewalk ban, kept courtyard/promenade/arcade/seawall/boardwalk limits, and included penalties; commissioners discussed officer discretion, escalating penalties, definitions, proof of ownership, and sidewalks vs. pathways; Binder raised sidewalks and electric tricycles for older adults; by consensus the item went back to staff with no adoption vote.
- City Commission Meeting, July 13, 2026 agenda packet (PDF) Lists Ordinance 26-06 as first reading to regulate the operation of electric mobility devices in the city.
- City Commission Meeting, August 3, 2026 agenda packet (PDF) August 3 agenda listed Ordinance 26-06 again as continuation of discussion on electric mobility devices.
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