The Kalona City Council continued discussion on changes to the city’s policies for golf cart and utility terrain vehicles during their regular meeting Monday.
City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh presented the council with a new sticker program for registered vehicles. The proposal features new reflective stickers with large print to help law enforcement better identify vehicles that may not be registered. The sticker would be required to be placed on a slow-moving vehicle sign in plain view on the back of the vehicle. The new registration would lower the age requirement from an 18-year-old licensed driver to a 16-year-old licensed driver. The city’s permit application states that in order for anyone to operate carts or UTVs on city roads they must also have a bicycle safety flag with the top being a minimum five feet above ground level, adequate brakes and working headlights and taillights. During discussion, the council emphasized the requirement for any carts or UTVs to have a “lock out” that prevents them from going over 25 mph. Anyone found violating these regulations would be guilty of a simple misdemeanor punishable as a scheduled violation. Schlabaugh says that they will have the first reading of an ordinance for these changes at their next meeting.