Marble Falls City Council recently approved a new trafficand- motor-vehicles ordinance to regulate the operation of golf carts, recreational offhighway vehicles, neighborhood electric vehicles and utility vehicles on designated streets within the city.
Before council ap- proved the ordinance by a 4-0 vote, Downtown and Marketing Manager Erin Burks and Marble Falls Assistant Police Chief Trish Ratliff presented details of the ordinance to council members before they voted to approve the ordinance.
“Y’all did a great job,” Councilman Richard Westerman said, referring to the presentation by Burks and Ratliff.
Councilman Griff Morris also complimented Burks and Ratliff.
“I was not a big fan of this ordinance,” Morris recalled. “But I think you all did a great job addressing a lot of my concerns and a couple concerns I had not even thought about. So, congratulations.”
Councilman Dee Haddock concurred with Westerman and Morris.
“I am all for it,” Haddock said. He added, “One might opine that the majority of golf cart operators will come (to Marble Falls) out of Meadowlakes. Please inform them they will be subject to law.”
Key provisions of the ordinance include:
• Allowing golf carts, recreational off-highway vehicles and utility vehicles on public streets only with speed limits of 35 mph or less;
• Operators of each vehicle must possess a valid driver’s license and maintain liability insurance meeting state minimum requirements;
• Requiring each vehicle to display a Texas Department of Motor Vehicles golf cart or off-highway vehicle license plate; and
• Implement the minimum of safety equipment per each vehicle, including lights, mirrors, reflectors, seat belts and a slow-moving vehicle emblem.
Also, the ordinance mandates each driver must complete a safety form and display a cityissued safety-sticker on each vehicle.
Moreover, the ordinance prohibits the operation of each vehicle on any Texas highway and farm-to-market road, except when crossing at intersection with a designated traffic signal.
The code includes a prohibition of operations between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. and prohibition of commercial rental golf carts for use on public streets within city limits due to traffic concerns; and prohibition of all-terrain vehicles and sand rails from operation on public streets or recreational areas within the city.
Violations of the ordinance would be punishable by fines up to $500 per offense, and up to $2,000 for violations involving public health and safety.
Mayor John Packer voted to approve the ordinance.
“If people are not paying attention to the rules, we will have one or two bad actors out there doing dumb stuff,” Packer said. “We need to have everybody think about self-enforcement, and we need everybody to be responsible.”
Emergency Dispatch
Turning to other matters, the council approved the development of a “Strategic Growth Concept Plan” for the Highland Lakes Regional Emergency Communication Center (HLRECC), which facilitates emergency dispatch services for Marble Falls and several nearby communities.
HLRECC Director Stacy Baker told council members development of the plan will help the center maintain reliability of the service, sustain its financial stability and strengthen partnerships with agencies outside of the region.
“It will be a very good plan to guide us,” Packer told Baker.
“The proposal is so well laid out, we have no questions,” Morris told Baker.
Also during the meeting, the council acknowledged the Hill Country 100 Club recognized Marble Falls first responders during its annual awards banquet March 5, including Blaine Hooton as the Police Officer of the Year and Jordan Thomas as Firefighter of the Year.
Also the nonprofit organization presented its Meritorious Service Awards to Amanda Carlisle, the Marble Falls Emergency Management Coordinator and Robin Bergman, the Emergency Communications Supervisor.
Before the meeting ended, the council opened public hearings related to major improvement areas within the Manzano Mile and opted to postpone action until the April 7 meeting.
Absent from the meeting were council members Lauren Haltom, Karlee Hubble and Craig Magerkurth.
