Council to Discuss Final Approval of Golf Cart Ordinance

The Temple Terrace City Council is expected to have its second and final reading of a revised .

Residents can share their opinions with the council on the subject during tonight’s meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. at .

Currently, golf carts are only allowed to be driven to and from the , although city residents have complained that other citizens, including children and teenagers, are driving the carts recklessly on city streets.

Under the rewritten ordinance, carts could be used on all city streets, but could not cross county and state roads, such as Fowler Avenue and 56th Street. Raintree residents, for example, could drive carts in their neighborhood, but they could not cross Fowler.

Golf cart owners would have to annually register their carts with the city in order to drive them on city streets. Registration would cost $10 per year.

Drivers would have to possess a valid driver’s license and obey all the rules of the road. Golf carts would have to meet basic equipment requirements, such as having adequate brakes and steering. Carts would not be allowed on sidewalks.

The city’s would be the primary enforcement agency, issuing citations to ordinance violators. Police officers would also issue citations if they see violators during patrols or if Code Compliance is unavailable.

According to tonight’s meeting agenda, the city council and Mayor Joe Affronti are also scheduled to:

• have a public hearing in reference to ;
• consider awarding a contract to Hendry Corporation in the amount of $149,568.17 to construct an access road and add a parking facility to an existing pavilion at ;
• hear an update on the city’s current events; and
• make proclamations regarding “Building Safety Month,” “National Police Week,” and Peace Officers’ Memorial Day.”

The meeting will be  live on Verizon channel 39 and Bright House channel 950 and rebroadcast on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays at 2 p.m.