In 2016 City Council legislatively determined the operation of golf carts pursuant to 316.212 Florida Statutes, may safely be operated on certain designated streets within the city by the adoption of Ordinance No. 2016-2076. Since 2016 the city’s original ordinance has been amended twice. The existing Ordinance No 2021-2231 includes areas of legal operation for golf carts under section 23-205. Sub-section (a) states: The operation of golf carts on the following streets is prohibited:
(4) Marine Parkway from U.S. Highway 19 to Grand Boulevard;
(5) Grand Boulevard from Gulf Drive to Ridgewood Drive.
The current ordinance revision removes (4) Marine Parkway from U.S. Highway 19 to Grand Boulevard and (5) Grand Boulevard from Gulf Drive to Ridgewood Drive from the list of prohibited streets; thereby, allowing golf carts to operate on the above listed streets.
As the City Council is aware, staff is in the application process to request Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to approve golf cart crossing at the intersection of Marine Parkway and U.S. Highway 19 and the intersection of Gulf Drive and U.S. Highway 19. As part of the request, FDOT has requested a copy of the city’s golf cart ordinance allowing golf carts to be operated on cross streets. While Grand Boulevard is not a cross street of U.S. Hwy 19, Marine Parkway intersects Grand Boulevard and heads north into the Downtown area. This ordinance revision allows golf carts to be operated on the cross streets to U.S. Highway 19 (Marine Parkway and Gulf Drive) as per FDOT’s request.