New Baltimore officials are looking to update the city’s golf cart ordinance.
The City Council voted unanimously on April 22 to direct the city attorney to draft language for an amendment that would allow golf carts to cross Green Street/M-29. The action is prohibited under the city’s current ordinance, which was rolled out in 2021.
“The issue when we originally adopted the golf cart ordinance was the concerns about crossing Green Street, which is an M road,” City Attorney Tim Tomlinson said at the council meeting. “Under the statutory authority we can permit direct crossing over the M road. The issue always had become how safely can a golf cart cross that road given the nature of the traffic patterns and the speed at which vehicles are crossing and the fact that you have a four-lane road; it’s not just a two-lane road.”
An additional concern was potential liability on the city. Tomlinson said the city would have governmental immunity through the ordinance.
“I think most people are doing it and would like to continue to be able to do it,” council member Jacob Dittrich said. “So as long as it doesn’t transfer to us in any way, shape or form, I wouldn’t see any problem with opening that up.”
Changes being drafted also include reducing the maximum speed limit for roads on which golf carts may be operated from 35 mph to 30 mph. The adjustment is recommended in order to comply with state law.
“In our ordinance we allow golf carts on roadways up to 35 miles an hour, and actually, the statutory authority limits it to 30 miles or under, so we are going to be doing an amendment to that effect no matter what,” Tomlinson said.
Officials also discussed allowing golf carts to cross County Line Road, which is prohibited in the current ordinance. Some drivers have been using the road or adjacent pedestrian path to cross.
“Quite frankly if those people can’t get from point A to point B without going on County Line Road or on a bike path, they’re out of luck,” the city attorney said. “They’re in violation of the ordinance and state law. We don’t even have the authority to grant the ability to do that.”
New Baltimore Police Chief Randy Blackburn pointed out the current ordinance limits golf carts to the owner’s subdivision.
“So if you live in Ashley Farms and drive to Presidential Village, technically you’re in violation of the ordinance because you’re not in your own subdivision,” he said. “So that would have to be changed.”
Three golf cart incidents have been documented by the city’s police department since 2021, Blackburn said. All involved juveniles operating golf carts in city parks.
“Are there safety concerns? Sure,” Blackburn said. “A simple traffic crash on Green Street with a car, clean it up; everyone goes home. A crash with a golf cart, it’s a different story. But that can happen with a bicycle, motorcycle, moped.”
“Our officers, over the past two and a half years, we aren’t specifically looking for them but when we come across them we’re educating them versus writing them a $500 ticket,” he added.
The police chief provided the following data for traffic crashes in the city related to Green Street between Huntley Avenue/Main Street and County Line Road:
• 2024: 19 crashes or 51% of the total crashes
• 2023: 61 crashes or 32% of the total crashes
• 2022: 54 crashes or 34% of the total crashes
• 2021: 54 crashes or 35% of the total crashes
• 2020: 44 crashes or 31% of the total crashes
Tomlinson noted the city does not have the authority to change the times at which golf carts are allowed to be operated. State law mandates golf carts not be operated during the time period from a half-hour before sunset to a half-hour after sunrise.
Residents who own golf carts must register every calendar year with the city’s code enforcement officer by calling 586-725-2151, ext. 113. Blackburn said roughly 30 golf carts have been registered so far this year.
The changes are expected to come back to the council for a vote at its next meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. May 13 at city hall.
Council member David Duffy made the motion to authorize the city attorney to draft the language for amendment, supported by Mayor Pro-Tem Flo Hayman.
A public hearing is not required to amend the ordinance, officials noted.
Other business
Also at the April 22 meeting, the city council approved a request from Fire Chief Jeff Stellman to purchase three sets of turnout gear from MacQueen Emergency in an amount not to exceed $13,500. Each set includes a coat and pants at a cost of about $4,130.
“Currently, we do not have any extra gear to give for new hires,” Stellman said in an April 17 letter to the mayor and council. “We have one firefighter graduating from the Macomb Fire Academy the first of May and we currently do not have the protective gear to assign to her.”
The motion to approve the request was made by Dittrich, supported by council member Ryan Cover and unanimously approved.
Additionally, the council approved the mayor’s appointment of Amanda Melkert to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Melkert will serve out the remainder of Michael Fellberg’s unexpired term, which ends Dec. 31. The motion to approve the appointment was made by Hayman, supported by council member Mel Eason and unanimously approved.
