Public Safety Comittee - July 14, 2026

City of Amery Public Safety Committee The City of Amery does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or provision of services, programs or activities. NOTE: Upon reasonable notice, the City of Amery will accommodate the needs of disabled individuals through aids or services. For additional information or to request this service, contact the Clerk-Treasurer’s office at (715) 268-3410 by Noon the previous day so that arrangements can be made. Pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.84, Notice is hereby given to the public that a meeting of the Public Safety Committee of the City of Amery will be held on: July 14, 2026 @ 4pm at 104 Maple St. W, Amery, WI. Call to Order Adoption of Agenda Agenda Items 1. Chief’s Report 2. Golf Carts and Low Speed Vehicles on City Streets Discussion 3. E-bikes and Scooters Discussion 4. Adjournment *Committee meetings are open for all members of the Amery City Council to attend. There may be a quorum of City Council members present, but only members of the Public Safety Committee will be acting on agenda items. All other Council members will be present for informational purposes only. Respectfully Submitted; Taylor Larson Clerk-Treasurer **Posted: July 9, 2026 on the city website (www.amerywi.gov); and at Amery City Hall, Amery Public Library, and the Amery Police Department. 104 Maple Street W., Suite A Office: 715.268.7486 Amery, WI 54001 Fax: 715.268.4870 TO: The Public Safety Committee FROM: Alex Mansfield, City Administrator DATE: July 6, 2026 RE: Golf Cart and Low-Speed Vehicle Operation on City Streets Summary: Following Council referral, this memo presents proposed operating conditions for golf carts and low-speed vehicles (LSVs) on City streets for Public Safety Committee discussion. Golf carts and LSVs are legally distinct vehicle categories under Wisconsin law with different statutory authorization, registration requirements, and permissible road access. Staff recommends the Committee review the proposed conditions below, with golf cart local registration as an open question for Committee direction. Background: The Common Council discussed golf cart and LSV operation at its most recent meeting and referred the matter to the Public Safety Committee with a generally affirmative outlook toward permitting both vehicle types. The Council opened the door to LSVs in add ition to golf carts, making it necessary to address both in a single ordinance while keeping their separate statutory requirements clear. Golf carts are authorized under Wis. Stat. § 349.18, which limits operation to City-jurisdiction streets with posted speed limits of 25 mph or less. Golf carts may not operate on or across state trunk or connecting highways except at signed, City-funded crossing points. Currently, golf carts are permitted to cross County HWY F to reach the other side of the course. They are not registered through WisDOT; local registration, if required, is a municipal function. LSVs are authorized under Wis. Stat. § 349.26, which permits operation on roadways with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less, including state and county highways. LSVs are titled and registered through WisDOT as motor vehicles and must meet federal motor vehicle safety standards. They carry a 17 -digit VIN, must be insured like any motor vehicle, and are explicitly defined by statute as not being golf carts. The broader road access available to LSVs reflects these higher baseline safety and registration requirements. Peer municipalities reviewed include the Village of North Hudson (golf cart permit program, $100 fee), the City of Delafield (golf cart permit with $100,000/$300,000 liability insurance requirement), the Village of Reedsville (golf cart use permit at $40 biennial), and the City of Oconto (golf cart ordinance). Registration fees among Wisconsin municipali ties with published figures range from $10 to $ 100, with $40 biennial and $50 annual being the most documented comparables. Proposed Operating Conditions The following conditions are proposed for both golf carts and LSVs unless otherwise noted. Staff recommends these as the basis for the Committee’s discussion, with the golf cart registration question held separately below. 1. Hours of operation: No operation after sunset. Operation is permitted from sunrise to sunset only. This applies to both golf carts and LSVs. 104 Maple Street W., Suite A Office: 715.268.7486 Amery, WI 54001 Fax: 715.268.4870 2. Operator requirements: The operator must hold a valid Wisconsin driver’s license or probationary driver’s license. For LSVs, a valid license is already required by state law as a condition of operating a registered motor vehicle. 3. Insurance: Operators must carry liability insurance and have proof of coverage in the vehicle at all times. For LSVs, WisDOT registration already requires insurance as with any motor vehicle. For golf carts, the ordinance should specify minimum coverage amounts; the Committee may wish to reference the minimums in Wis. Stat. § 344.01 or set higher thresholds consistent with peer municipalities. The City of Delafield, for reference, requires $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. 4. Lighting equipment: Requirements differ by vehicle type. Golf carts must display a slow -moving vehicle (SMV) emblem on the rear and have operating headlights and red rear lights visible to following traffic. LSVs must be equipped with functioning headlamps, stop lamps, and turn signals as required by federal motor vehicle safety standards, which apply to all LSVs at the time of manufacture. The ordinance should specify that all required lighting must be operational whenever the vehicle is on a public street. 5. Registration: LSVs must be titled and registered with WisDOT as a condition of state law; no local registration program is needed or appropriate for this vehicle type. Golf cart local registration is an open question addressed separately below. 6. Rules of the road: Operators shall ride single file on the far right side of the roadway, yield the right-of-way to all conventional vehicle traffic and pedestrians, not exceed the posted speed limit, and comply with all applicable traffic laws. Passengers may not exceed the manufacturer’s designed seating capacity. The City reserves the right to close or modify permitted routes at any time for public safety purposes. Open Question: Golf Cart Local Registration Because golf carts are not titled or registered through WisDOT, a local registration program is the only mechanism available to identify individual carts operating within the City. Staff sees two practical reasons to consider a local program. First, a regi stered cart with a displayed permit sticker gives the Police Department an enforcement tool: an unregistered cart on a City street is a visible violation. Second, in the event a cart is stolen or impounded, registration creates a documented record tying the cart to its owner, with no equivalent tool otherwise available. The tradeoff is administrative burden on both the City and the cart owner. If the Committee supports a registration program, staff would return with a proposed fee consistent with the peer range of $10 to $50, a proposed permit cycle (annual or biennial), and a process for permit issuance and display. If the Committee does not support a registration requirement, the ordinance can rely on proof of insurance as the primary compliance document an operator must carry. Fiscal Impact: No direct fiscal impact is anticipated from authorizing golf cart or LSV operation. No signage costs apply to golf carts, as the proposed framework permits operation on all qualifying City streets without designated routes. Enforcement falls within the exi sting responsibilities of the Amery Police 104 Maple Street W., Suite A Office: 715.268.7486 Amery, WI 54001 Fax: 715.268.4870 Department. If the Committee directs staff to establish a local golf cart registration program, a fee schedule would be presented for Council approval prior to implementation. Recommendation: Staff recommends the Public Safety Committee discuss and confirm the proposed operating conditions for golf carts and LSVs set out above, provide direction on whether to include a local golf cart registration requirement, and authorize staff to prepare a d raft ordinance for Council consideration at a subsequent meeting. 104 Maple Street W., Suite A Office: 715.268.7486 Amery, WI 54001 Fax: 715.268.4870 TO: The Public Safety Committee FROM: Alex Mansfield, City Administrator DATE: July 6, 2026 RE: Electric Bicycles, Electric Scooters, and Bicycle Ordinance Update (Chapter 180) Summary: The Council referred electric bicycle and electric scooter regulation to the Public Safety Committee, with interest in also revisiting general bicycle safety. Chapter 180 of the Amery Municipal Code predates the Wisconsin three-class electric bicycle framework and is silent on electric -assist devices and electric scooters entirely. This memo presents the state statutory framework for each vehicle type, identifies gaps in the current ordinance, proposes conditions for Committee consideration, and recommends opening Chapter 180 for a targeted revision rather than amending it piecemeal. Background: State Statutory Framework Electric Bicycles. Wisconsin 2019 Act 34 created the three-class electric bicycle framework, now codified at Wis. Stat. § 340.01(15ph). An electric bicycle is defined as a bicycle with fully operative pedals and an electric motor of 750 watts or less. The three classes are distinguished by how the motor operates and at what speed it cuts off. • Class 1 provides pedal-assist only, cutting off at 20 mph. • Class 2 may be powered by the motor alone and also cuts off at 20 mph. • Class 3 provides pedal-assist only and cuts off at 28 mph. Electric bicycles are not motor vehicles under state law and do not require a license, registration, or insurance. Act 34 also created Wis. Stat. § 346.806, which governs where electric bicycles may operate. • Classes 1 and 2 may be ridden wherever conventional bicycles are permitted, without any local ordinance required. • Class 3 carries two additional requirements: the operator must be at least 16 years of age, and the bicycle must be equipped with a speedometer. A municipality may restrict Class 3 from bikeways by ordinance, giving the City a specific policy choice to put to the Committee. All electric bicycles sold in Wisconsin must carry a permanent manufacturer label stating the class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage, per Wis. Stat. § 347.489. Electric Scooters. Electric scooters are defined separately at Wis. Stat. § 340.01(15ps) as devices under 100 pounds with handlebars and an electric motor, powered by the motor and human power, with a maximum speed of 20 mph. They are expressly not electric bicycles, and the statute treats them as motor vehicles for specific purposes. Operators must be at least 16 and hold a valid driver’s license or instruction permit. Electric scooters may not be operated on sidewalks. Operation on roadways and bike lanes is governed by state law, but municipalities may regulate further by ordinance. No rental fleet or commercial scooter 104 Maple Street W., Suite A Office: 715.268.7486 Amery, WI 54001 Fax: 715.268.4870 program currently operates in Amery; the near-term question is whether resident-owned scooters warrant a local overlay beyond state law. Gaps in the Current Chapter 180 Ordinance The existing ordinance was drafted before electric-assist bicycles were a common consumer product and has not been updated since Act 34 took effect in 2020. The following gaps are relevant to this discussion. 1. No mention of electric bicycles or electric scooters anywhere in Chapter 180. The City currently operates on state law defaults with no local overlay for either vehicle type. 2. No helmet requirement for any age group. Wisconsin state law likewise requires no helmet for any cyclist on public roads. Whether to add a local requirement, and for which age group, is a policy question for the Committee. 3. Lighting requirements are incomplete. Section 180-5(D) requires only a functioning brake; it does not require front or rear lights. State law requires a white front light and red rear reflector for nighttime operation, but Chapter 180 does not restate or r einforce this. Given the speed differential between Class 3 e -bikes and conventional cyclists, a local lighting requirement with explicit language is worth adding. 4. Outdated language throughout. The ordinance contains no provision for cargo bikes or trailers beyond a narrow infant seat exception and has no reference to the three-foot passing clearance now standard in Wisconsin cyclist protection guidance. These are housekeeping items but worth correcting in the same revision cycle. Proposed Conditions for Committee Discussion Electric Bicycles (all classes). Staff proposes treating Classes 1 and 2 identically to conventional bicycles for street and bike lane purposes, consistent with state law defaults. No additional local conditions are proposed for Classes 1 and 2 beyond what applies to all cyclists under an updated Chapter 180. For Class 3, staff proposes codifying the state age requirement (16 and older), requiring the speedometer mandated by § 347.489, and granting the Police Department clear authority to verify class labeling during a stop. The Committee should decide whether to restrict Class 3 from City -designated bikeways; staff does not propose a restriction at this time but notes the option is available under state law. Electric Scooters. Staff proposes incorporating electric scooters into Chapter 180 by reference, codifying the state operator requirements (age 16, valid license or instruction permit) and the sidewalk prohibition. No additional local conditions beyond state law are proposed at this time given the absence of a commercial rental program. If a rental fleet or shared program is proposed in the future, the Council would revisit this section. The Committee may direct staff to include a speed limit on shared-use paths if electric scooter use on those facilities is anticipated. General Bicycle Safety Updates. Staff proposes the following updates to Chapter 180 as part of the same revision. These do not require separate Council action and would go to the full Council as part of the ordinance amendment. 104 Maple Street W., Suite A Office: 715.268.7486 Amery, WI 54001 Fax: 715.268.4870 5. Lighting. Require a white front light visible from 500 feet and a red rear reflector or light visible from 500 feet during nighttime operation or low -visibility conditions. This restates the state standard locally and gives the Police Department an enforceable provision in Chapter 180. 6. Helmets for minors. Staff proposes requiring helmet use for riders under 16 on any bicycle, electric bicycle, or electric scooter operated on a public street, bike lane, or bikeway. This age threshold is consistent with the age lines already drawn in Chapter 180 (the sidewalk restriction at § 180-5(G) applies to riders over 10) and with the majority of Wisconsin municipalities that have adopted minor helmet requirements. A universal adult helmet requirement is not proposed; enforcement without a traffic stop mechanism is impra ctical, and no comparable Wisconsin municipality of similar size has adopted one. 7. Language updates. Replace gendered pronouns with gender -neutral language throughout. Update the three -foot passing clearance provision at § 180 -5(B)(1) to explicitly reference the operator’s duty, not just as a road-sharing guideline. These are non -substantive corrections that bring the ordinance current without changing any operative standards. Open Question: Class 3 on City Bikeways Under Wis. Stat. § 346.806(3), a municipality may prohibit Class 3 electric bicycles from bikeways by ordinance. Class 3 tops out at 28 mph assisted, which is meaningfully faster than a conventional cyclist on a shared path. Staff does not propose a restriction at this time, but the Committee should weigh in before the ordinance is drafted. The decision has direct bearing on the Stower Seven Lakes corridor: if the trail is ultimately designated as a City bikeway, the Class 3 question will need an answer in that planning process regardless of what Chapter 180 says about City streets. Fiscal Impact: No direct fiscal impact is anticipated. Electric bicycles and scooters require no registration, permitting, or fee program under the framework proposed. Enforcement of the minor helmet requirement and Class 3 age provisions falls within the existing responsibilities of the Amery Police Department. Recommendation: Staff recommends the Public Safety Committee confirm the proposed conditions for electric bicycles and electric scooters, provide direction on the Class 3 bikeway question, and authorize staff to prepare a comprehensive amendment to Chapter 180 incorporati ng electric bicycle and scooter definitions, the minor helmet requirement, updated lighting provisions, and gender-neutral language for Council consideration at a subsequent meeting. § 180-5. General bicycle regulations. A. Parental responsibility. No parent or guardian of any child shall authorize or knowingly permit such child to violate any of the provisions of §§ 180-3, 180-4 and this section. B. Street operation. (1) Unless preparing to make a left turn, every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway carrying two-way traffic shall ride as near as possible to the right edge of the unobstructed traveled roadway. On one-way roadways, the operator of the bicycle shall ride as near as possible to the right edge or left edge of the unobstructed traveled roadway. Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall exercise due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction, allowing a minimum of three feet between his/her bicycle and the vehicle. (2) Every person when operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride such bicycle in single file. (3) It shall be unlawful for any person riding upon a bicycle to cling to or attach himself/ herself or the bicycle to any other moving vehicle upon a street or highway. (4) No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped. Infant seats are permitted if securely attached to the frame at the top mount and to the axle and frame at the rear bottom mount and if provided with hand holds, foot rests, foot guards and safety belt. The use of a back pack for carrying an infant is permitted. Persons are not permitted to be located on a bicycle in front of the operator of the bicycle. (5) No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the safe operation of the bicycle with at least one hand on the handlebars at all times. (6) No rider of a bicycle shall remove both hands from the handlebars or feet from the pedals, or practice any acrobatic or fancy riding on any street. (7) Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway. (8) No person may operate a bicycle or moped upon a roadway where a sign is erected indicating that bicycle riding is prohibited. C. Bicycle parking. No person shall leave a bicycle at such a place or in such a way as to create a hazard to pedestrians, automobile operators or to anyone else. D. Required equipment. Every bicycle, when operated upon a highway, shall be equipped with a brake adequate to control the movement of and to stop such vehicle whenever necessary. Such brake shall be maintained in good working order at all times. E. Bicycles not to pull other vehicles. The operator of any bicycle shall not tow or draw any coaster, wagon, sled, person on roller skates, toy vehicles or any other similar vehicle on any highway. [Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)] City of Amery, WI Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/AM3868 on 2026-07-06 F. Speed. No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under existing conditions or in excess of any posted speed limit. G. Operation on sidewalks. (1) No person over the age of 10 shall ride or propel any bicycle upon any public sidewalk or thoroughfare of the City set apart for pedestrians, except bicycles having wheels sized 20 inches or under. This exception shall not apply to twenty-inch or under bicycles designed or modified to BMX specifications. (2) No person shall ride or propel any bicycle upon any public street, alley, boulevard or sidewalk of the City in such manner as to interfere with the rights of other persons using such street, alley, boulevard, or sidewalk. H. Bicycle operation while hearing obstructed. No person may operate a bicycle upon a highway while such operator is using any audio device attached directly to ear or ears of such operator that materially impairs the ability of such operator to hear traffic signals or warnings. I. Mopeds prohibited on bicycle ways. No person may ride a moped or motor bicycle with the power unit in operation upon a bicycle way. J. Riding bicycle on bicycle lane. (1) Unless two-way traffic is authorized by the City Council on any portion of a roadway which it has set aside as a bicycle lane and appropriate traffic signs are installed, every person operating a bicycle upon a bicycle lane shall ride in the same direction in which vehicular traffic on the lane of the roadway nearest the bicycle lane is traveling. (2) Entering and leaving bicycle lane. (a) Unless otherwise provided under Subsection J(2)(b) below, a person operating a bicycle may enter or leave a bicycle lane only at intersections or at driveways adjoining the bicycle lane. (b) A person may leave a bicycle lane at any point by dismounting from the bicycle and walking it out of the lane. A person may enter a bicycle lane at any point by walking his/her bicycle into the lane and then mounting it. (3) Every person operating a bicycle upon a bicycle lane shall exercise due care and given an audible signal when passing a bicycle rider proceeding in the same direction. (4) Every operator of a bicycle entering a bicycle lane shall yield the right-of-way to all bicycles in the bicycle lane. Upon leaving a bicycle lane, the operator of a bicycle shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles and pedestrians. K. Riding bicycle on bicycle way. (1) Every person operating a bicycle upon a bicycle way shall: (a) Exercise due care and give an audible signal when passing a bicycle rider or a pedestrian proceeding in the same direction. City of Amery, WI § 180-5 § 180-5 Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/AM3868 on 2026-07-06 (b) Obey each traffic signal or sign facing a roadway which runs parallel and adjacent to a bicycle way. (2) Every person operating a bicycle upon a bicycle way open to two-way traffic shall ride on the right side of the bicycle way. (3) Every operator of a bicycle entering a bicycle way shall yield the right-of-way to all bicycles and pedestrians in the bicycle way. City of Amery, WI § 180-5 § 180-5 Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/AM3868 on 2026-07-06