Golf cart rules approved
The Liberty Lake City Council adopted three new laws Tuesday evening, including new rules for golf-cart use and aesthetic standards for future big box stores in the city.
The new golf-cart ordinance restricts minors’ use of the carts. The law was enacted in order to keep people safe in the city, several council members said during the meeting.
“When we decided we wanted to address this issue, the reason we were doing it was for safety’s sake,” said Councilwoman Judi Owens. “We drive our golf cart from our home to the golf course in a responsible manner, and that’s how I expect the citizens of the city to behave.”
Children under age 12 are not allowed to drive carts under the new law. Children 12 to 15 can drive carts, but only with someone who has had a driver’s license for at least five years. At age 16, a person may drive a cart, but must have a driver’s license.
The law also prohibits negligent driving and requires lights for driving at night. The penalty for breaking the rules could reach $250, a judgment that will be made by Liberty Lake Police officers.
“This gives great officer discretion,” said Police Chief Brian Asmus said. “I think we should just keep it simple.”
The council unanimously passed the new golf-cart rules, and also unanimously agreed to set new standards for big box retailers in the city.
The new rules set aesthetic standards in an effort to avoid the plain walls that typify massive retailers.
An architect from Tacoma representing an unnamed big-box retailer attended the meeting, hoping to convince the council to change the rules after the standards had already undergone six months of review.
Christine Phillips of Brown, Connally, Rowan and Akiyama Architects said some of the rules are too strict. She found particular issue with the requirement to have multiple entrances on the building, something the planning commission said will help the buildings look better.
“I deal with a lot of design standards and I applaud the fact that they’re coming in,” Phillips said. “I’m personally finding this one just too restrictive in comparison to a lot of them I’ve seen.”
Mayor Steve Peterson asked city planning and community development director Doug Smith if the rules allowed for variances or if the language could be softened.
Smith countered that many of the council’s questions had already been discussed during the extensive planning process, and that nitpicking the rules was going to be unproductive.
“With all due respect to Christine and her client, I’m sorry, but it’s too late,” Smith said. “We’re doing a lot of disservice to the people who have put a lot of effort into this.”
The council then passed the ordinance.
The council also passed an ordinance adopting a new parks and recreation plan. The plan has been in the works for a long time, and now addresses the city’s future needs for recreation, Smith said.