City tightens regs on motorized vehicle use in city parks

A recommendation by the Whitefish Parks and Recreation Department to amend a city ordinance involving motorized vehicle use in city parks was adopted unanimously by City Council on Feb. 22.

The department’s list of prohibited motorized vehicles now includes golf carts, ATVs, UTVs, aircraft and motorized watercraft. Personal watercraft, like jet skis or wave runners, are still allowed.

This addition was deemed necessary by the Parks Board to protect public health and safety and to reduce the negative impacts to parklands.

Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Director Maria Butts mentioned several recent instances of dangerous behaviors at city parks including driving golf carts on park grounds, landing helicopters in sports fields, and mooring motorized watercraft at City Beach. The most jarring example involved a propelled floatplane that drove past swimmers and attempted to beach east of the swim area at City Beach, forcing everyone back to shore.

Prior to the amendment, the ordinance stated a person who drives any “automobile, truck, bus, motorcycle or snowmobile, or any other vehicle or conveyance” in a public park or boulevard in the city is guilty of a misdemeanor.

While golf carts, aircraft and motorized watercraft were implied, they were not specifically mentioned.

“The more specificity we have, the easier (the ordinance) is to enforce,” Butts said.

According to the staff report, the Park Board met in January and reaffirmed the prohibition of the use of golf carts, aircraft, and motorized watercraft within public parks and unanimously recommended the Council amend the ordinance.

At this point in the Council meeting, Councilor Andy Feury asked if there was an exception for the use of golf carts to assist in setting up an event on parkland.

“Our special event policy provides an option for us to condition that as part of the approval under the park rules,” Butts explained.

Councilor Steve Qunell voiced concern about the safety of people driving golf carts on the road since they are not allowed to drive on the trails. He asked about an exemption for people traveling to and from the golf courses.

Butts reminded Qunell and the Council that golf carts have never been allowed on the trails.

“It has always been city ordinance to not permit motorized vehicles on bike paths as they pose a conflict with pedestrians and bicyclists,” Butts said.

Currently, it is not legal to drive golf carts on city streets. According to the vehicle operating requirements of the Montana code, the city would have to pass an ordinance that authorizes the use of golf carts on the roads.

Chief of Police Bridger Kelch pointed out that there are about six provisions that are also required. The operator of the golf cart must have a valid driver’s license, and the cart must have lights, a reflector, and a horn among other things.

“If the city was interested in passing an ordinance to allow (golf carts) on public roads, that could happen,” Kelch added.