The Kalona City Council is looking to amend an ordinance pertaining to the registration process allowing golf carts on city streets. At the moment, anyone who wishes to use a golf cart on Kalona city streets must submit an application to the city to acquire a one-year permit. The council is seeking to amend that process, extending the permit duration to five years.

Kalona City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh says extending the duration of the permits eases the burden on the city staff, and those who take advantage of the ordinance as well, “Staffing will be a little less for us, and we’ve had good success with golf carts being good partners on our city roads, so it made sense that we maybe, lessened the amount of effort that the public has to make to have those in.” 

Golf carts permitted to drive on city streets receive a sticker, found on the lower center of the slow-moving vehicle sign. If the ordinance is amended, current stickers would be good through the end of 2029, with the next sticker required by March 1st, 2030. That sticker would then be good through the end of 2034, and then every five years after that. It is free to register a golf cart with the city.

A first reading of the amended ordinance is planned for February 2nd, the next regular city council meeting. Currently, about 120 residents have golf carts permitted to travel on city streets. Other parts of the ordinance, including late renewal fees, speed restrictions, and penalties, will not be changed.