Two months after the East Grand Forks City Council asked staff to study a new policy on special use vehicles, council members agreed Tuesday to further study a new rule related to utility vehicle use on city roads.
City Attorney Ron Galstad on Tuesday shared an ordinance draft resulting from the city's last discussion in February on special use vehicles. Galstad's proposal provided the council with some options, and it applied to all special use vehicles, including golf carts, utility task vehicles, all-terrain vehicles and mini trucks.
The city's only related policy right now is a 23-year old ordinance dealing only with ATVs, which the city only allows for off-street, commercial uses.
The Grand Forks City Council voted in July to allow UTVs on all of its major and little routes, as long as the UTVs meet the city's legal requirements by having a rear-view mirror, a working horn, a speedometer, an odometer, brake lights, headlamps, turn signals, operating mufflers, at least four rubber tires, a steering wheel, working brakes, seat belts and a windshield.
Council members told Galstad in February they wanted an ordinance that's easy to enforce and all-encompassing when it comes to vehicle safety.
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Galstad and the rest of the council made a point of differentiating UTVs from ATVs. "It's essentially your four-by-four side-by-sides," Galstad said, "which seem to be a little bit sturdier.
However, he also said all of the vehicles are lumped together in state statute.
Retail study
East Grand Forks will participate in a study with the local chamber of commerce, data that could help the community attract and retain business.
The city will spend $10,000 over the next two years on the study, which Economic Development Director Paul Gorte said will cost $100,000. Other study participants will include the city of Grand Forks, the Greater Grand Forks Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Grand Forks Regional Economic Development Corp., according to the city's economic development director Paul Gorte.
Data from this study will address what needs the city's existing retailers can fill and entertainment opportunities.
