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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
DATE: July 1, 2014
TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board
FROM: John Hofstad
SUBJECT: Shalimar Golf Cart Ordinance - request for public hearing
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
BCC DISTRICT: District 2
STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Staff is requesting that the BCC convene a Public Hearing on July
15, 2014 to hear arguments both for and against implementation of a new ordinance allowing the
use of golf carts on County roads within the Lake Lorraine subdivision area of Shalimar.
BACKGROUND: Earlier this year, the District 2 Commissioner and County staff were
approached by residents of the Lake Lorraine area of Shalimar inquiring about the use of golf
carts on County roads in and around the Town of Shalimar. Many of the residents of the Lake
Lorraine subdivision are retirees and/or patrons of the local Shalimar Pointe Country Club. Golf
carts are a fixture in this area as a means of transportation for those that enjoy the golfing
lifestyle. In addition, the Town of Shalimar authorizes the use of golf carts as a means of travel
for those residents within their jurisdictional boundary.
On May 13, 2014, the District 2 Commissioner, along with staff of Public Works, hosted a Town
Hall meeting at the Shalimar Pointe Country Club to engage discussion regarding the use of golf
carts on County maintained roads in the area. This meeting was well attended with over 50 area
residents participating in the discussion. After an explanation from staff as to the requirements
and general conditions for allowing golf cart use on County roads, the Commissioner called for a
vote on the issue from those in attendance. The overwhelming majority of residents supported
the initiative and asked that the County begin the implementation process. Only a small segment
of those in attendance (<10%) did not support the proposal.
With the support of the local community, staff began the process of crafting an ordinance which
would allow the use of golf carts on County maintained roads in the Lake Lorraine area. The
County’s legal counsel drafted the attached ordinance which establishes the
requirements/restrictions for the safe operation of golf carts in the Lake Lorraine, Meigs Drive,
and Dogwood Drive areas of unincorporated Shalimar. The proposed ordinance is similar to an
ordinance previously adopted by the Board in January 2012 which authorized the use of golf
carts on County Roads in the vicinity of Rocky Bayou Country Club in the Niceville area.
In order to formally adopt the proposed ordinance, the BCC must first convene a Public Hearing
to hear arguments both for and against implementation. Staff is requesting that the Board
convene said hearing at the regularly scheduled meeting of the BCC on July 15, 2014 in Fort
Walton Beach at, or shortly after, 9:00am.
OPTIONS: Approve/Disapprove convening a Public Hearing on July 15, 2014 during the
regularly scheduled BCC meeting to hear arguments both for and against implementation of a
golf cart ordinance for the Lake Lorraine area of unincorporated Shalimar.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff requests that the Board of County Commissioners convene a
Public Hearing on July 15, 2014 during the regularly scheduled BCC meeting to hear arguments
both for and against implementation of a golf cart ordinance for the Lake Lorraine area of
unincorporated Shalimar.
RECOMMENDED BY:
APPROVED BY:
Ernie Padgett, County Administrator