The Palm Coast City Council advanced new regulations for electric bicycles Tuesday morning after a heated debate over whether the city should impose age restrictions on young riders, with the measure passing its first reading in a 4-1 vote.
The proposed ordinance would prohibit children under 11 years old from operating electric bikes on public property, a provision that sparked intense discussion about parental rights versus public safety concerns.
Vice Mayor Theresa Pontieri cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing the age restriction overstepped government authority. “I believe in parental rights. I believe in being safe, but I don’t know that we should be telling parents what types of bicycles their kids can and cannot have,” Pontiieri said during the meeting.
The age limit emerged from manufacturer recommendations, according to City Attorney Marcus Duffy, who researched popular e-bike models during the meeting. “A lot of the bikes don’t have an age, but what they have are recommended height to ride the bike,” Duffy explained, noting that the most popular Florida e-bike requires riders to be at least 4 feet 11 inches tall, typically reached by 11-year-olds.
Councilman Charles Gambaro, who motioned for approval, defended the age requirement as necessary for safety.
However, Councilman Tyler Miller suggested alternatives to blanket age restrictions. “Maybe we can have them put skin in the game. If the child gets caught doing something wrong, the adult gets fined,” Miller proposed, advocating for parental accountability rather than age limits.
The ordinance also addresses safety concerns by requiring riders to carry photo identification, defining reckless operation as excessive speed or unsafe behavior, and prohibiting modifications that exceed the bike’s original specifications. The measure allows school IDs as acceptable identification for minors following public feedback.
City officials removed a controversial 10-mile-per-hour speed limit from earlier drafts after law enforcement indicated enforcement would be nearly impossible. Instead, the ordinance relies on broader “reckless operation” language, leaving officer discretion to determine violations.
“We don’t have those examples because it’s very new,” Duffy acknowledged regarding reckless e-bike operation. “That’s where it’s going to be left up to the sheriff’s officer who decides to take someone aside and give them a ticket.”
The debate highlighted broader questions about government regulation versus personal freedom. Resident Jeff Adams supported the concept of parental responsibility during public comment, suggesting parents should face consequences if their children violate e-bike rules.
Commissioner Andy Dance, appearing during public participation, praised the improved ordinance while emphasizing the physical differences between e-bikes and traditional bicycles. “A regular e-bike, due to the frame structure and the motors, can be 50, 60, 70 pounds,” Dance explained, noting the additional challenges young riders face with heavier, faster machines.
The ordinance will return for a second reading at the first October business meeting, giving council members time to review the sheriff’s department data on e-bike accidents and potentially adjust the age requirements.
Community Proclamations Honor Heritage and Health Awareness
Earlier in the meeting, the council issued three proclamations recognizing important community causes and contributions.
The Hispanic American Culture Society received recognition for Hispanic Heritage Month, running through October 15. Ramon Moreno, representing the organization, expressed gratitude for the city’s support. “We do stand here as the representative of the Hispanic community in Flagler County, and we try our best during the whole year to present a favorable showing of our culture, heritage, and language,” Moreno said.
The council also proclaimed Storm Water Awareness Week for September 22-26, highlighting the city’s extensive drainage infrastructure. Lynn Stevens, representing the Storm Water Department, detailed the system’s scope, noting “over 1,200 miles of swales in our system. We have 177 miles of ditches that we maintain, as well as 58 miles of freshwater canals and over 3,300 pipe locations throughout the city.”
Stevens highlighted recent improvements since the department’s 2019 creation, including record-breaking maintenance projects and new crew additions to address the city’s growing infrastructure needs.
October was designated as “Raise the Pink Flag with Pink Army Month” in support of breast cancer awareness. Tony Papadrea, chairman of AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation, emphasized the local impact of their cancer programs. “Over the past years, we’ve done over 600 people, over a thousand procedures,” Papadrea said. “While the numbers might be impressive, remember each one of those numbers represents a person going through what probably is the darkest part of their lives.”
Residents Raise Infrastructure and Policy Concerns
During public participation, residents voiced concerns about multiple city issues, from sewer problems to legislative challenges.
Steve Carr, a 25-year Florida Park Drive resident, described ongoing sewer system failures requiring neighbors to install private pump tanks. “It seems like adding pep tanks is a patch. Why not fix the sewer system?” Carr asked, questioning the long-term viability of the current approach.
Miller explained that pump tanks were originally designed by developer ITT in the 1960s and 1970s as a cost-effective solution for low-lying areas, but acknowledged the ongoing maintenance challenges.
Shantel Pringer inquired about the city’s response to SB 180, state legislation that restricts local construction moratoriums. The bill, which passed with last-minute amendments, has sparked potential legal challenges from municipalities statewide.
Miller addressed the timing controversy surrounding the legislation, noting that critical amendments were added “at 10 p.m. the night before the vote” that fundamentally changed the bill’s scope. “There wasn’t anything to lobby against until 10 p.m. that night,” Miller explained.
Mark Webb raised transparency concerns about charter review committee meetings, requesting permission to bring independent videographers to record proceedings. Webb also referenced developer comments suggesting industry knowledge of SB 180’s passage months before the city council was aware of the final language.
Jeanie Duarte called for the suspension of the charter review committee until 2028, citing concerns about public input suppression and questioning recent expansions to wastewater treatment facilities without public notification.
Council Approves Arts Funding Agreement
The council approved a resolution establishing an agreement with the Flagler County Cultural Council for arts grant administration in a 4-1 vote, with Mayor Michael Norris casting the dissenting vote.
The agreement includes provisions preventing city or county employees from serving as voting members on grant review committees to avoid conflicts of interest. After discussion, council members clarified that the restriction should apply to government employees rather than volunteer board members of organizations like the Tourism Development Council.
James Hurst, director of parks and recreation, confirmed the agreement incorporated previous council feedback regarding transparency requirements and sunshine law compliance.
Meeting Highlights: Community Events and Infrastructure Updates
Council members used closing remarks to promote upcoming community events, including the Live Like Cameron 5K fundraiser for local children with cancer scheduled for Sunday at Town Center, and the Intercoastal Waterway cleanup Saturday morning starting at the community center.
Pontiieri requested changes to meeting minute procedures, asking that non-unanimous consensus votes identify dissenting members rather than simply noting “consensus” without specifying individual positions.
The meeting concluded with recognition of the September 11th memorial ceremony and promotion of Food Truck Tuesday featuring the Pink Army charity and a fire truck pulling competition between the fire department and the sheriff’s office.
The council will reconvene for its next business meeting in early October, when the e-bike ordinance will return for its second and final reading before potential enactment.
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