(Atlantic) The Atlantic City Council approved the third and final reading of Ordinance 1047 on Wednesday evening, amending regulations related to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and snowmobiles.
Iowa State Law HF 2130, developed in response to a 2020 survey of ATV and UTV riders, aimed to address rider preferences for greater access to county and state roadways and uniform regulations across all 99 counties. While cities retained the authority to establish their own rules, they were prohibited from charging permitting fees.
On August 7, 2024, the Community Protection Committee met to evaluate options for regulating ATV and UTV use on Atlantic City streets. Following the discussion, recommendations were made, and a draft ordinance was prepared. Last month, the committee reviewed the draft and recommended its submission to the full Council for adoption.
The following changes have been made:
- This ordinance has a one-year sunset. Once it is in place, the Committee wants to review its progress. If all is well, the next one will not have a sunset.
- The Committee wanted 18 years to be the cutoff date, which is what Ankeny has.
- The Committee wanted to ensure that Ankeny had a working horn, operating headlamps, and tail lamps in the front and back, which it has. However, because Ankeny required turn signals, the Committee scrapped that requirement.
- Added a subsection against towing, per the Committee’s request. 2
- I exempted Park employees from being forbidden from operating ATV/UTVs on City property. Seemed logical.
- 75.07 “Operation of Snowmobiles” was an insert from our existing snowmobile ordinance. Sections were the Ankney Ordinance, and our Ordinance repeated regulations; I deleted either one section or the other so officers could cite a clear code when addressing violations.
- Chief Houge requested that Section 75.05(1) “Places of Operation.” That ATVs only be allowed for snow removal during the snow season.
