Item 3 - PH/Motor Asst.Scooters - Laserfiche WebLink

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operated by human propulsion), an electric personal assistive mobility device, a moped, a motor-assisted scooter, a motor vehicle, a motorcycle, a motorized skateboard, any similar vehicle that operates without human propulsion. A motorized transportation device is exempt from this provision if it is used as a mobility aid by a person with mobility impairment, used by a person with express permission from the City, or used by a City employee or agent in the course of City business. Pursuant to City Council direction, the proposed ordinance will: · Ban motorized transportation devices from all City-owned off-street paths; · Prohibit use of motorized transportation devices in a manner that disturbs the peace, and · Require merchants to make certain disclosures related to the sale of motor-assisted scooters. Prohibiting all "motorized transportation devices" on all City-owned off-street paths and trails, instead of limiting the prohibition to only motor-assisted scooters, should facilitate consistent enforcement of motorized vehicle use on City-owned off-street paths and trails and reduce the likelihood that the council will need to revise the code as motorized scooter technology changes. The proposed ordinance requires merchants who sell motor-assisted scooters to post, in a prominent place at each location where motor-assisted scooters are on display, a notice setting forth a list (to be provided by the City) of restrictions on motor-assisted scooter use and requires merchants to provide a copy of such notice to each purchaser of a motor-assisted scooter, either before or in connection with the purchase. To date, in Eugene most merchants have willingly displayed these flyers, often making copies at their own expense. An inexpensive factual message about pertinent laws and regulations should not negatively affect businesses and is an important educational tool for consumers. Attachment B is the flyer developed by the City of Eugene Public Works Department and currently in use. Following the publicity of the September 15 City Council work session, the City of Eugene was contacted by Associated Oregon Industries (AOI) and Oregon Retail Council regarding the proposed requirement of merchants to inform consumers of the regulation of motor-assisted scooters. Initial concern by the AOI that this provision may be unfair was considerably reduced when the process was more fully described. For example, the participation in the voluntary education program that is currently in effect provided a positive example of how this provision of the proposed ordinance could be applied. Representatives of these organizations will be notified of the February 14, 2005, public hearing. There are no specific timing issues associated with this item. With the change in season to wet and cool weather and the return of youth to school, complaints regarding the use of motor-assisted scooters have greatly diminished. During the warm summer months nearly 65 complaints concerning use of the motor-assisted scooters were received by the police and public works department. The brief intercept questionnaire developed to standardize the record of public comments included 95 completed questionnaires, of which 47 percent were strongly opposed to motorized use on the paths; 37 percent believed that there could be mixed use on paths for electric scooters if some additional regulations were developed and 7 percent had no objection to the use of bicycle/pedestrian paths by motor-assisted scooters. Seven questionnaires were completed by people who identified themselves as "scooter users." To date, contacts with the UO Office of Student Life, Judiciary Review and the Department of Public Safety, (UO-DPS) have not resulted in any additional comments from UO students regarding the L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M050214\S0502143.doc