City officials are moving forward with further development of an ordinance that would regulate the use and registration of certain electric micromobility devices in West University Place.
West U City Council provided directional feedback on a long-awaited draft ordinance Oct. 12 after months of preliminary discussion regarding possible changes to the current City Code of Ordinances.
Imposing limitations on the devices in question was first brought forth as a topic for consideration in December 2025, agenda documents show.
In a nutshell
City Attorney Loren Smith kicked off the Oct. 12 review by stating that the draft ordinance reflected directions already established by City Council in the past year. In evaluating the material, he said that staff identified a few areas of the amendment still requiring council clarification, such as:
The age requirement for wearing helmets
Which electric micromobility devices would be required for registration
Penalties for violations of the city code with the potential for impoundment
The purpose of the meeting was for West U officials to clarify these areas in order for city staff to proceed with the development of an updated proposed ordinance.
In May 2026, City Council attempted to pass an earlier form of the amendment regulating micromobility vehicles before it was effectively tabled in a 3-2 vote, Community Impact previously reported.
The discussion
During the discussion, Gary Ratliff, West University Place Police Department chief, recommended that officials strike content related to impoundment penalties because of operational concerns.
He explained that upon seizing devices of any kind, whether they are returned to their original owner or not, the police department is required to maintain and keep the devices functional until they are no longer in the city’s possession.
Therefore, if the impoundment regulation were to be implemented, policing staff would have to consistently charge, clean and maintain the devices until they are retrieved by their owners. This is in addition to having to store the seized vehicles somewhere on city grounds for extended periods, which the police chief said would pose challenges due to the department’s lack of space.
Ratliff added that e-bike owners would “more than likely” not retrieve their devices from the impound if the impoundment fees attached to certain penalties cost more than simply replacing the e-bike altogether, resulting in even longer property holds at the department.
“We don’t have the sufficient space or location to be able to seize, impound and hold vehicles like that for a year,” Ratliff said. “I just would not recommend doing that because of one, the cost. Two, the responsibility and the liability that comes on the police department [and] the city for us to maintain those vehicles.”
After hearing Ratliff’s remarks, West U officials agreed to strike impoundment penalties and fees from the draft ordinance.
The debate
With regard to determining the age requirements for electric micromobility device registration and usage in the city, council members were divided on what the best course of action would be, first acknowledging the risks associated with operating them.
City Manager Dave Beach clarified that any details established at the meeting could be revisited in the proposal and further refined based on future feedback.
The majority of the council, with the exception of council member Clay Brett, felt strongly that regulations on e-bikes needed to be tightened to ensure the safety of children in the community’s public spaces.
Brett, however, expressed concerns that by enforcing stricter policies across West U’s neighborhoods, elected officials would be infringing on parents’ instruction for their children, as well as the freedoms of responsible e-bike users.
“I share all the same concerns that all of you do… but I believe just as strongly that many of our residents will come tell us that [rules] result in a judgment call for individual families to make,” Brett said. “It’s not the role of government to substitute itself for the judgment of families, even when their view may differ… This is unnecessarily restrictive of many, many law-abiding young citizens of West U.”
Those in favor
Mayor Susan Sample countered Brett’s sentiments by reminding him of the worries shared by West U drivers in the past, with many stating that they are fearful of colliding with e-bike users who dart out unexpectedly into the road.
Sample urged her fellow council members to consider roadway safety as a whole in order to protect all users of West U’s streets.
Ultimately, West U officials determined that the draft ordinance will incorporate the following requirements:
A minimum age of 16 years for electric micromobility device usage
Required helmet use for users up to 18 years old
Mandatory registration with the city to operate electric micromobility devices in West U
City Council notably removed a section related to Neighborhood Electric Vehicles, or NEVs, and golf carts from the draft after council member Kalie Rainsberger suggested that they discuss those entities as a separate item.
Next steps
Now that council feedback has been received on the draft ordinance, West U staff intend to utilize the commentary to shape the updated ordinance for first reading Oct. 26.
Communications Manager Bianca Cuccerre said via email that, if approved, the ordinance would take effect in 120 days. This timeframe will allow the city to execute an educational campaign and community outreach plan regarding the new requirements.
