Golf Cart Manual Up for Approval at Nov. 1 AMSCD Meeting
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Published on Thursday, 27 October 2016 18:22
An effortto implement rules and regulations for golf cart usage in Ave Maria -- years in the making -- will reach a final milestone Nov. 1 when a golf cart manual comes before the Ave Maria Stewardship Community District board for approval.
Golf cart regulations were initially developed more than six years ago but enforcement of those rules was stalled because of jurisdictional matters. Main roads in Ave Maria are open to the public, but are owned by the district, which itself has no enforcement authority. Eventually, a special ordinance by the Collier County Commission was required to give the authority to the AMSCD to develop the rules, and for the Collier County Sheriff's Office to enforce them. A provision of that ordinance, passed in May, 2016, was that a manual be published and made available spelling out where golf carts can be driven and the requirements for operating one.
The manual lays out regulations specific to golf carts and also has a review of relevant traffic laws that must be followed.
The regulations set the minimum age or operating a golf cart at 15 and require that drivers have a valid driver's license or learner's permit. The rules also stipulate that the number of occupants of a cart is limited to the number of seats, and no one may stand up while the cart is in motion.
An Ave Maria teenager was injured recently when she was standing on the back of a golf cart and fell off, Sheriff's deputy Sgt. Steven Dodson told the Ave Herald.
Sheriff's deputies have been enforcing the rules and traffic laws since May and Sgt. Dodson said that overall their efforts have reduced the amount of unsafe operation of carts. "The problem has gotten a lot better," he said. "Most people are complying."
Although he said that deputies are trying primarily to educate drivers, he warned that traffic violations can be costly. "They can be fined $163 for running a stop sign," he said as an example.
Prior to the district board meeting Tuesday there will be a "landowners' meeting" to elect three members to the five-member AMSCD board whose terms expire in November. Any landowner in Ave Maria can vote in the election on the basis of one vote per acre, or part-acre parcel, owned. Since developers still own most of the land in Ave Maria, they will, in effect, choose the board members.
The three members whose terms are expiring are Chairman Tom Peek, Vice-Chairman Liesa Priddy and Doug Baird.
Whoever assumes Mr. Baird's seat will be on the board temporarily as his seat has been designated as the one that will transition to a seat that is directly elected by all residents of Ave Maria once a process that began earlier in the year finishes sometime early in 2017.
Below are the agendas for the meetings, which begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the community room of the offices of the Ave Maria Master Association. Meetings are open to the public, although only a property owner may vote in the landowners' meeting.
The golf cart manual can be seen in PDF format here.
The meeting book containing all items relating to the agenda can be seen at the district's website here.
AGENDA – Landowners' Meeting
AVE MARIA STEWARDSHIP COMMUNITY DISTRICT
Ave Maria Master Association (office/fitness center)
5076 Annunciation Circle, Suite 103
Ave Maria, Florida 34142
LANDOWNERS' MEETING
November 1, 2016
9:00 a.m.
A. Call to Order
B. Pledge of Allegiance
C. Proof of Publication
D. Establish Quorum
E. Consider Adoption of Election Procedures
F. Election of Chair for Landowners Meeting
G. Election of Secretary for Landowners Meeting
H. Approval of Minutes
1. November 4, 2014 Landowners' Meeting Minutes
I. Election of Supervisors
1. Determine Number of Voting Units Represented or Assigned by Proxy
2. Nomination of Candidates
3. Casting of Ballots
4. Ballot Tabulations
5. Certification of the Results
J. Landowners' Comments
K. Adjourn
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AGENDA
AVE MARIA STEWARDSHIP COMMUNITY DISTRICT
Ave Maria Master Association (office/fitness center)
5076 Annunciation Circle, Suite 103
Ave Maria, Florida 34142
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
November 1, 2016
9:00 a.m.
A. Call to Order
B. Pledge of Allegiance
C. Proof of Publication
D. Seat New Board Members
E. Administer Oath of Office & Review Board Member Responsibilities and Duties
F. Establish Quorum
G. Election of Officers
- Chairman
- Vice Chairman
- Secretary/Treasurer
- Assistant Secretaries
H. Additions or Deletions to Agenda
I. Comments from the Public for Items Not on the Agenda
J. Approval of Minutes
1. October 20, 2016 Continued Regular Board Meeting Minutes
K. Old Business
L. New Business
1. Consider Resolution No. 2016-16 – Adopting a Fiscal Year 2015/2016 Amended Budget
- Audience Comments
2. Consider Resolution No. 2016-17 – Adopting a Fiscal Year 2015/2016 Amended Budget
for Master Irrigation Utility System
- Audience Comments
3. Consider Resolution No. 2016-18 – Adopting a Golf Cart Drivers Handbook
- Audience Comments
M. Administrative Matters
1. Legal Report
2. Engineer Report
3. Manager's Report
N. Board Members Comments
O. Adjourn
