North Liberty exploring whether to allow UTVs on city streets

NORTH LIBERTY — North Liberty is in the early stages of discussing whether to allow utility task vehicles — or UTVs — to operate on city streets.

The North Liberty City Council at its meeting this week didn’t take a formal vote but did give city staff the green light to begin drafting an ordinance and offer a recommendation to the council.

City Administrator Ryan Heiar said staff wanted to gauge the council’s interest before offering recommendations on areas and times of operations, along with other details.

A state law passed last year allows registered all-terrain vehicles and UTVs to be operated in all 99 counties as along as the rider follows the various rules outlined in the law. The legislation allows cities to regulate operation of these vehicles within their city limits. Last year, Marion voted to allow UTVs on city streets.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the North Liberty council heard from Scott Minzenmeyer and Jeremy Stolba, who serve on Iowa’s off-highway vehicles advisory board and were involved in writing the state legislation.

“We are just coming forth because so many members of the (4-County RVA) club and the state advisory gets asked quite often about North Liberty,” Stolba said. “Tonight's just to start conversation.”

Mayor Chris Hoffman, who doesn’t get a vote, said he is inclined to limit the city’s ordinance to UTV use. Hoffman and the council members present said the information presented was helpful in starting the discussion.

“This is an important thing for those folks that just want to use them,” Hoffman said. “They just want to get from point A to point B.”

Council member RaQuishia Harrington said the city might start seeing more residents interested, given the interest outside of town. Stolba, who lives south of Shueyville, said he saw 62 such vehicles go by his house last weekend.

Stolba added that riders in the area are looking for a way to drive through North Liberty.

“We're looking for more of a safe alternative to get through town because currently right now anybody on the Solon side has to go all the way up through Shueyville, come down (Highway) 965,” Stolba said.

Stolba pointed out the legislation is fairly new but is going “far better than expected.” Minzenmeyer added how important it is to educate people so they have accurate information about what these vehicles are and who is using them.

An ATV holds one or two people and is straddled like a motorcycle. An UTV has four wheels and side-by-side seating with a steering wheel.

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Among the rules in the legislation are that riders can’t go above 35 mph, must be at least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license and insurance and must have an operational headlight, taillight, brake light and rearview mirror.

Minzenmeyer said the main age of off-road vehicle riders is 30 to 49 years old, based on data collected in 2020 by the state advisory board from 4,600 respondents. Another 20 percent of riders are 50 years old and older, he said, based on the survey.

“When you look at the demographics, it's not all young kids,” Minzenmeyer said. “It's family oriented.”

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