Lock Haven City Council approved Ordinance 2025-09 on second reading, a rewrite of Chapter 380 Article 10 to update the city code's regulation of electric bicycles, scooters and other electrically assisted personal mobility devices.

Council members discussed the ordinance briefly during the second-reading debate, noting strong public interest on social media and emphasizing the code can be revisited and amended later if problems emerge. After a roll-call vote the ordinance was adopted.

Separately, council voted to direct city staff to prepare written responses to a set of questions submitted by Downtown Lock Haven about how that organization might be brought under another entity's umbrella. The staff response will be a narrative answering the partnership's seven questions and may include a request for a joint conversation with Downtown Lock Haven's executive board and other stakeholders. The motion to have staff respond was moved, seconded and approved by council.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 2025-09 (replacement of Chapter 380 Article 10 governing electric and motor-assisted personal mobility devices): Adopted on second reading by roll call. Recorded ayes in the roll call recorded in the meeting transcript included Council member Alexander; Council member Brandy; Council member Baker; Council member Conklin; Council member Mazzuri; Council member Stevenson; and Mayor Long. (Transcript roll call sequence recorded at 00:04:31–00:04:46.)

- Agenda item 6(a) (request that city staff respond to Downtown Lock Haven's proposal/questions): Motion to have city staff prepare the requested responses was moved and seconded and carried by the council (recorded in the transcript beginning at 00:41:05).

Context

The ordinance replaces earlier language that regulated pedicycles and non-motorized devices to add a broader and clearer list of regulated equipment, including e-bikes, e-scooters, electric skateboards, electric unicycles and motorized pedicycles. Council members said the update aims to address repeated complaints and provide enforceable rules while retaining the ability to revise the rules later if needed.

The Downtown Lock Haven item arose from a letter and question list submitted by Downtown Lock Haven's board. Council members debated the merits of bringing the nonprofit under city administration versus maintaining its independent status; concerns included fundraising expectations, potential conflicts of interest and staffing continuity. The staff response directed by council is intended to provide a starting narrative and answers the partnership can edit and use for its board discussions.

What the votes do not do

- The ordinance was adopted at second reading; transcript records did not show any immediate administrative changes beyond adoption (any further amendments would require additional council action).

- The staff'response motion does not itself change Downtown Lock Haven's legal status; it directs staff to prepare information and does not authorize an acquisition or full administrative takeover.

Provenance

- Ordinance 2025-09: topicintro recorded at 00:02:37 ("Unfinished business 5 a, consideration of ordinance number 20 25 dash 0 9") and topfinish at 00:04:46 (roll-call completion). Transcript evidence supports the second-reading discussion and roll-call approval.

- Staff response to Downtown Lock Haven: topicintro recorded at 00:21:16 (start of the Downtown discussion) and topfinish recorded at 00:41:05 (motion and roll-call recorded).