CC - Item 5B - Ordinance No. 948 - Authorizing the City Engineer to Regulate Turn MovementsROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JEFF ALLRED, CITY MANAGER
DATE: FEBRUARY 10, 2015
SUBJECT: ORDINANCE NO. 948 — AUTHORIZING THE CITY ENGINEER TO
REGULATE TURN MOVEMENTS
SUMMARY
In November 2014, the Traffic Commission reviewed concerns and inquiries regarding
dangerous turn movements and the City's ability to regulate these turn movements for
the purpose of traffic safety. Most specifically, the community voiced concerns
regarding U -Turns being made midblock, as opposed to at an intersection, and the
safety hazards these turn movements create. California Vehicle Code, section 22103,
allows for U -Turn movements to be made midblock, provided there are no oncoming
vehicles within 200 feet. Although these movements are permissible in certain cases,
the City does have the ability to regulate turn movements, for safety purposes, by way
of ordinance. The Traffic Commission, based on discussion at the November 2014
meeting, recommended the introduction of an ordinance that would allow the City
Engineer to regulate certain turn movements along specific segments of streets or at
particular intersections.
This ordinance was first presented to the City Council on January 10, 2015 and at that
time the Council expressed concern regarding the procedure and implementation of
the ordinance, especially as related to public vetting and notification. Staff has
revisited this ordinance and addressed the concerns of the Council by including Traffic
Commission review and publishing the regulations prior to implementation.
Staff Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council introduce Ordinance No. 948, adding section
10.04.060 to the Rosemead Municipal Code, authorizing the City Engineer to regulate
turn movements within the City.
BACKGROUND
Traffic regulations within the City of Rosemead are included in the Municipal Code,
under Chapter 10, Vehicles and Traffic. Specifically, Section 10.04 adopts Title 15,
Vehicles and Traffic, of the Los Angeles County Code as an ordinance of the City of
ITEM NO.
City Council Meeting
February 10, 2015
Page 2 of 3
Rosemead, which regulates traffic law within the City. Certain provisions continue to
be added to this chapter to regulate certain traffic and parking issues that are specific
to the City of Rosemead.
In November 2014, the Traffic Commission reviewed and discussed concerns from the
community related to dangerous turn movements. Specifically, there was concern
regarding the City's ability to prevent vehicles from making U -Turns in the middle of
blocks, rather than at an intersection, and the dangerous conditions these turn
movements create. Although provisions of the California Vehicle Code permit these
turn movements to be made, the California Vehicle Code also permits local agencies
(cities) to regulate or prohibit certain turn movements at particular intersections or
along specific street segments within the City limits. Adoption of the attached
ordinance would authorize the City Engineer to restrict or prohibit certain turn
movements as necessary to protect the safety of the public.
As matter of procedure, the City Engineer will review areas where there is concern
regarding unsafe traffic conditions. These reviews would be initiated through requests
from the community, recommendations of the Traffic Commission, or staff
observations. A thorough review would be conducted to investigate the conditions in
the given area and determine what measures are necessary to improve traffic safety,
including the regulation of turn movements. Once the City Engineer has made findings
related to the regulation of turn movements at a specific intersection or along a
segment of street, these findings will be presented to the Traffic Commission for
review and concurrence. This presentation to the Traffic Commission would allow for
public review and comment prior to implementation. Upon the concurrence of the
Traffic Commission, the City will notice the turn regulations once in a newspaper of
general circulation. Fifteen days after the publication of the notice, the City Engineer
will direct the installation of the proper signage at these intersections, or along these
street segments, to clearly convey the turn movement that is being restricted and any
other parameters. All signage will be posted in conformance with the Manual for
Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which provides standards for the
installation of traffic signs. Upon installation of the signage, any violations of the turn
restrictions would be enforceable by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The concerns regarding turn movements originated from complaints of these issues
adjacent to schools in the City. Frequently, vehicles have been observed making
unsafe U -Turns in high traffic school areas, creating unsafe conditions. Upon the
adoption of this ordinance, the City Engineer and staff would review the conditions
around all local elementary schools, and restrict turn movements as appropriate.
Future applications of this ordinance would be reviewed based on community requests
and staff observations.
City Council Meeting
February 10, 2015
Page 3 of 3
Prepared by:
Submitted by:
Matt Rawke worth
Assistant City Manager /Acting Director of Public Works
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No. 948
ORDINANCE NO. 948
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD
AUTHORIZING THE CITY ENGINEER TO REGULATE OR PROHIBIT ANY TURN
MOVEMENT BY ANY VEHICLE AT ANY SPECIFIC INTERSECTION OR ALONG
ANY SPECIFIC STREET SEGMENT WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS
WHEREAS, the City desires to regulate turn movements, including right turns,
left turns, and U- Turns, in order to promote the safe flow of traffic at specific
intersections and street segments within the City limits; and,
WHEREAS, the California Vehicle Code, section 22113, local authorities may
prohibit or regulate turn movements at specific intersections and street segments
within the City limits; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Rosemead Traffic Commission recommended that an
ordinance by adopted to allow the City Engineer to regulate turn movements throughout
the City as necessary to promote a safe flow of traffic within the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROSEMEAD DOES
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1 . The City Council of the City of Rosemead hereby adds new Section
10.04.060 to the City of Rosemead Municipal Code to read as follows:
Section 10.040.060 — AUTHORITY OF THE CITY ENGINEER TO REGULATE TURN
MOVEMENTS
A. It is hereby determined and declared that the City Engineer is authorized to prohibit
or regulate any turn movement by any vehicle at any intersection or along specific
street segments.
B. The City Engineer shall have the power and duty to place, maintain and /or remove
official traffic - control devices where, when, and as required under this ordinance with
the approval of the City Manager.
C . Restricted Turns: The City Engineer shall determine those intersections or street
segments at which drivers shall not make a right turn, left turn, or U -turn and shall
cause to be placed proper signs at these intersections or street segments. The
making of such turns may be prohibited at all times or during certain hours or days
and permitted at other hours, provided this information is clearly posted on proper
signage.
D. The City Engineer shall determine those intersections or segments between
intersections at which drivers shall not make a right turn, left turn, or U -turn and shall
present the findings to the Traffic Commission for concurrence; Pursuant to Traffic
Commission concurrence, the findings shall be published once in a newspaper of
general circulation, published in the City of Rosemead. Fifteen days after such
publication, the City Engineer shall cause to be placed proper signs at these
intersections. The making of such turns may be prohibited between certain hours or
certain days and permitted at other hours, with this information clearly posted.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS DAY OF 2015.
William Alarcon
Mayor
ATTEST:
Gloria Molleda
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Rachel H. Richman
City Attorney