Chapter 10.16
CONTROL DEVICES
Sections:
10.16.010 Authority to install traffic-control devices.
10.16.015 Traffic-control devices – Citizen request appeal procedure.
10.16.020 Traffic-control signs required for enforcement purposes.
10.16.030 Obedience to traffic-control devices.
10.16.040 Installation of traffic signals.
10.16.060 Distinctive roadway markings.
10.16.070 Authority to remove, relocate and discontinue traffic-control devices.
10.16.080 Traffic-control devices – Hours of operation.
10.16.090 Unauthorized painting of curbs.
10.16.010 AUTHORITY TO INSTALL TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES.
(a) The city traffic engineer is hereby authorized to install, maintain, and remove any traffic-control device necessary to regulate, guide or warn traffic, and make effective the provisions of this title (Chapters 10.04 through 10.80) or the California Vehicle Code. These installations or removals shall be based on sound traffic engineering principles and practices. Traffic-control devices shall be installed or removed in accordance with standards, limitations, and rules as set forth in this title (Chapters 10.04 through 10.80), or by city council ordinance or resolution, or any applicable provision set forth in the California Vehicle Code.
(b) When the city traffic engineer has approved or denied a citizen request for traffic-control devices the traffic engineer shall adhere to the appeal procedure as defined in Section 10.16.015 before proceeding with the installation or removal of such traffic-control device.
(Ord. 96-20 § 1, 1996: Ord. NS 725, 1968: prior code § 3219).
10.16.015 TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES – CITIZEN REQUEST APPEAL PROCEDURE.
Any person who has requested the installation or removal of a traffic-control device may appeal the traffic engineer’s decision to approve or deny the citizen request in accordance with the following procedure:
(a) All citizen requests for the installation or removal of traffic-control devices shall be directed to the city traffic engineer in writing. After reviewing the request, the city traffic engineer shall approve or deny the request.
(b) If the traffic engineer, in response to a citizen request, approves the installation or removal of a traffic-control device, the traffic engineer shall notice all affected occupants, business and property owners within 300 feet of the traffic-control device. This notice shall be sent fourteen days prior to the initiation of a work order for the installation or removal of such traffic-control devices. In addition the traffic engineer shall cause a copy of the notice to be posted at the site where the traffic-control device is to be installed or removed. The person who initiated the citizen request, and all affected occupants, business and property owners within 300 feet of the traffic-control device, may appeal the traffic engineer’s decision to approve the installation or removal of a traffic-control device during this fourteen-day review period.
(c) If the traffic engineer, in response to a citizen request, denies such request for the installation or removal of a traffic-control device, the person who requested such installation or removal shall have fourteen days from the date of the traffic engineer’s written notification of denial to appeal the traffic engineer’s decision.
(d) The appeal must be in writing and submitted to the city public works department. The written letter of appeal must state that it is made from a decision or action taken by the traffic engineer to install or remove traffic-control devices. The appeal must be signed by the appellant or appellant’s representative, and set forth the mailing address to which the traffic engineer may direct notice of public hearing on the appeal. If the final day for filing an appeal occurs on a weekend day or holiday, the final filing date shall be extended to the next following work day.
(e) If no appeals are received during the fourteen-day review period, the traffic engineer may initiate a work order to install or remove the traffic-control device.
(f) All appeals will go to the city transportation commission for a public hearing. The traffic engineer will notice the appellant, occupants, businesses, and property owners within 300 feet of the traffic-control device at least seven days prior to the public hearing scheduled for the city transportation commission’s agenda. In addition the traffic engineer shall cause a copy of the notice to be posted at the site where the traffic-control device is to be installed or removed.
(g) Upon completion of the public hearing, the city transportation commission shall either uphold or deny the appeal.
(h) The city transportation commission’s decision may be appealed to the city council in accordance with Chapter 1.16 of this code.
(Ord. 96-20 § 2, 1996).
10.16.020 TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNS REQUIRED FOR ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES.
No provision of the Vehicle Code or of Chapters 10.08 through 10.60 for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator unless appropriate legible signs are in place giving notice of such provisions of the traffic laws.
(Ord. NS 725, 1968: prior code § 3220).
10.16.030 OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES.
The operator of any vehicle or tram shall obey the instructions of any official traffic-control device placed in accordance with Chapters 10.08 through 10.60 unless otherwise directed by a police officer or other authorized person subject to the exceptions granted the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to emergency calls.
(Ord. NS 725, 1968: prior code § 3221).
10.16.040 INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC SIGNALS.
(a) The city traffic engineer is hereby directed to install and maintain official traffic signals at those intersections and other places where traffic conditions are such as to require that the flow of traffic be alternately interrupted and released in order to prevent or relieve traffic congestion or to protect life or property from exceptional hazard.
(b) The city traffic engineer shall ascertain and determine the locations where such signals are required by field investigation, traffic counts and other traffic information as may be pertinent and his determination therefrom shall be made in accordance with those traffic engineering and safety standards and instructions set forth in the California Maintenance Manual issued by the Division of Highways of the State Department of Public Works.
(c) Whenever the city traffic engineer installs and maintains an official traffic signal at any intersection, he shall likewise erect and maintain at such intersection street name signs clearly visible to traffic approaching from all directions unless such street name signs have previously been placed and are maintained at any said intersection.
(Ord. NS 725, 1968. prior code § 3222).
10.16.050 LANE MARKING.
The city traffic engineer is hereby authorized to mark centerlines and lane lines upon the surface of the roadway to indicate the course to be traveled by vehicles and may place signs temporarily designating lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction, regardless of the centerline of the highway.
(Ord. NS 725, 1968: prior code § 3223).
10.16.060 DISTINCTIVE ROADWAY MARKINGS.
The city traffic engineer is authorized to place and maintain distinctive roadway markings as described in the Vehicle Code on those streets or parts of streets where the volume of traffic or the vertical or other curvature of the roadway renders it hazardous to drive on the left side of such marking or signs and markings. Such marking or signs and markings shall have the same effect as similar markings placed by the State Department of Public Works pursuant to provisions of the Vehicle Code.
(Ord. NS 725, 1968: prior code § 3224).
10.16.070 AUTHORITY TO REMOVE, RELOCATE AND DISCONTINUE TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES.
The city traffic engineer is hereby authorized to remove, relocate and discontinue the operation of any traffic-control device not specifically required by the Vehicle Code or Chapters 10.08 through 10.60 whenever he shall determine in any particular case that the conditions which warranted or required the installation no longer exist or obtain.
(Ord. NS 725, 1968: prior code § 3225).
10.16.080 TRAFFIC-CONTROL DEVICES – HOURS OF OPERATION.
The city traffic engineer shall determine the hours and days during which any traffic-control device shall be in operation or be in effect, except in those cases where such hours or days are specified in Chapters 10.08 through 10.60.
(Ord. NS 725, 1968: prior code § 3226).
10.16.090 UNAUTHORIZED PAINTING OF CURBS.
No person, unless authorized by this city, shall paint any street or curb surface; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to the painting of numbers on a curb surface by any person who has complied with the provisions of any resolution or ordinance of this city pertaining thereto.
(Ord. NS 725, 1968: prior code § 3227).