AGENDA ITEM REPORT
TITLE:
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AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY’S CODE OF ORDINANCES BY AMENDING CHAPTER 2, “ADMINISTRATION,” ARTICLE V, “BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES,” BY ENACTING A NEW DIVISION 4, ENTITLED “SPEED DETECTION SYSTEMS IN SCHOOL ZONES,” AND BY ENACTING NEW SECTIONS 2-240, “PURPOSE AND INTENT,” 2-241, “DEFINITIONS,” 2-242, “AUTHORIZING USE OF SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT DETECTION SYSTEMS,” 2-243, “DETERMINATION OF SAFETY NEED,” AND 2-244, “IMPLEMENTATION OF SPEED LIMIT DETECTION SYSTEMS IN SCHOOL ZONES,” TO PROVIDE FOR THE USE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHOOL ZONES SPEED LIMIT DETECTION SYSTEMS; PROVIDING FOR A LOCAL HEARING OFFICER TO HEAR APPEALS. (FIRST READING)
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BACKGROUND:
Speeding in school zones is unsafe for students and the public in general. Therefore, the City desires to implement a speed detection system, as permitted under state law for the safety of students and the public.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed ordinance authorizes the City to use speed detection systems to enforce applicable speed limits as a result of House Bill 657 (2023). The change in state law allows for a speed detection system to capture photographs or videos of vehicles for speed violations in excess of ten (10) miles per hour over the speed limit at the time of the violation. The law also requires that cities implementing a speed detection system must enact an ordinance in order to authorize the placement or installation of a speed detection system on a roadway maintained as a school zone.
The City anticipates beginning the use of speed detection systems in a limited number of school zones initially, with such schools to be determined after a traffic study is completed and presented to the City Commission. It is anticipated that we will need to hire an additional Police Service Aid in addition to increasing the budget for the Special Magistrate, who will be hearing the appeals of all contested violations. All of these details are still being worked out and will be completed in the future. This ordinance merely codifies the process that we will be able to follow when we are ready to implement the speed limit detection systems in school zones.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
REVENUES: N/A
EXPENDITURES: N/A
BUDGETED? Yes
NOTES: Revenues and expenditures are unknown and to be determined.