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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1372 - ORDINANCES - 2/20/1991 ORDINANCE NO. 1372 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, ADDING SECTION 12.80 TO THE PALM SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CODE REGULATING ASSEMBLAGE AND PROCESSION OF MOTOR VEHICLES ON PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY WHEREAS, each year for more than twenty years, during the periods in which colleges and high schools are closed immediately preceding and following the Easter holiday, large numbers of people, primarily college or high school students and persons in the age groups typical of college and high school students, come to Palm Springs to participate in activities generally referred to as Easter Week; and WHEREAS, during the Easter Week period, large crowds and assemblages of people and vehicles gather in specific areas of the city, primarily the central business district, especially during the late afternoon and evening hours; and WHEREAS, such high concentration of people and vehicles assembled in specific areas of the city causes traffic congestion and at times complete stoppage of traffic; and WHEREAS, such traffic congestion increases the risk of traffic accidents and injuries to persons and property; and WHEREAS, in order to protect against this threat to the peace, health, safety and welfare of the public, the City Council finds that it is necessary to regulate or prohibit the assemblage or procession of vehicles on a highway, street, or public way, or any portion thereof for the period of time that such threat exists. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Palm Springs does ordain as follows : Section 1. Chapter 12.80 is hereby added to the Palm Springs Municipal Code to read as follows : CHAPTER 12.80 TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURE NECESSITATED BY ASSEMBLAGE OR PROCESSION OF MOTOR VEHICLES 12.80.010 Street Closure--Determination. The Director of Community Development for the City of Palm Springs may close a portion of any highway, street or public way for celebrations, parades, local special events, and other purposes when, in the opinion of such director, the closing is necessary for the safety and protection of persons who are to use that portion of the highway, street or public way during the closing. In addition the Police Department may close any highway, street, public way or any portion thereof affected by traffic: congestion upon a determination by the ranking peace officer on duty within the area of the following: (a) That such assemblage or procession of vehicles threatens injury to person gathered in the area for the purpose of celebrating a holiday or other special event; or (b) That the traffic load on a particular highway, street, public way or a portion thereof, is such that little or no vehicular flow is occurring and a significant number of vehicles are not promptly moving when an opportunity arises to do so. I&F Ord 1372 Page 2 FCI-)- Any highway, street, or public way, or any portion thereof closed pursuant to this section shall remain closed only for the time and distance that a threat to the public peace, health, safety or welfare exists. 12.80.020 Street Closure--Designation. Where a closure is directed pursuant to Section 12.80.010, the Police Department shall cause signs, stanchions, barriers, vehicles, or other device to be placed at a location or locations which will give notice to the public indicating that such highway, street or public way or portion thereof is closed to vehicular traffic. Any traffic control devices or markings installed upon traffic barriers shall conform to the uniform standards and specifications adopted by the Department of Transportation pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 21400. 12.80.030 Operating Vehicle of Closed Street--Prohibited. No person shall operate a vehicle upon a highway, street, or public way, or any portion thereof closed pursuant to Section 12.80.010. 12.80.040 Exemption. Unless directed otherwise by the City Council , the Police Department may cause the highway, street, public way or portion thereof closed pursuant to Section 12.80.010 to remain available for use by public transportation vehicles, and/or public safety or emergency vehicles. 12.80.050 Penalty. It shall be an infraction for any person to violate any of the provisions of this Chapter and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as provided in Section 1.01.155 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code. Section 2 . PUBLICATION: The City Clerk is hereby ordered and directed to certify to the passage of this Ordinance, and to cause the same or a summary thereof or a display advertisement, duly prepared according to law, to be published in accordance with law. ADOPTED this 20th day of February 1991. AYES: Councilmembers Broich, Hodges, Murawski , Neel , and Mayor Bono NOES: None ABSENT: None ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS —7; City Cl r Mayor REVIEWED & APPROVED: 8/348/01408-0001/014 I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT the foregoing Ordinance 1372 was duly adopted by the City Council , of the City of Palm Springs, California, in a meeting held on the 20th day of February, 1991, and that same was duly published in the DESERT SUN, a newspaper of general circulation, printed and published on February 13 & 27, 1991. JUDITH SUMICH City Clerk