Morro Bay Municipal Code Ch. 10.08 Administration

The Office of City Traffic Engineer is Established. The city traffic engineer shall be the city engineer until the council shall authorize the creation of a separate officer, and he/she shall exercise the powers and duties as provided in Section 10.08.020 and in the traffic regulations of this city. Whenever the city traffic engineer is required or authorized to place or maintain official traffic-control devices or signals, he/she may cause such devices or signals to be placed or maintained.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

It shall be the general duty of the city traffic engineer to determine the installation and proper timing and maintenance of traffic-control devices, signs and signals, to conduct engineering analyses of traffic accidents and to devise remedial measures, to conduct engineering and traffic investigations of traffic conditions, to recommend traffic-control devices for inclusion in the capital improvement program and present plans for consideration by the council, and to cooperate with other city officials in the development of ways and means to improve traffic conditions, and to carry out the additional powers and duties imposed by ordinances of this city. Whenever, by the provisions of this title, a power is granted to the city traffic engineer or a duty imposed upon him/her, the power may be exercised or the duty performed by him/her or by his/her deputy or by a person authorized in writing by him/her.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

The physical maintenance of traffic-control devices and markings shall be handled by the public services department. The installation of devices, signs or markings authorized by city traffic engineer will be either by contract or through the public services department.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

There is established an advisory traffic committee consisting of a minimum of the following city staff members or their representatives: the city traffic engineer, the chief of police and the fire chief.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

It shall be the duty of the city staff traffic advisory committee to consider public suggestions having to do with traffic matters and recommend ways and means of improving traffic conditions and the administration and enforcement of traffic regulations.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

A. All adopted state and city parking ordinances shall be administered and enforced by the police chief, the fire chief, and the city traffic engineer, or such other persons as they shall designate as enforcing officers.

B. It is the duty of the police chief to enforce the street traffic regulations of the city and all of the state vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in the city, to make arrests for traffic violations, to investigate traffic accidents and to collaborate with other city departments and the staff traffic safety committee with the administration of the traffic laws and in developing ways and means to improve traffic conditions.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

A. All of the streets and highways in the city now existing or hereafter created or dedicated are declared streets, and all the city parking lots or public areas (whether improved or unimproved) upon which driving, stopping, standing or parking of vehicles shall be limited and restricted; provided, that such street, lot or public area is properly signposted or marked so as to designate the limitation or restriction placed herein. The council may from time to time limit or restrict the driving, stopping, standing or parking of vehicles upon any public street, city parking lot or public area in the city. Such limitation or restriction shall be effectuated by resolution of the council specifying the streets, lots and public areas and limitations or restrictions on driving, standing, stopping or parking therein, followed by proper signposting of the street, lot or public area.

B. When authorized signs are in place giving notice thereof, no person shall drive, stop, stand or park any vehicle on any street, city parking lot or public area in the city in violation thereof.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)

Notwithstanding the above sections, the city council shall have the power to place and maintain or cause to be placed or maintained official traffic-control devices when and as required under this chapter to make effective the provisions of this chapter and may place and maintain such additional traffic-control devices as it deems necessary to regulate traffic under this chapter or under the state law, or to guide or warn traffic.

(Ord. No. 548, 5-26-09)