Whenever and wherever the congestion of traffic, the dimensions of the streets and sidewalks and the use of property abutting the streets are such that the director of public works finds it to be necessary for the free flow and the expeditious handling of traffic and the safety of persons and property, the director is authorized:
(1) To designate and maintain crosswalks at intersections by appropriate devices, marks or lines upon the surface of the roadway.
(2) To establish safety zones on any of the streets of the city.
(3) To mark lanes for traffic on the streets of the city.
(4) To place proper signs, signals, or markings prohibiting the making of turns at any intersection of streets in the city.
(5) To place signs, signals or markings within or adjacent to intersections indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning at such intersections.
(6) To install or cause to be displayed signs, signals or markings for the direction of traffic near public or private schools, parks and public buildings.
(7) To determine the location of passenger zones and freight loading zones and to place and maintain appropriate signs or markings indicating the same.
(8) To designate spaces on the streets of the city for exclusive use as bus zones and to mark the same with appropriate signs or marks.
(9) To designate areas on the streets of the city which shall not be used as spaces for the parking of vehicles and to mark such areas with the appropriate signs or markings.
(10) To designate intersections of streets at which drivers operating vehicles approaching the intersection on one or more of the intersecting streets must bring such vehicle to a complete stop before proceeding into such intersection, and to install and maintain appropriate signs and markings directing such drivers to stop at such intersections.
(11) To designate intersections of streets at which drivers operating vehicles approaching the intersection on one or more of the intersecting streets must reduce the speed of such vehicle, and to install appropriate signs and markings directing such drivers to reduce the speed of their vehicles.
(12) To designate streets and portions of streets on which drivers of vehicles are prohibited from driving except in one direction and to designate the direction in which driving is prohibited and that in which driving is permitted, and to install appropriate signs and markings designating such one-way streets.
(13) To designate “truck routes” which shall be followed by single unit trucks with tandem axles or truck tractor and semitrailer combinations, in using the streets of the city; provided that no such vehicle shall be prohibited from using any street for the purpose of going directly to or from any residential, commercial or industrial establishment abutting on such street for the purpose of delivering or picking up materials thereat.
(14) To determine and allocate parking time limits on streets and portions of streets and place appropriate signs, markings, or parking meters giving notice thereof.
(15) To designate intersections, the crossing of which shall be controlled by red, green and amber lights and arrows as elsewhere herein provided, and to determine the type of such lights or traffic-control devices to be installed at each intersection and to cause the same to be installed.
(16) To determine and fix the maximum axle loads of all vehicles to be operated over, on, or upon the streets within the city, taking into consideration the width, condition and type of pavement structures, and other circumstances on such street. Such maximum axle load shall become effective and operative on said streets within the city when appropriate signs, giving notice thereof, are erected. It shall be unlawful for any person to drive, operate or move, or for the owner to cause or permit to be driven, operated or moved, upon any of the streets, any vehicle or combination of vehicles which in any respect exceeds the maximum axle loads designated by said signs. Provided, however, that any person desiring to operate or move a vehicle on said streets in excess of the maximum axle loads established shall first obtain a special permit from the director as set out in section
20.01.005 herein, and such permit shall not be issued unless reasonably necessary. Any person moving or causing to be moved a load as set out in said permit shall be liable to the city for any damage done by any such vehicle to the streets, bridges or culverts in the city and the acceptance of the aforesaid permit shall be conclusive evidence that the person to whom such permit is issued agrees to pay all such damages upon demand thereof made by the city.
(17) To designate areas of the streets of the city to be known as “quiet zones” in the vicinity of any hospital area with appropriate signs directing the drivers of vehicles not to sound the horn or other warning devices while traveling in the areas designated.
(18) To make regulations necessary to make effective the provisions of traffic ordinances and to make and enforce temporary or experimental regulations to cover emergencies or special conditions. No such temporary or experimental regulations shall remain in effect for more than ninety (90) days. He may test traffic-control devices under actual conditions of traffic.
(19) To determine and designate those heavily traveled streets upon which shall be prohibited the use of the roadway by motor-driven cycles, bicycles, horse-drawn vehicles or other nonmotorized traffic and shall erect appropriate signs giving notice thereof.
(20) To designate the location and type of signs to be placed upon railroad property advising persons of the restrictions and prohibitions placed upon the use of such railroad property by the public generally. The expense of such signs and the placing thereof shall be borne by the railroad company owning or controlling the property where such signs are placed.
(21) To make such changes as changing conditions may require in any designation, determination or regulation he is herein authorized to make.
(22) To designate areas along the streets of the city which shall not be used for the parking of vehicles and to provide that vehicles parked in such areas may be removed. Said areas shall be clearly marked so as to sufficiently notify persons that the area is a “tow away zone.”
(23) To designate along the streets of the city, and on any property owned by the city, areas which shall be used only for parking of vehicles operated by handicapped persons in accordance with state law.
(24) To establish “temporary” reduced speed zones, based on engineering and traffic investigations, along portions of roadways within the city that are under construction or repair. Such reduced speed zones will terminate upon completion of the roadway improvements.
(Ordinance 83-03, sec. 3, adopted 1/18/83; Ordinance 03-049, sec. 1, adopted 7/1/03; Ordinance 03-097, sec. 1, adopted 12/9/03; Ordinance 04-022, secs. 1, 2, adopted 4/6/04; 1978 Code, sec. 26-13; Ordinance 07-069, sec. 6, adopted 6/19/07)