There is established in the police department of the city a
traffic division to be under the control of an officer of police appointed
by and directly responsible to the chief of police.
(Prior code § 3410 § 2)
It shall be the duty of the traffic division, with such aid
as may be rendered by other members of the police department, to enforce
the street traffic regulations of this city and all of the state vehicle
laws applicable to street traffic in this city; to make arrests for
traffic violations; to investigate traffic accidents and to cooperate
with the city traffic engineer and other officers of the city in the
administration of the traffic laws and in developing ways and means
to improve traffic conditions; and to carry out those duties specially
imposed upon the division by this title and the traffic ordinance
of this city.
(Prior code § 3410 § 2.1)
Whenever the accidents at any particular location become numerous,
the traffic division shall cooperate with the city traffic engineer
in conducting studies of such accidents and determining remedial measures.
(Prior code § 3410 § 2.2)
The traffic division shall maintain a suitable system of filing
traffic accident reports. Accident reports, or cards referring to
them, shall be filed alphabetically by location. Such reports shall
be available for the use and information of the city traffic engineer.
(Prior code § 3410 § 2.3)
The traffic division shall annually prepare a traffic report
which shall be filed with the city council. Such a report shall contain
information on traffic matters in this city, as follows:
A. The
number of traffic accidents, the number of persons killed, the number
of persons injured, and other pertinent traffic accident data;
B. The
number of traffic accidents investigated and other pertinent data
on the safety activities of the police;
C. The
plans and recommendations of the division for future traffic safety
activities.
(Prior code § 3410 § 2.4)
The office of the city traffic engineer is established. The
city manager, or designated representative, shall exercise the powers
and duties as provided in this title and in the traffic ordinances
of this city. Whenever the city traffic engineer is required or authorized
to place or maintain official traffic-control devices or signals,
he may cause such devices or signals to be placed or maintained.
(Prior code § 3410 § 2.5; Ord. 2362 § 2, 2003)
It shall be the general duty of the city traffic engineer to
determine the installation and proper timing and maintenance of traffic-control
devices and signals; to conduct engineering analyses of traffic accidents
and to devise remedial measures; to conduct engineering and traffic
investigations of traffic conditions 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 or her, the power may be exercised or the duty performed
by his or her deputy or by a person authorized in writing by him or
her.
(Prior code § 3410 § 2.6)
A. Created.
A traffic commission for the city is created, consisting of five members.
The Automobile Club of Southern California and the school districts
shall be invited to designate representatives, to meet with the commission
in an advisory capacity, to provide liaison and technical coordination
in areas of mutual responsibility.
B. Term
of Office. All members of the traffic commission shall be appointed
by the city council to serve a term of two years, expiring on the
date of the first meeting of the city council following each regular
municipal election. A member shall continue in office until the appointment
of his or her successor. All members shall be residents of the city.
C. Resignation.
Absence from three consecutive meetings without consent of the commission
shall be deemed to constitute the resignation of such member and the
position shall be declared vacant.
D. Organization.
The commission shall elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from
among its members following the initial appointment of the commission
members by the mayor and city council members, which normally occurs
in January after the municipal election within the city. In the month
of January of each year, or at the first meeting thereafter at which
the commission convenes, the first order of business on the agenda
shall be for the commission to elect a new chair member and vice-chair
member. The office of chair member and vice-chair member shall be
held for one year, with a maximum of two consecutive terms, with the
proviso that a new chair member and/or vice-chair member is willing
to serve in that capacity. In the event of the chair member's resignation
or removal, the commission is to elect another chair member for the
unexpired term. Either officer can be removed by a majority vote of
the entire commission.
E. Vacancy
Filling. Vacancies in the commission occurring other than by expiration
of term shall be filled for the unexpired term of the commissioner.
F. Compensation.
Traffic commissioners shall receive a maximum compensation of one
hundred dollars in any one calendar month, or fifty dollars per meeting,
whichever is less.
G. Powers
and Duties. The traffic commission shall review and study all traffic
matters within the city and make recommendations to the city council.
(Prior code § 3410 § 2.7; Ord. 1852 § 1, 1978; Ord. 2119 § 3, 1989; Ord. 2389 § 6, 2005; Ord. 2597 § 4, 2023)
The city manager shall designate appropriate employees of the
city to serve as staff to the traffic commission, and such staff members
shall advise and prepare recommendations to the traffic commission
on matters of traffic safety. On matters requiring city council action,
the staff report and recommendation, in addition to traffic commission
recommendations, shall be submitted to the city council.
(Prior code § 3410 § 2.8)