09/08/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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those prescribed by the State Speed Control Board. The city has authority to enforce a different set of penalties than those prescribed by the Legislature. Al Williams, traffic engineer, said enforcement was not under his jurisdiction, that it was a ~ "gray area" in the state law. He said it was not clear what would happen if the . State Speed Control Board determined a posted speed should be 35 mph and the local jurisdiction chooses not to post that speed. He speculated that the issue probably would go to court. He was certain citations would not be upheld in court if at- torneys for violators found there were no signs posted for the speeds set by the Board. He added that the Board in the past, he felt, had set speeds about 5 mph too high when there was disagreement with city staff recommendations. However, in the last year or so, the Board seemed to be zoning more conservatively. Traffic Engineer explained the procedure for setting speed zones on a statewide basis by the Speed Control Board, primarily to avoid local speed traps. Also, the way en- forcement was handled by the police department. He thought a middle-of-the-road approach was about the only way to handle posted speeds, since it appeared impossible to satisfy with the same limits those receiving citations and those living on the streets on which speeds were posted. Signs posting limits could be removed, he said, and it would not materially change what was occurring. In reality, he said, signing was only there for enforcement purposes. What the traffic department was really striving for was a reasonable speed based on all factors involved in a given situation. Councilman Keller asked how staff would feel about the legality of posting a speed on staff recommendation higher than that set by the State Board. Traffic Engineer thought that would be a "gray area." If a speed was ordered posted by the Board and was not posted by the local agency, a court decision would probably be required to determine whether a speed zone existed in that particular location. Councilman Hamel thought a 35 mph zone in the Willamette Street area was too fast, ... considering the terrain in that area and the number of people, both adults and ..,. children, crossing the street to mail and paper boxes. The same was true of City View, he said, and increasing the speed would not help the situation. All of . . Tape II CouncIlman Bradley suggested that the CouncIl support the status quo, or follow recommendations for decreasing speeds. He expressed concern about recommendations before the Council that catered to autos and drivers. He thought the issue either should be tabled or action taken not to increase any of the speed zones presented. Traffic Engeiner asked for direction, whether to ignore the State Speed Control Board's recommendations or respond with alternate recommendations. He noted that investigations were made by the traffic department when complaints received were de- termined valid, after which they were forwarded to the Control Board. He also noted the obvious imbalance on a citywide basis. When there were a number of citations in one area, he said, it was mostly because of unreasonable posting. Councilwoman Shirey commented that the message appeared to be that the people of Eugene didn't want to accommodate those higher speeds. Mrs. Shirey moved second by Mr. Hamel to recommend retaining existing posted speeds on the streets in question (see list in committee minutes above 9/3/75). Councilwoman Beal wondered why this issue was coming to the Council when the final authority rested with the State Board. She wondered if the City Manager, as the staff person with the most authority, could present the Council's point of view so ~ that it might have some effect on the Boardls deliberations. Traffic Engineer noted . discussions held with the Council earlier irt the year with regard to the process followed in presenting staff recommendations to the State Board and the list of streets on which speed zone investigations had been made and limits recommended at 9/8/75-14 502-