HomeMy Public PortalAbout602 Ordinance Amending Chapter 4 of the Medina City Code Regarding Seasonal Weight Limits and Regulations of Truck TrafficCITY OF MEDINA
ORDINANCE NO.602
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 4 OF THE MEDINA CITY CODE
REGARDING SEASONAL WEIGHT LIMITS AND REGULATION OF TRUCK
TRAFFIC
The city council of the city of Medina ordains as follows:
SECTION I: Medina city code chapter 4 is amended by adding the double underlined
material and deleting the stricken material as follows:
CHAPTER 4
ROADS
415. SEASONAL WEIGHT LIMITS; REGULATION OF TRUCK TRAFFIC.
Section 415.01. Seasonal Weight Limits; Posting. The Public Works SuperintendentDirector
may prohibit the operation of vehicles upon any street under the jurisdiction of the city or impose
restrictions as to the weight of vehicles to be operated upon any city street when, by reason of
deterioration, rain, snow, or climatic conditions, such city street may be damaged or destroyed
unless the use of vehicles thereon is prohibited or the permissible weight thereof reduced. The
Public Works SupepintendentDirector shall cause to be posted on any such city street appropriate
signs designating such restriction.
Section 415.03. Administrative Regulation of Trucks. The Public Works
SuperintendentDirector shall monitor the condition of all streets under the jurisdiction of the city
and the use thereof by vehicles over 9,000 pounds gross weight, which vehicles are defined as
trucks for purposes of this section. Whenever the SuperintendentDirector determines that the
excessive use of any city street by trucks has or is likely to endanger public health or safety or
that such use has or may damage or destroy the street due to any condition, including but not
limited to existing street conditions, street deterioration, rain, snow, climatic conditions, soil or
subsurface conditions, or sight lines, the SupelintendentDirector may regulate, restrict, or
prohibit truck traffic on the street. The SuperinDirector may set conditions or limitations
on the use of the street to protect public health and safety or to prevent damage to the street,
including requiring that a letter of credit or other financial guarantee be posted to compensate the
city for damage to the street, establishing haul routes and restricting hours of operation or setting
weight limits. Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Public Works Director
regarding regulation of truck traffic under this section may appeal that decision to the city
council. The city council may continue, modify or terminate the regulations as it deems
appropriate in order to protect public health and safety and to prevent or minimize damage to city
streets.
Ordinance No. 602 1
August 3, 2016
Section 415.05. Minnesota Statutes, Chapters 168, 169 and 171 Adopted by Reference.
Except as otherwise provided in this ordinance, the regulatory and procedural provisions of
Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 168, Chapter 169 (commonly referred to as the Traffic Regulation
Act) and Chapter 171, as amended through Laws of 2006, are hereby incorporated herein and
adopted by reference, including the penalty provisions thereof.
Section 415.07. Truck Traffic. The city council finds that certain streets within the city receive
excessive wear and damage as a result of heavy truck traffic. The council also finds there is an
increased danger to children and other citizens as a result of heavy truck traffic over certain city
streets and that truck traffic can reasonably be prohibited on certain streets to eliminate a
majority of the safety and property damage concerns.
Section 415.09. Designation of Truck Routes.
a) The city council is hereby authorized to prohibit truck traffic on certain routes within
the city. Such designation shall be by city council resolution. The city council shall also cause
the truck route designation resolution to be published and shall clearly mark the prohibited
streets with appropriate signs.
b) In designating which streets may not be used by trucks prior to adoption of the
designation resolution or when amending the same from time to time, the city council shall
consider the following factors:
(1) the design capacity of the street;
(2) the designation of the street in the transportation plan element of the city 's
comprehensive plan;
(3)
the land uses of the properties abutting the street, including the number of
residential uses;
the number of persons likely to be affected;
the effect on traffic on other streets within the community;
the nature and degree of the threat to public health and safety;
the availability of alternative methods of addressing the problem; and
any other factors which the city council deems important.
If the city council determines to prohibit or restrict trucks, it may do so for a specific period of
time or until specified conditions occur or are abated. The Public Works SupefintendelatDirector
shall cause signs to be placed on any street so restricted so that the regulation may reasonably be
determined by reading such sign.
Ordinance No. 602 2
August 3, 2016
Section 415.11Trucks Subject to Designated Route. All trucks that are licensed for a gross
vehicle weight in excess of thirty five thousand pounds (35,000 lbs.pounds) shall be subject to
this ordinance.
Section 415.13 Exceptions. Sections 415.07 through 415.11 shall not apply to the following:
school buses;
emergency vehicles;
garbage or recycling vehicles operating under license or contract with the city while
on their collection routes;
(d) municipal or utility vehicles while engaged in constructing, maintaining or repairing
streets or utilities; and
(e) agricultural equipment servicing property on that street.
Section 415.15 Permit to Exceed Weight Limit.
Subd. 1. Application. The city administrator may, upon application, issue a permit for
use of the streets within the city by vehicles having a licensed gross weight in excess of 35,000
pounds if travel on a non -truck route is reasonably required in order to accomplish a local pick
up or delivery to a property located on a street from which trucks are otherwise prohibited. The
permit shall be issued only after approval by the city administrator of the route to be traveled.
The permit shall be issued upon the conditions that the applicant assumes all responsibility for
damages caused to any street by such excess load and agrees to reimburse the city for all
reasonable and necessary expenditures to repair and replace the street to its former condition.
The permit shall be valid only over such non -truck street or segment thereof as is reasonably
necessary to travel to and from a designated truck route and the point of pick up or delivery.
Subd. 2. Fee. The fee for the issuance of the permit shall be as specified in the city's fee
ordinance.
Section 415.19 Violations and Liabilities for Damages.
a) Any person violating this ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor for each such
violation. In addition to the driver or operator, the owner of any truck being operated
with his permission and consent shall be liable for any violation of this ordinance.
b) Any person who violates a posted load or vehicle restriction shall be liable to the city
for the full amount of the damages caused by such violation.
SECTION II. The ordinance shall be effective upon its adoption and publication.
Ordinance No. 602 3
August 3, 2016
Adopted by the city council of the city of Medina this 3`d day of August, 2016.
Bob Mitchell, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Jodi . Gallup, City Clerk
Published in the Crow River News the 11 th day of August, 2016.
Ordinance No. 602 4
August 3, 2016