HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-020 2005 "Open Cruising Events"; YMC Amendment and Addition ORDINANCE NO. 2005- 20
AN ORDINANCE An ordinance relating to traffic; authorizing "Open Cruising
Events" on Yakima Avenue on certain weekends during the year;
amending Section 9.25 010 and adding Section 9.25 020 of the
City of Yakima Municipal Code
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
Section 1 Section 9.25 010 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby
amended to read as follows
9.25.010 Cruising prohibited.
A. No person shall drive or permit a motor vehicle under that person's care,
custody or control to be driven past a traffic control point more than two times in
the same direction of travel within a two -hour period in or around a posted no
cruising area so as to contribute to traffic congestion, obstruction of streets,
sidewalks or parking lots, impediment of access to shops, restaurants or other
buildings open to the public, or interference with the use of property or the
conduct of business in the area adjacent thereto, except as provided in
subsection 9.25.020
B. The police chief or his designee shall determine when an area has
become so congested by traffic as to present a danger of traffic congestion,
obstruction of streets, sidewalks or parking Tots, impediment of access to shops,
restaurants or other buildings open to the public, or interference with the use of
property or conduct of business in the area adjacent thereto or that emergency
vehicles cannot respond in that area within a reasonable period of time The
police chief or his designee shall then direct that the no cruising signs shall be
erected or installed and maintained until the congestion has lessened to an
appreciable degree The chief of police may declare all or a portion of any street
or way open to the public to be a no cruising area when
1 Traffic congestion has slowed average vehicle speed to less than two -
thirds the posted speed limit and the congestion is caused in whole or in
substantial part by cruising, and
2 The congestion significantly interferes with passage of vehicles being
driven to and from locations within the area, or
3 In areas which contain transit routes, buses or trolleys are or would be
substantially delayed, or
4 The congestion is likely to prevent or substantially delay emergency
vehicles from responding to locations within the area, or from passing through
the area.
The designation of a street or way open to the public as a no cruising area
shall remain in effect for a period of four hours, unless withdrawn earlier or
extended for additional four -hour periods by the chief of police
C At every point where a public street becomes or provides ingress to a no
cruising area, there shall be posted a sign which reads as follows "NO
CRUISING AREA." No person shall drive or permit a motor vehicle under that
person's care, custody or control to be driven past a traffic control point more
than two times in the same direction of travel within a two -hour period in or
around this area
D A traffic control point as used in this section means any point or points
established by the police department for the purpose of monitoring cruising within
a designated no cruising area.
E. No violation shall occur except upon the third passage of a motor vehicle
by the same traffic control point in the same direction of travel within the
aforementioned two -hour period
F This section shall not apply to in- service emergency vehicles, police
vehicles, taxi cabs for hire, buses, trolleys and other vehicles being driven for
business purposes
G Penalty A violation of this chapter shall be an infraction subject to a
penalty of one hundred dollars.
Section 2 Section 9.25 020 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby
added as a new section to read as follows
9.25.020 Cruising permitted - "Open Cruising Event ".
A. Cruising shall be permitted by the public during an "Open Cruising Event"
on Yakima Avenue from 7.00 (seven o'clock) p.m. to 11.00 (eleven o'clock) p.m.,
Friday and Saturday evenings. The first weekend of summer, the weekend of
July 9 and the first weekend of August are declared to be "Open Cruising Event"
weekends.
Section 7 This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its
passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 3rd day of May,
2005
ATTEST Paul P George, Mayor
/4.1/44_
City Clerk
Publication Date 5/6/05
Effective Date 6/5/05
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT //�
Item No I (P
For Meeting of May 3, 3005
ITEM TITLE. An ordinance relating to traffic, authorizing "Open Cruising Events" on
Yakima Avenue on certain weekends during the year; creating a process by
which an organization can arrange other "Open Cruising Events ",
establishing standards for approval or denial of such events, providing for
an appeal process in the event an event is denied.
SUBMITTED BY Cynthia Martinez, Senior Assistant City Attorney
CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE. Cynthia I. Martinez, 575 - 6033
SUMMARY EXPLANATION The Yakima City Council, working in cooperation with the
Yakima Downtown Association, has made the revitalization of the Yakima Downtown Area a top
priority To this end, a number of positive changes are occurring in the City of Yakima
downtown area. Allowing cruising to occur on Yakima Avenue on Friday and Saturday
evenings on certain weekends of the summer would invite the community to participate in a
positive community event and view our changing downtown area.
Resolution _ Ordinance X Contract Other(Specify)
Contract Mail to (name and address)
Phone:
Funding Source
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL. ' , •
City Manager
er g
STAFF RECOMMENDATION Pass Ordinance
BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION This policy decision was discussed at the
April 19, 2005, Yakima City Council business meeting. The Council requested that an ordinance
be drafted to accomplish open cruising on certain weekends and provide for future open cruising
events upon application.
COUNCIL ACTION Ordinance passed as amended to authorize three open cruising
events during the year ORDINANCE NO. 2005-20