HomeMy WebLinkAbout1826-90 - ADMIN Ordinance - City Council - 1990/03/19r
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ORDINANCE NO. 1826-90
AMENDING CHAPTER 10 OF THE ST. LOUIS PARK ORDINANCE CODE RELATING
TO TRAFFIC REGULATIONS BY ADDING NEW SECTIONS 10-206 THROUGH 10-213
RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY: TRAFFIC SIGNAL PRE-EMPTION SYSTEM
THE ST. LOUIS PARK CITY COUNCIL DOES ORDAIN:
Section 1. Under the authority of the St. Louis Park Ordinance
Code, the St. Louis Park Ordinance Code is amended by adding new
Sections 10-206 through 10-213 to read as follows:
TRAFFIC SAFETY: TRAFFIC SIGNAL PRE-EMPTION SYSTEM
Section 10-206. Legislative Purpose. The purpose for using the
Emergency Vehicle Pre-emption (EVP) System in St. Louis Park is to
allow emergency vehicles to perform emergency services in a safer and
more timely manner by temporarily controlling motorized vehicle traffic
flow at signalized intersections. The City Council deems it advisable
to formulate policies and procedures for the use of the EVP System
which are to be followed by drivers of all emergency vehicles equipped
with EVP System emitters so that pedestrians and drivers of motorized
vehicles have adequate warning that emergency vehicles are changing
normal traffic control timing at signalized intersections.
Section 10-207. Definitions. As used in this new Section, the
following terms and phrases have the meanings defined as:
(a) "Chief of Police" shall mean the Chief of Police of St.
Louis Park or his/her designee.
(b) "Emergency Vehicle" shall mean a vehicle equipped and
identified according to law and operated by the St. Louis
Park Police Department and/or the St. Louis Park Fire
Department and, non -City vehicles upon written agreement
approved by the St. Louis Park City Council.
(c) "Emergency Vehicle Pre-emption (EVP) System shall mean a
traffic control system designed for use by emergency
vehicles to improve traffic movement by temporarily
controlling signalized intersections. The EVP System is
comprised of four separate components: an emitter, a
detector, an indicator, and a phase selector.
The emitter is a high intensity light source that is
attached to the emergency vehicle and functions like a
strobe light, pulsating at a frequency in excess of ten
beats per second. As an emergency vehicle approaches the
intersection, this pulsating light is received by a
detector located at or near the traffic signal.
The detector relays the coded message to the phase
selector, located in the traffic light control box, which
then either (1) holds the existing green light in favor of
the approaching emergency vehicle, or (2) accelerates the
normal cycle of a signal change to provide a green light by
the time the emergency vehicle reaches the intersection.
The indicator is a light source located near the detector
which is directed toward the oncoming emergency vehicle to
indicate to the driver whether or not the traffic signal
has been pre-empted in favor of the emergency vehicle(s).
Section 10-208. Conditions for Using the EVP System.
(a) Fire Department. City -owned fire department vehicles may
use the EVP System while on emergency responses only.
Unless otherwise provided for herein, all other use by the
department is prohibited. Conditions for the use of the
EVP System hereby become a part of the Fire Department
Standard Operating Procedures.
(b) Police Department. City -owned police department vehicles
may use the EVP System while on emergency responses only.
Unless otherwise provided for herein, all other use by the
department is prohibited. Conditions for the use of the
EVP System hereby become a part of the Police Department
Standard Operating Procedures.
(c) City, County, or State Maintenance Personnel. Minnesota
Department of Transportation, Hennepin County, or City of
St. Louis Park maintenance personnel, or their contractors
under written agreement, may activate the EVP System only
when testing or repairing the system. Sirens and flashing
red lights need not be used except when the test vehicle
must exceed the posted speed limits. In such instances,
said test must be preapproved and coordinated through the
Chief of Police.
(d) Emergency Vehicles Not Owned or Operated by the City of St.
Louis Park. The use of the EVP System within the City by
non -city emergency vehicles is a matter of policy for
consideration by the City Council. Upon formal approval of
a written agreement by the City Council, the participating
organization or unit of government shall follow all
procedures prescribed by the City in utilizing the EVP
System.
(e) Unless specifically approved herein, it shall be unlawful
for any person to activate the EVP System in St. Louis Park
by any means whatsoever. This clause specifically
prohibits the installation of EVP System emitters on any
vehicle not identified in Sections 10-208 (a) - (d).
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Section 10-209. Procedures for Operating the EVP System.
(a) When the EVP System is being used by an emergency vehicle
responding to an emergency situation, standard light and
siren operation should be followed in accordance with
department policy.
(b) When the EVP System is being used in an emergency situation
where the use of sirens is not appropriate, standard
emergency light operations should still be used. Increased
caution and reduced speeds, particularly at intersections,
are then required.
(c) Emergency personnel must be aware that the EVP System may
fail to provide right-of-way at all signalized
intersections due to the following:
(1) The intersection may not be EVP System equipped.
(2) One or more EVP System components may be inoperative.
(3) Speed of the emergency vehicle may cause the
emergency vehicle to arrive at the intersection too
soon for the EVP System to cycle the signal to green.
(4) Another emergency vehicle using EVP System may be
coming from a cross-flow direction and may already
have seized command of the intersection signal.
(5) Severe weather conditions may disrupt the detection
of the emitted signal, thereby preventing the EVP
System from recognizing the signal pre-emption
request.
(6) Other conditions may exist which prevent the EVP
System from operating as designed.
(d) Upon reaching the emergency destination, the EVP System
emitter shall be turned off immediately to insure that it
does not inadvertently seize control of,surrounding
signalized intersections.
(e) Whenever the EVP System appears not to be functioning
properly, it is the driver's responsibility to immediately
report the defect and the location of the defective signal
to St. Louis Park Police Dispatch.
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Section 10-210. EVP System Maintenance Procedures.
(a) It shall be the city's policy to routinely test the EVP
System to insure proper functioning of the system. The
Chief of Police shall be responsible for testing the
system. During such tests, each intersection which is EVP
System equipped shall be checked from all approaches. Test
results will be recorded on a standardized form indicating
the intersection tested, date of test, person conducting
test, and evaluation result. A copy of each test form
shall be sent to the Chief of Police and the Director of
Public Works.
(b) When a traffic signal is found to malfunction during a
test, the person conducting the test shall immediately
notify St. Louis Park Police Dispatch of the defect and the
location of the defective signal.
Section 10-211. EVP System Training.
(a) An explanation of the policies and procedures governing the
use of the EVP System in St. Louis Park shall be included
in the basic and in-service training courses for both the
St. Louis Park Police and Fire Departments. Appropriate
training shall also be mandated for those non -city entities
authorized to utilize the EVP System within St. Louis Park.
Section 10-212. Disciplinary Action.
(a) Violation of the policies and procedures set forth above by
any authorized person shall be cause for disciplinary
action in accordance with adopted city and department
policies.
Section 10-213. Violations.
(a) Violation of this Article shall be a misdemeanor and shall
be punishable as set forth in Section 2-203 of the City
Code. Each violation of the Article shall be considered a
separate offense, punishable as indicated.
Section 2. Summary approved. The City Council hereby determines
that the text of the summary marked "Official Summary", a copy of which
is attached hereto, clearly informs the public of the intent and effect
of the ordinance. The City Council further determines that publication
of the title and such summary will clearly inform the public of the
intent and effect of the ordinance.
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Section 3. Filing. The City Clerk shall file a copy of this
ordinance in his/her office, which copy shall be available for
inspection by any person during regular office hours.
Section 4. Publication. The City Clerk shall publish the title
of this ordinance and the official summary in the official newspaper of
the City with notice that a printed copy of the ordinance is available
for inspection by any person during regular office hours at the Office
of the City Clerk.
Section 5. Effective date. This ordinance shall take effect 15
days after the publication of its title and the official summary.
Adopted by the City Council March 19, 1990
Attest:
Reviewed for administration:
W e. 0.Xek
City Manager
C) ld.ra.�
May
Approved as to form and execution:
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City of St. Louis Park
Minnesota Suburban Newspapers summary (Official Publication)
ORDINANCE NO 1826-90
AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION AN ORDINANCE OF _THE CITY OF
ST LOUIS PARK; MINNESOTA,
AMENDING CHAPTER 10 OF THE
CITY CODE Sli%ESTABLISHING
PROCEDURES,FOR THE USE OF AN
STATE OF MINNESOTA EMERGENCVPISYSTE BYEMPTION
EMERGENCY VEHICLES OPERATING
WITHIN THE CITY
SS The following is.the official summary of Or -
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN) oof St c�s Park
onapproved 19 1City c°ancu
The Code'ob Ordinances is amended to
establish paonal procedures
f
Gregory Ptaein being duly sworn on an oath says that he/she i, afficsignal pre-emptionsystem
oedeployed St Lows
d1
system aows designated metgicy cle
to temporarily -control motorized vehicle traf-
the publisher or authorized agent and employee of the publisher of the newspaper known a: ficflow atsignalized mteisectionssfor the pur-
pose of providing emergency services in a
safer and mare timely manner The Or -
S t . Louis Park Sailor , and has full knowledge of the facts which are operation, � �nannce systies regarding em as
well as penalbes,for illegal use of the system
In addition, the Ordinance regwres that all
stated below emergency per onnel us the system be
pen tion 'Cally-tiat♦ rtg
i rs its use and
opera
Effective Date Thr erdmance shall take effect
(A) The newspaper has complied with all of the requirements constituting qualification as a qualified newspaper 15 days after ds hcatwn
Adopted by CityiConncil March 19, 1990
"./s/ LYLE W HANKS•
as provided by Minnesota Statute 331A 02, 331A.07, and other applicable laws, as amended A punted copy of the oramance is availab a for or I
inspection by any person office ,
Ordinance N o . haws m the office of the City cl a` t t St Lows
(B) The printed 1826 - 90 PPaarksCity Hall, 5005 Minnetonka Boulevard, St
Park, Minnesota 55416
(March 28, 1990) -SLP
which is attached was cut from the columns of said newspaper, and was printed and published once each week,
for one successive weeks, it was first published on Wednesday , the 28 day
March , 19 90 , and was thereafter printed and published on every to
and including
, the day of , 19 , and printed below is
a copy of the lower case alphabet from A to Z, both inclusive, which is hereby acknowledged as being the size
and kind of type used in the composition and publication of the notice:
abcdefgtulklmnopgismvwxyz/
BY
TITLE
Acknowledged before me on this
30 day of March , 1990
MERIDGL M HEDBLOM
dr;TARY PUBL ROTA r
+4ENNEf IN COUNTY
Y* MIS840rd D(PIAE8 7$94
RATE INFORMATION
(1) Lowest classified rate paid by commercial users
for comparable space
(2) Maximum rate allowed by law for the above matter
(3) Rate actually charged for the above matter
M na�er
100 per line
(Line, word, or inch rate)
5904 per line
(Line, word, or inch rate)
5376 per line
(Line, word, or inch rate)