Item 6JCITY OF
SOUTHLAKE
MEMORANDUM
(June 18, 2013)
To: Shana Yelverton, City Manager
From: Robert H. Price, P.E., Public Works Director
Subject: Ordinance No. 733-C, 2nd Reading, approve a speed
limit ordinance, amending Section 18-80 of the
Southlake City Code, revising the activation times of
school crossing zones
Action
Requested: Ordinance No. 733-C, 2nd Reading, approve a speed limit
ordinance, amending Section 18-80 of the Southlake City
Code, revising the activation times of school crossing zones.
Background
Information: The purpose of this item is to approve an ordinance
establishing a reduction in the activation times for school
zones located throughout the City of Southlake from an
existing 60 minutes to 40 minutes, both in the morning and in
the afternoon, Monday through Friday. The proposed
changes to designated school zone activation times are as
follow:
➢ A.M. School Zone Flash times:
o Start flash time remains at 30 minutes before school
convenes
o Revise end flash time from 30 minutes after school
convenes to 10 minutes after school convenes
➢ P.M. School Zone Flash times:
o Revise start flash time from 30 minutes before school
adjourns to 10 minutes before school adjourns
o End flash time remains at 30 minutes after school
adjourns
Council approved Ordinance No. 733 on 2nd Reading on
February 8, 1999. Council approved Ordinance No. 733-A
on 2nd Reading on August 18, 2009. Due to changes in
CISD campus locations, it was necessary to amend the
ordinance to reflect the changes. Council approved
Ordinance No. 733-B on 2nd Reading on August 2, 2011.
City Code Section 18-80, Limits for school crossing zones, is
proposed to read as follows: "The prima facie maximum
reasonable and prudent speed on the portion of the streets
or highways designated in this section shall be the speed in
miles per hour designated, between and including thirty (30)
minutes before and (10) minutes after the start of school in
the morning (a.m.), and ten (10) minutes before and (30)
minutes after the close of the school in the afternoon (p.m.),
Monday through Friday, when school is in session, provided
that an appropriate sign giving notice of such speed zone is
erected. The reduced speed limits established in this
section shall only be enforced between the signs which are
erected designating the beginning and end of each school
crossing zone. It shall be an affirmative defense to a charge
of exceeding the prima facie maximum speed established as
follows that the day in question was a day when there were
no classes in session at the nearest school."
This proposed change reduces the overall activation time of
designated school zones from a total 60 minutes to 40
minutes, both in the morning start of the school day and the
afternoon end to the school day with no anticipated reduction
in safety. This change is a continued effort to find ways to
improve mobility throughout the city and to reduce driver
frustration.
The designated school zone activation time period is the
only change proposed as part of this ordinance revision.
The City Council approved Ordinance 733-C on Vt Reading
on June 4, 2013.
Financial
Considerations: Approximately $6500 which is the cost of producing the new
signs and the labor to install them.
Strategic Link: The ordinance establishing activation times for school
crossing zones links to the City's strategy map relative to the
focus areas of Safety and Security and Mobility. The
specific corporate objectives that are met by this amendment
include: Achieve the highest standards of safety and security
and Provide travel convenience within city and region.
Furthermore, the reduction of school zone activation time
periods from 60 to 40 minutes is recommended by staff in
order to address Critical Business Outcome No. 4 (CBO4):
Improve mobility by proactively completing traffic analysis in
key areas.
Citizen Input/
Board Review: None
Legal Review: The City Attorney has reviewed this ordinance revision.
Alternatives: The City Council may approve or deny Ordinance No. 733-C
Supporting
Documents: Ordinance No. 733-C
Staff
Recommendation: Approve Ordinance No. 733-C, 2nd Reading, a speed limit
ordinance, amending Section 18-80 of the Southlake City
Code, revising the activation times of school crossing zones.
Staff Contact: Robert H. Price, P.E., Public Works Director
Cheryl Taylor, P.E., City Engineer
ORDINANCE No. 733-C
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 18-80 OF THE SOUTHLAKE
CITY CODE, AS AMENDED BY REVISING THE DESIGNATED HOURS
OF THE SCHOOL ZONE; PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE
SHALL BE CUMULATIVE OF ALL ORDINANCES; PROVIDING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY FOR
VIOLATIONS HEREOF; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE;
PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER;
AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake, Texas is a home rule city acting under its charter
adopted by the electorate pursuant to Article XI, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution and Chapter
9 of the Local Government Code; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 545.356 of the Texas Transportation Code, the City of
Southlake, Texas has the authority to establish prima facie maximum reasonable and prudent
speeds within its corporate boundaries for vehicles on streets and highways; and
WHEREAS, the city council of the City of Southlake recognizes that it is necessary to
regulate traffic near schools to promote the safety of children going to or from school; and
WHEREAS, the city council of the City of Southlake deems it necessary to provide a
reduced speed limit for a period of time that is of sufficient length to protect children going to
and from school; and
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake has heretofore adopted an ordinance regulating
school zone speed limits within the City of Southlake; and
WHEREAS, the city council deems it necessary and advisable to amend certain
designated school zone activation hours within the city in which a 20 mph speed limit will apply.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
Section 18-80 of the Southlake City Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
The prima facie maximum reasonable and prudent speed on the portion of
the streets or highways designated in this section shall be the speed in miles per
hour designated, between and including thirty (30) minutes before and (10) after
the start of school in the morning (a.m.), and ten (10) minutes before and (30)
minutes after the close of the school in the afternoon (p.m.), Monday through
Friday, when school is in session, provided that an appropriate sign giving notice
Ordinance No. 733-C- Page 1 of 5
of such speed zone is erected. The reduced speed limits established in this section
shall only be enforced between the signs which are erected designating the
beginning and end of each school crossing zone. It shall be an affirmative
defense to a charge of exceeding the prima facie maximum speed established as
follows that the day in question was a day when there were no classes in session
at the nearest school:
School Crossing Zone
Street
Seed Limit
Carroll Elementary
From the 1300 Block of S. Peytonville to the
2000 Block of Continental Blvd.
20
From the 1600 Block of W. Continental
Blvd. through the 1900 Block of W.
Continental Blvd.
Carroll Senior High School
From the 100 block of S. Peytonville
through the 400 Block of S. Peytonville
20
Johnson Elementary School
From the intersection of N. Carroll Ave. and
Highland avenue through the 1500 Block of
20
N. Carroll Ave.
Carroll High School
From the 600 Block of N. White Chapel
Blvd. through the 1100 Block of N. White
Chapel Blvd.
20
Carroll Middle School
From the 1600 Block of E. Kirkwood Blvd.
through the 1900 Block of E. Kirkwood
Blvd.
From the intersection of E. Kirkwood Blvd.
and Blessed Way through the 900 Block of
Blessed Way
20
From the 1600 Block of E. Highland St.
through the 1950 Block of E. Highland St.
From the intersection of E. Highland St. and
Sunshine Lane north 100' along Sunshine
Lane
The Clariden School
From the 3800 Block of N. White Chapel
Blvd. through the 4000 Block of N. White
20
Chapel Blvd.
Durham Elementary School
From the 500 Block of Shady Oaks Dr.
through the 900 Block of Shady Oaks Dr.
20
Ordinance No. 733-C- Page 2 of 5
Florence Elementary School
From the 2900 Block of Johnson Rd.
through the 3250 Block of Johnson Rd.
20
From the 200 Block of Harrell Dr. to the
intersection with Johnson Rd.
Montessori School
From the 1000 Block of E. Highland St. to
the intersection with N. Carroll Ave.
20
Rockenbaugh Elementary
From the 100 Block of Byron Nelson Pkwy.
School
Through the 600 Block of Byron Nelson
20
Pkwy.
Old Union Elementary
From the 1550 Block of Continental Blvd
School
through the 1000 Block of Continental Blvd
From and including the intersection of
Breezeway and Continental Blvd to and
including the intersection of S. Carroll
20
Avenue and Breezeway.
From the 1200 Block of Brumlow through
the roundabout to the 800 Block of S.
Carroll Avenue.
Dawson Middle School and
From the 200 Block of S. Kimball Avenue
Eubanks Intermediate
to the 700 Block of S. Kimball Avenue
20
School
Walnut Grove Elementary
From the 2500 Block of N. White Chapel to
School
the 2700 Block of N. White Chapel
20
SECTION 2.
This ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of ordinances of the
City of Southlake, Texas, except where the provisions of this ordinance are in
direct conflict with the provisions of such ordinances, in which event the
conflicting provisions of such ordinances are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3.
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the
phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this ordinance are
severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this
ordinance shall be declared unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of
any court of competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality shall not affect any
of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this
ordinance, since the same would have been enacted by the City Council without
the incorporation in this ordinance of any such unconstitutional phrase, clause,
sentence, paragraph or section.
Ordinance No. 733-C- Page 3 of 5
SECTION 4.
Any person, firm or corporation who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or
refuses to comply with or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of
this ordinance shall be fined not more than Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) for
each offense. Each day that a violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a
separate offense.
SECTION 5.
All rights and remedies of the City of Southlake are expressly saved as to
any and all violations of the provisions of Section 18-80 or any other ordinances
affecting speed limits in school zones which have accrued at the time of the
effective date of this ordinance; and, as to such accrued violations and all pending
litigation, both civil and criminal, whether pending in court or not, under such
ordinances, same shall not be affected by this ordinance but may be prosecuted
until final disposition by the courts.
SECTION 6.
The City Secretary of the City of Southlake is hereby directed to publish
the proposed ordinance or its caption and penalty together with a notice setting
out the time and place for a public hearing thereon at least ten (10) days before the
second reading of this ordinance, and if this ordinance provides for the imposition
of any penalty, fine or forfeiture for any violation of any of its provisions, then the
City Secretary shall additionally publish this ordinance or its caption and penalty
in the official City newspaper one time within ten days after passage of this
ordinance, as required by Section 3.13 of the Charter of the City of Southlake.
Ordinance No. 733-C- Page 4 of 5
SECTION 7.
This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage
and publication as required by law, and it is so ordained.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON FIRST READING ON THIS DAY OF
, 2013.
MAYOR, JOHN TERRELL
ATTEST:
CITY SECRETARY, ALICIA RICHARDSON
PASSED AND APPROVED ON SECOND READING ON THIS DAY OF
, 2013.
MAYOR, JOHN TERRELL
ATTEST:
CITY SECRETARY, ALICIA RICHARDSON
EFFECTIVE DATE:
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
CITY ATTORNEY
Ordinance No. 733-C- Page 5 of 5