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(1) The Public Works Director or his/her designee is delegated the powers of the “Road Authority” as described in ORS 810 and this Code. The Public Works Director or his/her designee is hereinafter, for purposes of this chapter, referred to as the Director.

(2) In making the best use of streets, sidewalks, and other publicly-owned property or places for vehicle traffic and parking and pedestrian traffic, the Director shall place and maintain the classes of signs, signals, markings, and devices found in Subsection (3) of this section upon the streets, sidewalks, and other publicly-owned property and places of the city as deemed necessary to the public welfare, safety, and convenience. Except that approval must first be secured from the State Transportation Commission where required by the Motor Vehicle Laws of Oregon, the Director shall base determinations only upon:

(a) Traffic engineering principles and traffic investigations;

(b) Standards, limitations, and rules as may be established by the State Transportation Commission or the Department of Transportation (hereinafter ODOT);

(c) Recognized traffic control standards.

(3) Pursuant to Subsection (2) of this section, the Director may:

(a) Designate street areas, city-owned or leased land upon which parking is restricted or prohibited, the times at which the restrictions or prohibitions shall be in effect, and the angle of the parking, and parking time limits.

(b) Designate the location and time of operation of traffic control signals.

(c) Establish bus stops, bus stands, taxicab stands, and stands for other passenger common-carrier vehicles.

(d) Designate the location of passenger loading zones for use in front of any hotel, auditorium, theater, church, school, or public building.

(e) Designate on each side of a block, where required, loading zones.

(f) Designate weight limits.

(g) Designate and cause to be placed or maintained appropriate signs, signals, marks, lines, or devices for:

(i) Intersections where drivers of vehicles shall not make right, left, or U turns and the times when the prohibitions apply.

(ii) Crosswalks or closure of crosswalks at intersections where necessary for pedestrian safety.

(iii) Safety zones of a kind and character and at places deemed necessary for pedestrian safety.

(h) Cause to be placed or marked and maintained:

(i) Traffic control signs.

(ii) Parking spaces.

(iii) Traffic lanes and other symbols.

(iv) All other signs and markings necessary to implement traffic and parking controls.

(i) Make and enforce temporary experimental or emergency regulations consistent with this chapter. No regulation shall be effective and in force until and unless adequate signs, signals, or other notices are erected clearly indicating the regulation. The regulation shall not remain in effect for more than 30 days.

(j) Designate streets upon which motor truck and motor bus traffic is prohibited.

(4) When the public safety and welfare no longer require that an existing sign, signal, or marking, or other device be maintained, or public safety and welfare require the alteration thereof, the Director may remove or alter it accordingly. However, no removal or alteration shall be made where contrary to state law or ordinance, or if installed by resolution the council shall first approve any change or alteration.

(5) The Director may issue parking permits as established in Section 6.340 herein.

(6) The city Director may order the placing of temporary signs or other traffic control devices, conforming to State Transportation Commission and or ODOT specifications, if any, and designating a construction speed less than that otherwise designed by law, upon any portion of the highway or street upon which temporary conditions constituting a danger to the public exist, or above, below, or upon which construction or maintenance work is being carried on so close to the roadway as to be a danger to passing traffic or to be endangered by passing traffic. The operation of a vehicle in excess of any speed designated and posted under this section shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of ORS 811.105. The city council reserves to itself the authority to designate construction speeds less than otherwise designated by law in any street or portion of street where it finds such lesser speed necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection, or to proceed by resolution to exercise the authority conferred by ORS 810.180(4).

(7) The Director shall prepare and keep complete records and maps of the location of all signs, signals, markings, and other devices which are or shall be placed within the city, governing vehicle traffic and parking and pedestrian traffic.

(8) If a sign, signal, marking, or other device is placed, the Director shall enter in a record kept by him or her the nature of the device and the date and location of the installation or placement. This record shall be a public record of which the Director shall be custodian.

(9) The entry described in Subsection (7) of this section shall be conclusive evidence of a determination made by the Director that those conditions exist which justify the exercise of the authority conferred upon the Director.

(10) The Director shall make the surveys, studies, and investigations of traffic and parking conditions upon the city streets as the Director deems necessary in the public interest or as directed.

(11) Except that this subsection shall not be construed to include the signs, signals, markings, or other devices located on state highways or otherwise within the exclusive jurisdiction of the State Transportation Commission, the Director shall install and maintain all signs, signals, markings, or other devices on the city streets or properties which regulate vehicle traffic and parking or pedestrian traffic and are: (a) Required by resolution of the council; or (b) Necessary to give proper notice of any regulation imposed by ordinance or state law; or (c) Established pursuant to the authority given in Section 6.100 herein.

[Amd. Sec. 2, Ord. No. 1999-147, Sep. 17, 1999; Amd. Sec. 1, Ord. No. 2009-120, Jun. 4, 2009.]