Focus Area: Legal
Staff Contact: Ron Shaver and Bob Gallimore
Subject: Proposed amendments to Title 10 of the Olathe Municipal Code (the Olathe Traffic Ordinance).
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title:
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Report regarding proposed amendments to Title 10 of the Olathe Municipal Code (the Olathe Traffic Ordinance).
Body
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Summary:
Every year, staff prepares updates to certain sections of the Olathe Traffic Ordinance within the Olathe Municipal Code (“O.M.C.”) to align them with state law, make changes proposed by the prosecutors and police, and make technical corrections. Although the City Council approved most of this year’s updates at its meeting on July 16, certain state legislation regarding failure to comply with a traffic citation will not take effect until January 1, 2025, and thus the updates related to this topic were held for later consideration. These changes can be found in the proposed Ordinance 24-XX (Attachment A). Source state legislation for and a summary of these changes is also attached (Attachment B). The proposed ordinance also includes additional updates requested by the City Prosecutor’s Office and Olathe Police Department after the July updates.
The proposed ordinance amends the following sections:
1) Section 10.01.033 (Maximum Speed Limits) by allowing the City Traffic Engineer to determine the school zone beacon hours for the Kansas School for the Deaf (as requested by the Kansas School for the Deaf school resource officer).
2) Section 10.01.134 (Motorized Bicycles) by clarifying that motorized bicycles are subject to state vehicle registration requirements.
3) Section 10.01.135.6 (Unlawful Operation of a Micro Utility Truck) by allowing operation of micro utility trucks upon City streets, subject to equipment, insurance, and driver’s license requirements (as requested by a citizen via the Olathe Police Department).
4) Section 10.01.201.1 (Failure to Comply with Traffic Citation) by aligning its provisions with the amendments made by 2024 SB 500.
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Financial Impact:
None.
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Action Needed:
Accept the report. Unless directed otherwise, staff will prepare the ordinance for formal consideration on November 5, 2024.
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Attachment(s):
A - Ordinance No. 24-XX
B - 2024 SB 500 and summary