Explanation
Background: The following legislation amends the Columbus City Codes, 1959, by enacting a new section of Columbus City Code, Section 2105.26, which authorizes the Public Service Director to designate areas of the city as "No Student Drop-off or Pick-up" zones. Parent drop-off and pick-up of students is a common method of transporting children to and from school each day. At some of the neighborhood schools, this activity takes place on the adjacent street system, even if school-site traffic circulation can accommodate this activity. Depending on the direction of travel, children may have to cross a street at controlled or uncontrolled locations to access the school building or transportation. The purpose of this legislation is to allow the Public Service Director to prohibit student drop-off or pick-up activities along streets where it is deemed unsafe to have children cross the street.
Fiscal Impact: No fiscal impact.
Emergency action is requested to enact this legislation as soon as possible to provide for pedestrian safety in these "No Student Drop-off or Pick-up" zones.
Title
To supplement the Columbus City Codes, 1959, by enactment of a new Section titled "No Student Drop-off or Pick-up Zones", which will authorize the Public Service Director to establish "No Student Drop-off or Pick-up" zones for the protection of pedestrians; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, parent drop-off and pick-up of students along public streets is a common method of school transportation; and
WHEREAS, these activities can occur at locations that require children to cross a street at a controlled or uncontrolled location to access the school building or transportation; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus has embarked on a number of pedestrian safety initiatives; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to regulate the areas where students can be dropped off and picked up along public streets for the protection of the general public; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Transportation Division, Public Service Department, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the enactment of Section 2105.26 to provide for pedestrian safety in these "No Student Drop-off or Pick-up" zones, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare, now, therefore;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Columbus City Code shall be amended with the addition of Section 2105.26, entitled No Student Drop-off or Pick-up Zones as follows:
2105.26 No Student Drop-off or Pick-up Zones
When the Public Service Director determines that a location is not safe to allow a motorist to discharge or load a student, regulations restricting this activity may be established. The regulations will establish No Student Drop-off or Pick-up Zones of such kind and character and at such locations as may be deemed necessary for the protection of the public. No prosecution shall commence for violation of a regulation issued under this section unless adequate notice has been given to the public by means of signs or signals.
SECTION 2. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.