HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 03 Ordinance_ Bicycle Operation or StorageAGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 11/7/2022
Meeting Type: Regular Meeting
Staff Contact/Dept.: Mary Bridget Smith/CAO
Staff Phone No: 541-744-4061
Estimated Time: Consent Calendar
SPRINGFIELD Council Goals: Preserve Hometown
CITY COUNCIL Feel, Livability, and
Environmental Quality
ITEM TITLE: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION
5.134 REGARDING BICYCLE OPERATION OR STORAGE WITHIN CITY
HALL
ACTION
Conduct a second reading and adopt/not adopt the following ordinance:
REQUESTED:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION
5.134 REGARDING BICYCLE OPERATION OR STORAGE WITHIN CITY
HALL AND ADOPTING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
ISSUE
This Ordinance is intended to revise SMC Section 5.134 to allow City of
STATEMENT:
Springfield employees to store a bicycle in the designated areas above street level
inside City Hall.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Ordinance
DISCUSSION/
The purpose of this proposed amendment is to encourage and accommodate City of
FINANCIAL
Springfield employees to commute by bicycle and to protect against having their
IMPACT:
bicycles stolen while they are working at City Hall.
As currently written, SMC 5.134 prohibits anyone from operating, riding, storing or
possessing a bicycle in the areas above street level in City Hall due to density and
volume of pedestrian traffic. It also makes violations a punishable civil infraction.
The density and pedestrian traffic issues in City Hall have decreased because many
community members access city services online and some employees have a hybrid
work schedule.
City of Springfield employees have expressed an interest commuting by bicycle,
but some employees have had their bicycles stolen from the bicycle storage area
located under City Hall. This proposed amendment would allow employees to store
their bicycles in designated areas above street level and prohibit impeding
pedestrian traffic flow and fire exits in City Hall. Operating, riding, storing and
possessing bicycles in areas above street level not designated as storage areas will
still be prohibited. This revision also has the positive collateral impact of reducing
the amount of vehicle traffic and emissions around City Hall.
100024519:31
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD, OREGON
ORDINANCE NO.
(GENERAL)
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SPRINGFIELD MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 5.134
AND ADOPTING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
WHEREAS, Section 5.134 of the Springfield Municipal Code states no person shall operate, ride, store
or possess a bicycle in the areas above street level at City Hall due to density and volume of pedestrian
traffic in the areas above the street level at City Hall;
WHEREAS, the ability for community members to access city services online and for employees to
work remotely has substantially decreased the pedestrian traffic in City Hall;
WHEREAS, the City of Springfield wishes to encourage employees to use of alternate forms of
transportation like bicycles and electric bikes in an effort to reduce the impact of traditional vehicle
transportation;
WHEREAS, the City of Springfield desires to continue to encourage the health and wellness of its
employees;
WHEREAS, bicycles can be a significant financial investment and employees have experienced theft
and vandalism of their bicycles when they are stored outside the City Hall building; and
WHEREAS, the City of Springfield still wishes to maintain safety and limit danger to pedestrians who
access City Hall;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 5.134 "Prohibition of Bicycle Operation or Storage Within City Hall" of the
Springfield Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
"5.134 Bicycle Operation or Storage Within City Hall.
(1) City Hall employees shall be allowed to store and possess a bicycle in the
areas above street level at City Hall.
(2) Employees who store and possess a bicycle in the areas above street
level at City Hall shall not operate their bicycles inside City Hall.
(3) Employee bicycles shall be stored in designated storage areas and shall
not impede normal pedestrian traffic flow patterns or fire exits.
(4) No other persons shall operate, ride or possess a bicycle in the areas
above street level at City Hall.
(5) The above offense is a civil infraction pursuant to the Springfield
Municipal Code and punishable pursuant to SMC sections 5.600 to 5.626."
Section 2. Savings Clause. Except as specifically amended herein, Section 5.134 shall
continue in full force and effect.
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Section 3. Severability Clause. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or
portion of this Ordinance is, for any reason, held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent
jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision and such
holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion hereof.
ADOPTED by the Common Council of the City of Springfield this _ day of , 2022,
by a vote of for and against.
APPROVED by the Mayor of the City of Springfield this day of , 2022.
ATTEST:
City Recorder
Mayor
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