Minutes 11/28/2023 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 28, 2023 Financial Impact:  No local match is required as a condition of the funding. Recommended Action:  Adoption of the ordinance. Next Steps Following Council Action:  The Finance Department will assign the budget code and credit the account accordingly. Motion by Ms. Lucas-Burke, and seconded by Mr. Hugel, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE ACCEPTING HAZMAT RESPONSE COST RECOVERY FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $923.52 FROM THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND APPROPRIATING SAID FUNDS IN THE FY 2024 GRANTS FUND FOR USE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FIRE, RESCUE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES.” Ayes: Hugel, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Tillage, Whitaker, Glover Nays: None 23 - 389 - Adoption of an ordinance to amend Chapter 22 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic) of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia by adding a new Article XVII authorizing the use of red-light cameras for traffic enforcement. Background:  By Ordinance 2023-37 adopted on May 9, 2023, City Council amended the City Code to authorize the implementation of a camera speed monitoring enforcement program in school crossing zones and highway work zones.  The program is administered by a private company named Altumint and overseen by the Portsmouth Police Department.  The Police Department is now recommending the adoption of a new traffic signal enforcement program that will utilize video monitoring to enforce traffic signal laws.  This program would involve the installation of video monitoring, commonly known as “red light cameras”, at selected traffic signals within Portsmouth. Discussion:  The traffic signal enforcement program is authorized by Section 15.2-968.1 of the Code of Virginia and would operate similarly to the camera speed monitoring enforcement program. The program would be administered by Altumint and overseen by the Portsmouth Police Department.  Under the program, the operator of a vehicle who violates traffic laws by entering an intersection when a light is red would be subject to a $50 fine. By law, the violation would not be made part of the operator’s driving record or used for insurance purposes.  No citation for a violation will be issued unless the video evidence has first been reviewed and certified by a member of the Portsmouth Police Department.  Under Virginia law, the red light cameras can be installed at no more than nine intersections. Conspicuous signs must be installed at all intersections at which the cameras are in use.  A public awareness campaign will be undertaken before the initial rollout of the program, which is anticipated for February 2024. Financial Impact:  The City will receive the net revenues from the program. Recommended Action:  Adoption of the ordinance.