Concerned that motorists continue to put the safety of city crews at risk while on the job, city hall is updating its traffic bylaw to ensure the necessary penalties are in place.
When construction season kicked off in the spring, the City of Moose Jaw issued a news release reminding residents to avoid “#NotoriouslyCloseCalls” and steer clear of construction crews after employees experienced close calls.
In particular, in October 2022, a motorist who ignored “road closed” signs and illegally drove into a closed work zone struck and injured a city employee. Other staff have also experienced close calls with vehicles over the years.
The city reminded motorists that it is illegal to enter a work site where “road closed” signs are present and they should use alternate routes. Failure to do so could result in penalties under sections 9 and 10 of the city’s Traffic Bylaw.
Perhaps wanting to ensure the warnings had teeth, city administration brought forward an updated traffic bylaw to the Oct. 10 regular city council meeting. The update affects section 10 and the list of prescribed offences in Schedule H, for which voluntary payment fines are designated to reflect the need to prevent motorists from entering closed roads, including construction zones.
Council gave three unanimous readings to the document, which means it is now in effect. The fine for driving through a temporarily closed road is $150.
Since the incident last fall, city hall has worked with the Moose Jaw Police Service to ensure these types of incidents do not occur, a council report said. The amendments are consistent with those efforts to address this problem by making it clear to motorists that they will be prosecuted for ignoring “road closed” signs.
“The city’s crews work hard to improve Moose Jaw’s infrastructure and they can’t perform properly or efficiently if they are constantly worried about their safety,” the report added. “Drivers need to understand that they pose a risk to city employees when they drive into temporarily closed streets.”
Other bylaw updates
Council also gave three unanimous readings to other bylaw changes.
It approved amendments related to the code of conduct for the parks, recreation and facilities advisory committee; public works, infrastructure and environment advisory committee; cultural diversity advisory committee; and heritage advisory committee.
Council approved a code of conduct for committee and board members in December 2021. The bylaw establishes and applies a code of conduct and disclosure of land holdings requirement for non-council members appointed to council-created boards and committees. It also establishes a code of ethical behaviour that members must follow.
This standalone bylaw mirrors the City of Moose Jaw’s ethical provisions found in other municipal bylaws and sets out relevant reporting procedures, a council report said.
The code of ethics bylaw addresses four areas:
- Providing greater detail on the nature of ethical behaviours and the types of behaviours that will be monitored
- Expanding the complaints procedures component to address how and when an external investigation may be initiated
- Providing specific leave of absence provisions for a council member wishing to pursue provincial or federal politics
- Giving city administration the leeway to monitor additional matters that it believes council should review
It took city administration nearly two years to bring forward this amendment.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Oct. 23.
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