City staff introduced an ordinance (Ordinance 69) that amends the Unified Development Code to specify when traffic impact studies are required for new development, and to provide the city engineer discretion to require studies in additional cases.

The amendment lists objective triggers — for example, commercial developments over 100,000 square feet, developments with more than 200 parking spaces, multifamily projects over 100 units and subdivisions over 50 units — and it also states conditions under which state permits are required. Staff said the amendment adds metrics and gives the city engineer latitude to require a traffic impact study where public-safety concerns or local traffic conditions warrant one.

A council member asked whether the amendment would remove flexibility for staff to ask for a study in other cases, and Steven (city staff involved with the ordinance) said the ordinance retains discretion. "They wanted to make sure that the office of the city engineer had the ability and discretion to ask for it on a number of cases," Steven said. "In any condition they believe is gonna affect public safety, they can ask for one."

Staff said the ordinance came from the city engineer's office and was refined with metrics after review by planning staff. The ordinance was introduced for future consideration; no final action was taken at this meeting.