Council approves Ordinance 12a requiring city police for some right-of-way traffic control

The Miami Springs City Council voted to approve first reading of Ordinance 12a, which amends the city code governing rights-of-way work to require that, when Public Works determines traffic coordination is necessary, off-duty traffic control be arranged through the Miami Springs Police Department or, if city officers are unavailable, through another agency.

At the presentation, staff said the ordinance codifies an existing practice intended to ensure consistent traffic control by officers familiar with local traffic patterns. "The only real change is that when people come in to do work in the right of way...public works will review it; if they deem it necessary to have police out there, they will then coordinate with the police department and get that process going," the presenter said (speaker 8).

Councilman (voice 4) moved to pass the item and the motion was seconded on the floor. The clerk called the roll and all members present voted yes; the clerk recorded that the motion carries.

What the ordinance does: It requires that when permit reviewers determine traffic control is necessary for right-of-way work, the off-duty traffic enforcement be provided by the Miami Springs Police Department first; if city officers are not available, Public Works may arrange off-duty service through another agency.

What it does not do: The ordinance does not create a new fee structure in the text presented for first reading, and staff said coordination with other agencies remains an option if city officers are unavailable.

Next steps: The ordinance was approved on first reading and will follow the city’s ordinance-adoption process; any further procedural steps (additional readings, codification) will be scheduled according to the city’s legislative calendar.