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Minutes October 4, 2004CITY OF DENTON CITY COUNCIL M1NUTES October 4, 2004 After determining that a quorum was present, the City Council convened in a Special Called Work Session on Monday, October 4, 2004 at 11:30 a.m. in the Council Work Session Room. PRESENT: Mayor Brock; Mayor Pro Tern McNeill; Council Members Kamp, Montgomery, Mulroy, and Thomson. ABSENT: Council Member Redmon 1. The Council received a report, held a discussion, and gave staff direction regarding the use of automated red light enforcement cameras at selected intersections in the City of Denton. Lt. Scott Fletcher, Denton Police Department, presented information regarding red light enforcement and accidents that occur because of red light accidents. He stated that in Texas there had been a 250% increase in accidents since 1975. In Denton there had been more than 200 red light accidents since 2002. More than 2350 citations for red light violations had been issued. The exact extent of the problem was not really known outside of accidents and tickets issued. Traditional enforcement had been ineffective, inefficient, and dangerous as an officer would be present at the intersection to physically write tickets. Driver behavior would change while an officer was present but would go back to prior behavior when the officer was no longer present. Automated enforcement was the current method for red light enforcement. It was effective on reducing the number of red light accidents, violator reductions, reduction of violations at similar intersections without cameras. The automated enforcement was also cost efficient in terms of manpower and enforcement coverage. Red light camera issues included criminal versus civil violation, owner versus operator liability, right to privacy, and revenue structures. Council Member Redmon joined the meeting. Fletcher continued with the red light camera process. The process included recording the violation, processing and verification, violator notification and hearing and appeal. The placement of cameras was an issue because of the top ten intersections in terms of red light accidents for the past two years, only one did not involve a TxDot road. The Texas Department of Transportation would not allow the placement of automated enforcement cameras at intersections involving roadways they maintained. A public awareness campaign would be necessary to inform citizens of the program. Council discussion included: An automated violation was a civil violation as opposed to a criminal violation if issued by an officer. TxDot would not allow cameras to be placed at intersections involving roadways they maintained. How to pursue collection of fees for nonpayment. The number of officers currently involved in red light enforcement. This was a method to expand enforcement of traffic regulations without expending officer time on the procedures. Violations should go down as the time factor was involved. Consensus of Council was to proceed with the proposal. City of Denton City Council Minutes October 4, 2004 Page 2 2. Closed Meeting: Consultation with Attorney -- Under TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE Section 551.071. Discuss and consider legal issues concerning the City of Denton's proposed Automated Red Light Enforcement Camera Program patterned on an existing City of Garland Program including the legal enforceability of such a program under the City of Denton's home rule authority, the Texas Transportation Code and other applicable law, including the legal aspects of enforcement as a criminal violation or as a civil penalty where to discuss these legal issues in public would conflict with the duty of the City's attorneys to the City Council under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas. Council did not meet in Closed Session. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned 1:20 p.m. JENNIFER WALTERS CITY SECRETARY CITY OF DENTON, TEXAS EUL1NEBROCK MAYOR CITY OFDENTON, TEXAS