ORD 630 Sections 1.01.003 & 12.20.020 - Contents of Code & Speed Limits RegulationsORDINANCE NO. 630
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTIONS
1.01.003 AND 12.20.020 OF THE LA QUINTA MUNICIPAL
CODE RELATED TO CONFORMING AND CORRECTIVE
REVISIONS GOVERNING CONTENTS OF CODE AND
SPEED LIMITS REGULATIONS RESPECTIVELY
WHEREAS, amendments to the La Quinta Municipal Code are proposed from time
to time to align the code with current state laws, apply best practices, consolidate
provisions, remove unnecessary detail, provide flexibility, and update and clarify terms,
requirements, and regulations as needed; and
WHEREAS, Section 1.01.003 “Contents of code” lists the types of ordinances, of
general and permanent nature, to be codified in the La Quinta Municipal Code, and the
proposed amendment clarifies that speed limits adopted via an ordinance will not be
added to the code; and
WHEREAS, the California Vehicle Code authorizes cities to establish and regulate
speed limits on street segments within its exclusive jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to such authority, the City Council adopts speed limits as
recommended by engineering and traffic surveys evaluating highway and traffic
conditions in accordance with methods determined by the Department of Transportation
for use by state and local authorities; and
WHEREAS, the proposed amendment to Section 12.20.020 “Authority to regulate
speeds” aligns the La Quinta Municipal Code with state laws and clarifies that the City
Council may adopt speed limits via ordinance or resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of La Quinta does ordain as
follows:
SECTION 1. Sections 1.01.003 and 12.20.020 of the La Quinta Municipal Code
shall be amended as written in “Exhibit A” attached hereto and incorporated herein by this
reference.
SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect
thirty (30) days after its adoption.
SECTION 3. POSTING: The City Clerk shall, within 15 days after passage of this
Ordinance, cause it to be posted in at least three public places designated by resolution
of the City Council, shall certify to the adoption and posting of this Ordinance, and shall
cause this Ordinance and its certification, together with proof of posting to be entered into
the permanent record of Ordinances of the City of La Quinta.
ATTEST:
MONIJ."m Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
LINDA EVANS, Mayor
City of La Quinta, California
u).'¼D: /4 ?� WILLIAM H.�ney ------
City of La Quinta, California
Ordinance No. 630
LQMC Amendments – Sections 1.01.003 and 12.20.020
Adopted: March 3, 2026
Page 2 of 3
SECTION 4. CORRECTIVE AMENDMENTS: the City Council does hereby grant
the City Clerk the ability to make minor amendments and corrections of typographical or
clerical errors to “Exhibit A” to ensure consistency of all approved text amendments prior
to the publication in the La Quinta Municipal Code.
SECTION 5. SEVERABILITY: If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence,
clause, phrase, or portion of this Ordinance is, for any reason, held to be invalid or
unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall
not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby
declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance and each and every section,
subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the
fact that any one or more section, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses,
phrases, or portions thereof be declared unconstitutional.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED, at a regular meeting of the La Quinta City
Council held this 3rd day of March 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
Councilmembers Fitzpatrick, McGarrey, Peña, Sanchez, and Mayor Evans
None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Ordinance No. 630
LQMC Amendments – Sections 1.01.003 and 12.20.020
Adopted: March 3, 2026
Page 3 of 3
EXHIBIT A
1.01.003 Contents of code.
The La Quinta Municipal Code shall consist of all ordinances adopted by the city council
which are of general and permanent nature. An ordinance relating to any of the following
subject matters is not considered an ordinance of general and permanent nature and
need not be included within the municipal code:
A. The naming of streets or roads;
B. Granting, altering, or withdrawing franchises;
C. Levying real property tax;
D. Calling an election;
E. Annexation proceedings;
F. Interim zoning measures;
G. Zoning or rezoning a particular parcel of property;
H. Development agreements;
I. Speed limits
J. Such other ordinances of a special or particular subject matter which the council
considers are not appropriate to a general compilation of laws of a general and
permanent nature.
12.20.020 Authority to regulate speeds.
A. Upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, the city council by
ordinance or resolution, may decrease maximum speed limits at intersections adjacent to
parks and outside urban districts and increase limits within urban districts.
B. Upon the basis of an engineering and traffic survey, the city council by ordinance
or resolution may determine the maximum speed limits on arterial streets.
C. Speed limits established pursuant to this section shall be applicable at all or such
times as shall be indicated by official traffic control devices.
A, Ci Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
MONIKA RAD VA, ity Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF LA QUINTA )
I, MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk of the City of La Quinta, California, do hereby certify the
foregoing to be a full, true, and correct copy of Ordinance No. 630 which was introduced
at a regular meeting on the 17th day of February, 2026, and was adopted at a regular
meeting held on the 3rd day of March, 2026, not being less than 5 days after the date of
introduction thereof.
I further certify that the foregoing Ordinance was posted in three places within the City
of La Quinta as specified in the Rules of Procedure adopted by City Council Resolution
No. 2022-027.
DECLARATION OF POSTING
I, MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk of the City of La Quinta, California, do hereby certify that
the foregoing ordinance was posted on March 4, 2026, pursuant to Council Resolution.