General Information

Government Type

Municipality

Entity

Moab

Public Body

Notice of Ordinance Adoptions

Notice Information

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Notice Title

Ordinance 2026-12

Notice Tags

'speed'

Notice Type(s)

Notice

Event Start Date & Time

June 10, 2026 08:00 AM

Description/Agenda

MOAB CITY COUNCIL ORDINANCE: #2026-12 AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING ORDINANCE NO. 2020-15 AND AMENDING SECTION 10.04.090 OF THE MOAB MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SPEED LIMITS FOR STREET-LEGAL VEHICLES, INCLUDING STREET-LEGAL ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES RECITALS WHEREAS, on October 20, 2020, the Moab City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2020-15, which imposed a fifteen mile per hour speed limit for off-highway vehicles, not including motorcycles, on City roads when appropriate signs giving notice were erected; and WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 2020-15 was adopted to address noise, traffic, safety, public health, welfare, and quality-of-life impacts associated with the operation of certain off-highway vehicles on City streets; and WHEREAS, Section 10.04.090 of the Moab Municipal Code includes language implementing Ordinance No. 2020-15; and WHEREAS, the City Council has considered applicable provisions of State law and local law, including Utah Code §§ 41-6a-102, 41-6a-602(2), (3), and (5), 41-6a-603, 41-6a-1509, 41-22-10.5, and 41-22-2, and Moab Municipal Code Chapter 10, including Section 10.04.090; and WHEREAS, Utah law authorizes certain street-legal all-terrain vehicles to operate on public streets when such vehicles satisfy applicable requirements under State law; and WHEREAS, not all off-highway vehicles, golf carts, or other similar vehicles are street-legal vehicles authorized to operate on public streets within the City; and WHEREAS, the City desires to clarify that only street-legal vehicles, including street-legal all-terrain vehicles authorized under State law, may operate on public streets and highways within the City unless otherwise expressly authorized by applicable law; and WHEREAS, the City's operational experience in seeking to implement and enforce Ordinance No. 2020-15 has identified practical enforcement challenges and ambiguities in State law that hinder the City's ability to achieve the ordinance's goals; and WHEREAS, the City continues to recognize that street-legal all-terrain vehicle traffic can contribute to noise and traffic impacts in Moab, including because of roadway connections to surrounding trail systems, traffic volumes, and the geographic characteristics of the Moab Valley; and WHEREAS, the cumulative impacts of increased street-legal all-terrain vehicle use on certain City streets remain a matter of public concern, including with respect to noise, traffic flow, pedestrian safety, bicycle traffic, dispersed parking, and the public health, welfare, and safety of City residents and visitors; and WHEREAS, the City desires to continue regulating vehicle speed and the impacts of vehicle traffic within the City through generally applicable speed limits governing street-legal vehicles, including street-legal all-terrain vehicles, in a manner consistent with applicable State law; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that establishing a process for the City Engineer to evaluate City streets and recommend posted speed limits for street-legal vehicles, including street-legal all-terrain vehicles, will better allow the City to address roadway-specific conditions while preserving public safety, reducing noise impacts, and promoting the public health, welfare, and safety; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to repeal and replace Ordinance No. 2020-15 and to repeal and replace Section 10.04.090 of the Moab Municipal Code as set forth in Exhibit A. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Moab City Council as follows: Section 1. Repeal and Replacement of Ordinance No. 2020-15 and Section 10.04.090. Ordinance No. 2020-15 is hereby repealed and replaced. Section 10.04.090 of the Moab Municipal Code is hereby repealed and replaced in its entirety with the language contained in Exhibit A, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein. Section 2. Severability. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any part of this ordinance is unconstitutional or invalid, then such portion of this ordinance, or specific application of this ordinance, shall be severed from the remainder, which shall continue in full force and effect. Section 3. Direction to Mayor and Staff. The Mayor and staff are authorized and directed to take such steps as may be needed: (a) for this ordinance to become effective under Utah law, including but not limited to compliance with the posting requirements of Utah Code § 10-3-711; (b) to post copies of this ordinance and any approved map or schedule of affected speed limits to the City's website and to the Utah Public Notice Website, as applicable; (c) to otherwise finalize and post the ordinance, including but not limited to making non-substantive edits to correct any scrivener's, formatting, and numbering errors; and (d) to take such other steps to notify the public of this ordinance that the Mayor or City Manager may deem necessary. Section 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall become effective immediately upon posting. [Execution on following page] ADOPTED AND APPROVED at a duly called meeting of the Moab City Council on this 9th day of June 2026. MOAB CITY ___________________________________ By: Joette Langianese, Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________________ Sommar Johnson, Municipal Recorder City Council Vote as Recorded: Council Member Loftin ______ Council Member Knuteson-Boyd ______ Council Member Myers ______ Council Member Taylor ______ Council Member Topper ______ Date published on the Utah Public Notice Website per Utah Code § 10-3-711: ______________________________________________________________________________ Effective date of ordinance: ______________________________________________________________________________ SUMMARY OF MOAB CITY ORDINANCE NO. 2026-12 On June 9, 2026, the Moab City Council enacted Ordinance No. 2026-12 repealing and replacing Ordinance No. 2020-15 and amending Section 10.04.090 of the Moab Municipal Code regarding the establishment of speed limits for street-legal vehicles, including street-legal all-terrain vehicles. ADOPTED AND APPROVED at a duly called meeting of the Moab City Council on this 9th day of June 2026. MOAB CITY ___________________________________ By: Joette Langianese, Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________________ Sommar Johnson, Municipal Recorder City Council Vote as Recorded: Council Member Loftin ______ Council Member Knuteson-Boyd ______ Council Member Myers ______ Council Member Taylor ______ Council Member Topper ______ A complete copy of Ordinance No. 2026-12 is available in the office of the Moab City Recorder, located at 217 East Center Street, Moab Utah 84532. EXHIBIT A 10.04.090 Prima Facie Speed Limit. A. Definitions. For purposes of this section, 'street-legal all-terrain vehicle' means an all-terrain vehicle authorized under Utah law to operate on public streets and highways. 'Street-legal vehicle' means a vehicle authorized under State law to operate on public streets and highways. B. Posted Speed Limits. When appropriate traffic control or regulatory signs giving notice of speed limits are posted, the prima facie maximum speed limits designated upon such signs shall apply to the streets or portions of streets so posted. Unless otherwise expressly provided by applicable State law or City ordinance, posted speed limits within the City apply to street-legal vehicles, including street-legal all-terrain vehicles authorized under State law to operate on public streets. C. Default Speed Limit. In the absence of any speed limit sign designating a speed limit applicable thereto, the prima facie speed limit shall be twenty miles per hour. D. Vehicles Authorized on Public Streets. Only street-legal vehicles, including street-legal all-terrain vehicles authorized under State law, may be operated on public streets and highways within the City. Except as otherwise expressly authorized by applicable State law or City ordinance, it is unlawful to operate any off-highway vehicle, golf cart, or other vehicle that is not authorized for operation on public streets or highways within the City. E. Establishment of Posted Speed Limits. When requested by the City Council or City Manager, the City Engineer shall evaluate one or more City streets or portions of streets and prepare recommended speed limits for street-legal vehicles, including street-legal all-terrain vehicles authorized under State law to operate on public streets. In preparing such recommendations, the City Engineer shall consider applicable legal requirements, traffic engineering and safety considerations, and any other factors the City Engineer determines relevant, including but not limited to: 1. Noise, including noise impacts; 2. Volume of traffic; 3. Heavy use by street-legal all-terrain vehicles; 4. Heavy pedestrian use; 5. Dispersed parking; 6. Bicycle traffic; and 7. Such other considerations the City Engineer believes are necessary to protect the public health, welfare, and safety. F. Review and Approval of Recommended Speed Limits. The City Engineer shall provide the recommended speed limits developed under Subsection 10.04.090.E to the City Manager to review. After receiving the City Engineer's recommended speed limits, and making any modifications the City Manager deems necessary, the City Manager shall present the recommended speed limits to the City Council to review. The City Council may approve, reject, or modify the recommended speed limit the City Manager presents to the City Council at a duly noticed public meeting of the Council. G. Effective Date of Posted Speed Limits. Any speed limit established under this section shall become effective and final when appropriate traffic control or regulatory signs giving notice of the speed limit are posted.

Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations during this meeting should notify the Recorder's Office at 217 East Center Street, Moab, Utah 84532; or phone (435) 259-5121 at least three (3) working days prior to the meeting.

Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation

N/A

Meeting Information

Meeting Location

217 E. Center St.
Moab, UT 84532
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Contact Name

Sommar Johnson

Contact Email

sommar@moabcity.org

Contact Phone

(435)259-2683

Notice Posting Details

Notice Posted On

June 10, 2026 08:08 AM

Notice Last Edited On

June 10, 2026 08:08 AM

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