The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink Aboutord1997-029WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 97 -209 CLEARANCES Initial Date Date Received in Council Office: Agenda date Assigned to: -iginator: Eric Schlehuber _.vision Head: ELS S iL /4j r' i �.. " f � U L WWATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL /03/97 Council ELS �` 91 Dept. Head: Jeff Monsen y7i Prosecutor: Randy Watts Purchasing Budget: Executive: Pete Kremen P 7 SUBJECT. Whatcom County Ferry Rates - Annual Review; and proposed Ferry Ordinance ATTACHMENTS: Cover memorandum, with attachments Proposed Ordinance SUMMARYSTATEMENT. Please complete sections of box as appropriate & explain the item below. Related County contract #: N/A Should Clerk schedule a hearing? NO / X / YES / / Requested date: Amount budgeted for this item/project: Is it (or will it be) within budget? YES /_ / NO/ / (Please explain below) Budget line item number(s): C `lance 89 -103, adopted November 16, 1989, established Whatcom County ferry rates. It was amended in 1991 by L aance 91 -046 (filed under AB92 -168) and again in 1993 by Ordinance 93 -040 (filed under AB93- 152A). Those rates will remain in effect until changed by an action of the County Council. The 1989 ordinance also says, "It is the intent of this rate schedule to recover approximately 55 percent of the cost of the ferry operation, exclusive of dock maintenance and operation. Annually the Council shall review this rate schedule at its first meeting in June in order to determine whether additional rate adjustments are necessary to carry out this intent. " [Emphasis added]. The Executive and his staff have been asked to prepare an analysis of ferry costs and revenues to assist the Council in making this determination. An ordinance is proposed to consolidate previous ordinances, to direct establishment of fares through the Unified Fee Schedule, and to require that children under the age of twelve years be accompanied by an adult. ORIGINATOR'S RECOMMENDED ACTION.• 1. "1 move that the Council affirm that the Whatcom County ferry rate schedule is appropriate, and introduce an ordinance to consolidate previous ordinances, to direct establishment of fares through the Unified Fee Schedule, and to require that children under the age of twelve years be accompanied by an adult."(proposed ordinance attached) - or 2. "1 move that the Council request the Administration to prepare a recommendation that will revise the fee schedule as appropriate, and introduce an ordinance to consolidate previous ordinances, to direct establishment of fares through the Unified Fee Schedule, and to require that children under the age of twelve years be accompanied by an adult." (proposed ordinance attached) U )JC I I- - ACTION TAKEN: 1997-209 6/3/97: Introduced 6/17/97: Adopted 7 - 0. Ord. #97 -029 nance or Resolution Number (this item only): b i. q-7 -ate SPONSORED BY: C onG nt PROPOSED BY: Public Works INTRODUCTION DATE: 6/3/97 1 ORDINANCE NO. 97 -029 2 AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 89 -103, 3 AS AMENDED AND RE- ESTABLISHING THE PROVISIONS 4 OF ORDINANCE NO. 89 -103 FOR THE OPERATION OF 5 THE WHATCOM COUNTY LUMMI ISLAND FERRY 6 WHEREAS, it is the intent of the County Council that the rate schedule for the 7 Whatcom County ferry support approximately 55% of the total annual cost of the ferry 8 operation, exclusive of dock maintenance and operation; and 9 WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council, on November 21, 1989, adopted 10 Ordinance 89 -103 establishing Whatcom County ferry rates; and 11 WHEREAS, on July 23, 1991, Ordinance 89 -103 was amended by Ordinance 91 -046 12 to amend a typographical error and clarify language regarding Student Multiride Cards; and 1.5 WHEREAS, on July 13, 1993, Ordinance 89 -103 was further amended by Ordinance 14 93 -040 to add a miscellaneous provision providing for a surcharge on trucks 36,001 pounds or 15 heavier; and 16 WHEREAS, it is deemed advisable at this time to consolidate language from Ordinance 17 89 -103 and amendments thereto as well as an additional amendment, 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that ferry rates are as designated in the Unified Fee Schedule and include at least the following fare categories: CASH FARES - ONE ROUND TRIP Driver /passenger /pedestrian Vehicle: Under 8,002 lbs. 8,002 - 20,000 20,001 - 36,000 36,001 - 50,000 Ferry Ordinance - Page 1 1. Motorcycle 2 Bicycle 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 i.. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 I Children under 12 years when accompanied by an adult Resident school children 12 -18 years during local school year Trailers & Motor homes: Up to 16 feet long 16 to 30 feet long Over 30 feet long (Trailers shall include, but not be limited to, ball hitches, military hitches, fifth wheel in bed of pickup, dump trailers, recreation trailers and mobile homes.) Special Trips (Special trips are a surcharge in addition to the applicable fare.) Fuel Trucks (A weekly run limited to fuel trucks, charged at the regular rate, shall be scheduled by the Public Works Department and published appropriately.) Heavy machinery and motor homes shall be charged at the corresponding vehicle rate. Logging trailers carried on trucks shall be charged regular round -trip rates based on legal licensed load. Over width vehicles or trailers occupying more than one lane shall be charged a 50% surcharge. In addition, the towing vehicles shall be charged a 50% surcharge. MULTIRIDE CARDS - 25 ROUND TRIPS Driver /passenger /pedestrian Senior /student driver /passenger/ pedestrian 12 -22 years Senior vehicle (under 8,001 lbs) Vehicle: under 8001 lbs Motorcycle Vehicle (under 8001 lbs) and driver Motorcycle and driver (Student multiride cards shall be sold to full -time students only. Proof of age and enrollment shall be required at the time of purchase.) Ferry Ordinance - Page 2 COMMUTER PASSES 2 Quarterly vehicle and driver commuter passes may be purchased. A commuter pass allows 3 unlimited trips for a vehicle and driver for three (3) months and shall be permanently affixed 4 in full view of the ferry crew. This pass may be prorated down in cost by the County to 5 reflect time lost during scheduled ferry and dock overhaul periods. 6 BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the following miscellaneous provisions apply: 7 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 8 A) County vehicles shall either pay cash or purchase multiride cards and such revenues 9 shall be credited to the fare income account of the ferry. Should the County elect to 10 handle such usage by account transfer, such incomes shall be credited to fare income as 11 described above. 12 B) Enrolled members of the Lummi Indian Tribe who are issued appropriate identification 13 cards by the Tribe and who have legitimate tribal business upon Lummi Island, as 14 indicated by the Lummi Indian Tribe, shall have free foot passage upon and across the 15 ferry operated by Whatcom County between Gooseberry Point and Lummi Island. On 16 or before June 30 of each year, the Lummi Indian Tribe shall transmit a list of such 17 members to Whatcom County. This list may be supplemented at any time. C) It is the intent that rates listed in the Unified Fee Schedule will recover approximately 19 55 % of the cost of the ferry operation, exclusive of dock maintenance and operation. 20 Annually the Council shall review this rate schedule at its first meeting in June in order 21 to determine whether additional rate adjustments are necessary to carry out this intent. 22 D) Unauthorized use of any card or commuter pass will result in its confiscation. 23 E) Senior citizens as referred to herein are residents of Lummi Island, 65 years or older, 24 with a gross family income equal to or less than that set by the State as the senior 25 deferral income for property taxes. Proof of qualification is the responsibility of the 26 applicant and may include income tax returns or property tax exemptions. 27 F) Multiride cards shall be valid until rates change. Credit for multiride cards purchased 28 after October 1 may be received at the Courthouse towards cards for the following year 29 until January 31 of that year. 30 G) A surcharge shall be charged on vehicles with a licensed gross vehicle weight equal to 31 or greater than 36,001 pounds. The surcharge is designated for dock maintenance and 32 therefore will be included in ferry fare revenue for purposes of determining the 33 percentage of annual cost of ferry operations supported by fares. Ferry Ordinance - Page 3 1 H) All children under the age of twelve years when traveling on the Whatcom County ferry must be accompanied by an adult. An exception to this policy will be made only 3 if the adult parent or guardian signs a waiver exempting Whatcom County from all 4 liabilities for any and all injuries, loss of life, etc. while the child is traveling on the 5 ferry; and 6 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Whatcom County 7 Council that Ordinances 89 -103, 91 -046 and 93 -040 be repealed in their entirety and be 8 replaced by this Ordinance. 9 ADOPTED this 17 day of June, 1997. 10 11 ATTEST: 12 13 own- avis, my Cler 14 APPROVED AS TO FORM: I_ - '�_ �J'Q � �' 16 Civil Deputy Prose t r 17 Ferry Ordinance -Page 4 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON and Nelson, ouncil Chair ( Approved O Denied Pete Kremen, Count Executive Date: �;—,23 —�