HomeMy WebLinkAboutord1996-053WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO. 1996 - 285
CLEARANCES Date Date Received in Council Office Agenda Date Assigned To
Orig. Dept.:
7/17/gg
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OCT 0 9 1996,
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WHATCOM G0UNTY
COUNCIL
7/23/96
Public Works Council
Division Head:
Dept Head:
Prosecutor:
/Budget:
Executive:
SUBJECT.•
Ordinance establishing a drunk driving victim memorial sign program
ATTACHMENTS
SUMMARY STATEMENT.•
Related County Cotract #: I Should the Clerk schedule a hearing? (Y/1) Requested Date:
On July 23, 1996, the Council's Public Works Committee discussed . information regarding the feasibility of establishing a
"memorial sign program" in Whatcom County for victims involved in drunk driving accidents. The program would be
patterned after the Washington State Department of Transportation's program on state routes. The purpose of the program is
to heighten public awareness to the tragic consequences of drinking and driving.
The Public Works Committee requested that an ordinance be drafted and introduced on August 6. The draft ordinance was
discussed.in committee and at the full Council meeting on September 3. The ordinance was held in committee and will be
discussed further on September 17.
RECOMMENDED MOTION (for final action):
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN
ZOO flZJ19t5: Held in Committee until Ordinance is drafted for
introduction
8/6/96: Introduced
9/3/96: Held in Committee
9/17/96: Discussed in Committee. Held indefinately
10/29/96: Held in Council. Reschedule on 11/12196
11/12196: Substitute Amended & adopted 7 - 0. Ord. #96 -053
Related File Numbers:
luction
Ordinance or Resolution Number (this item only):
1
memsgmord 11/6/96 SPONSORED BY: Brenner
PROPOSED BY: Barbara Brenner
INTRODUCTION DATE: 8/6/96
ORDINANCE NO. 96 -053
2 AMENDING THE WHATCOM COUNTY CODE BY CREATING CHAPTER 12.56, VICTIM
3 MEMORIAL SIGN PROGRAM
4 WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council has been approached by the Mother's Against Drunk
5 Drivers (M.A.D.D.) to establish a drunk driving. victim memorial sign program along County roads to be
6 paid for by sponsors of the accident victims, and
7 WHEREAS, the Washington State Dept. of Transportation ( WSDOT) has implemented a pilot
8 program for drunk driving victim memorial signs along State Highways, and
9 WHEREAS, the WSDOT is encouraging the expansion of the scope of the program State wide, and
10 WHEREAS, all such signs will be installed by County crews on County Roads at no cost to the
11 County, and
12 WHEREAS, it appears to be in the public interest to authorize the installation of such signs along
13 County roads within Whatcom County, Washington.
14 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that the Public Works
15 Department of Whatcom County is hereby authorized to install drunk driving victim memorial signs along
16 County roads in Whatcom County, Washington, subject to the following provisions:
17 1. Signs shall not exceed 24" x 36" on County roads, and the memorial plaques shall not
18 exceed 12" x 24" on County roads.
19 2. One sign post shall be placed per accident site. Sponsor has option of one sign per
20 each direction, or one sign only. If requests exceed locations, sponsor may add
21 memorial plaque to existing sign post.
22 3. Sign shall be located within one - quarter mile of the accident site for safety reasons.
23 .4. Signs must be placed on the back side of the ditch line or outer edge of the right -of-
24 way if no ditch line exists. Signs shall be located and placed by County crews.
25 5. This ordinance will sunset December 31, 1999 unless extended by a majority vote of
26 the Whatcom County Council. The existing signs will be reviewed before the sunset
27 date. Signs shall be retired after five (5) years unless an extension is requested -by the
28 sponsor. The decision to extend will be granted based on a review of the following
29 factors: Sign condition; availability of location, and cost to upgrade.
1
2
6.
Memorial signs shall only be approved for sponsors where there is full immediate family
3
consent. For the purpose of this ordinance, "full immediate family" shall consist o f
4.
spouse, parents, children and siblings."
5
7.
The total number of locations in the County shall not exceed twelve (12). Each lorrtion
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shall have one (1) sign post with no two (2) posts located within one -half mile ofeach
7
other. Additional memorial plaques on the same post will not be considered
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additional locations.
9
8.
Signs may be installed if the driver was convicted of a vehicular homicide under the
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purview of RCW 46.61.520, was fatally injured or caused a fatality and shown to be
11
Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) based on blood toxicology reports. Signs for other
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traffic safety- related fatalities will not be precluded by this ordinance.
13
9.
The entire sign cost, including billing, together with placing and erecting the signs shall
14
be paid by the sponsors but shall be located and placed by County crews. .
15
10.
Replacement costs of the signs, due to damage, theft, or disrepair shall be the
16
responsibility of the sponsor. Replacement shall not occur unless sponsor so requests.
17
11.
All such work by the sign crews shall be coordinated with the Traffic Engineer of the
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Public Works Department for location approval.
19 12. The Traffic Engineer of the Whatcom County Public Works Department shall be
20 authorized to determine sign locations, whether additional signs would be a hazard
21 to the motoring public, and also to determine when such sign is in need of
22 replacement.
23 ADOPTED this 12 day of November , 1996
24 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
25 TE . WHATCO COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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26
27 Dana rown- Davis, ncil L. Ward Nelson, Council Chair
28 APPROVED AS TO FORM: ApI () Denied
29 A
30 Daniel Gibson, Civil Deputy Prosecutor e Kremen, County Executive