HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works April 13 20101
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Safety Committee
April 13, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Chair Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Ken Mann and Carl Weimer.
Absent: None.
Also Present: None.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. ORDINANCE AMENDING, ON AN INTERIM BASIS, WHATCOM COUNTY CODE
10.44, HORSES ON CERTAIN ROADS (AB2010 -145A)
Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, gave a staff report and stated the bike lane in
Birch Bay was never adopted. There was federal funding to create the bike lane, but those
federal records aren't kept for more than three years. Therefore, it is currently a bike
route, not a bike lane.
Discussion included the bike lane versus a bike route; whether they should remove
the bike lane symbol; State insurance and licensing requirements; where to submit the plan
of operation; leaving the "no horses" signs in place; deciding how to sign the area, and;
adopting the shorter version of the ordinance.
The following people spoke:
• Bill Elfo, County Sheriff, suggested changes. Don't require the Sheriff's Office
to do inspections.
• Roger Edmunds, 8491 Blaine Road, Blaine, stated he plans to run the service
from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the evenings. He can pull over if cars get
behind him. The State licensing and permitting requirements are ambiguous.
The driver needs to carry a Washington State driver's license.
Brenner stated Public Works Engineering staff will set conditions that will be
monitored by the Public Works Department. Rutan stated the use can be administered
under a road waive use permit called a "right -of -way use permit."
Brenner moved to amend Whatcom County Code section 10.44.025, "This chapter
does not apply to for -hire horse drawn carriage rides that operate between the he s of
Public Works and Safety Committee, 4/13/2010, Page 1
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PM en Sunday te 2 PM en Friday Monday through Thursday after 6 p.m. and Sunday
between the hours of 2 and 4 p.m. on Birch Bay Drive...."
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Mann and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
Weimer moved to amend section 10.44.025, Harborview Road and Alderson
Road,
SheFi€€ which have obtained an approved right -of -way use permit from the Whatcom County
Public Works Department. The plan ef epeFatieRs permit will at a minimum include a
description...."
The motion to amend carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Mann and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
The following person spoke:
• Doralee Booth, 8188 Birch Bay Drive, stated this will be one more thing to
watch for on Birch Bay Drive. They're used to that. Regarding the bike path,
no one is using it as just a bike lane. It's not functioning as solely a bike
lane. Birch Bay residents aren't going to say much if they see a horse and
carriage pull over in the bike lane. Regarding dogs, there is a leash law, but
people love to let their dogs loose. She asked what will happen if dogs come
up to the horse. Another issue is sirens. She prefers that the ordinance be
as simple as possible. People can cross the double yellow line to make room
for others. It's a safety factor. To the residents, it means slow down and be
ca refu 1.
Discussion included whether the horse would be startled by things like dogs and
other distractions; posting signs about the dog leash law at the beach; the traffic pattern on
Birch Bay Drive in the summer; the presence of ice cream trucks, and; No Horse signs in
the summer.
Rutan stated leave the No Horse signs up all year, so it doesn't become a horse
route. During the interim, think about how they need to sign the area.
Mann moved to recommend introduction as amended to the full Council.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Mann and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
Public Works and Safety Committee, 4/13/2010, Page 2
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1 ADJOURN
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3 The meeting adjourned at 2:09 p.m.
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Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council &o.w hatcom .wa.us
16 Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
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Public Works and Safety Committee, 4/13/2010, Page 3