HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works March 30 20101
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works and Safety Committee
March 30, 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: Sam Crawford and Bill Knutzen.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. WORK SESSION REGARDING AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING HORSES ON
BIRCH BAY DRIVE FROM MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER (ORDINANCE 85 -29),
AND DISCUSSION OF A BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO ALLOW CARRIAGE RIDES
ALONG THE DRIVE (AB2010 -145)
The following staff person answered questions:
• Joe Rutan, Public Works Department
Discussion included the issues being Sheriff's Office issues more than Public Works
Department issues; the road being striped as a no passing zone; a car pulling over in the
bike lane to let someone pass; other issues about how the Sheriff will operate; how to sign
Birch Bay Drive because it does not allow horses; horses being considered vehicles on other
roads, and; trying to allow a horse carriage for a year as a pilot project.
The following citizens spoke:
• Roger Edmonds, citizen, stated he came up with the idea for the horse
carriage ride. He described the history of the horse prohibition in Birch Bay.
He has test - driven his horse and carriage over the past few months, and
people seem okay with it. He plans to offer an educational tour of Birch Bay
to the tourists. He intends to provide a roundtrip ride. He's not sure if he will
stop and pick riders up along the way.
• Dora Lee Booth, Birch Bay Drive, stated she informed the Birch Bay
Transportation Committee, and received a variety of responses. She
described the history and reason for the no passing zone. Cars are always
pulling around bicyclists and crossing the line to allow extra room. She
described the comments she received from committee members. At some
point, reconsider the dates in the ordinance. Review an exception after one
year. Most comments were positive. She's fine with changing the bike lane
to a bike route.
• Pat Jerns, 5097 Fern Street, Birch Bay, stated he is in favor of this exception.
The only concern is the safety factor. Consider the possibility of a permit in
case others want to provide this service. Fix the bike lane issue no matter
what. That lane is used for many things right now. The issue of safety
Public Works and Safety Committee, 3/30/2010, Page 1
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should be considered. The limited operating hours should take care of the
safety issues.
Discussion included the only complaint being about how traffic would negotiate
around the carriage; creating appropriate stops where Mr. Edmonds could pull over and let
people pass; getting complaints from Birch Bay Village residents; getting the perspective of
the Sheriff's Office; limiting the service to low- traffic times; creating an exception in Section
1 of Ordinance 1985 -029; allowing the carriage into the bike lane to let a car pass;
changing the bike lane in Birch Bay to a bike route, which would make it a joint -use
shoulder; the number of regular horses using the area in the winter; allowing horses that
are diapered; treating horse riders and carriages equally, and; requirements for State
licensing as a taxi operation.
Rutan suggested amending Section 2 of the ordinance to create an exception for
commercial horse drawn carriage operations. Include the planned route.
Weimer stated pass this as an interim ordinance for six months. They can reassess
it after the first season. He will work with the citizens to develop an ordinance to schedule
in two weeks.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL
1. DISCUSSION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE 2010 ANNUAL CONSTRUCTION
PROGRAM TO INCLUDE POTENTIAL FEDERALLY GRANT FUNDED
STRUCTURAL REHABILITATION OF VARIOUS COUNTY HIGH VOLUME
ROADWAYS (AB2010 -160)
Joe Rutan, Public Works Department, gave a staff report. A second round of federal
stimulus dollars will be available for projects that are shovel -ready in 90 days. There are no
such projects on the six -year program right now, so they have chosen to do structural
repairs and upgrades, and add them to the six -year program. Two $1 million projects
should be included on the road program. The Council must unanimously approve these
projects and put them on the list.
Discussion included what happens to these projects if the County doesn't get the
federal stimulus dollars; how much roadway can be restructured with this anticipated
money; whether repaving Slater Road is an appropriate use of the funds, and; what would
happen to Slater Road if they can't repave it in the next five years.
Mann moved to recommend approval of the resolution to the full Council.
Brenner moved to amend to remove the Slater Road tier two project and add a half
mile to Hannegan Road.
Weimer stated he will vote against the motion. He trusts the judgment of the Public
Works Department staff.
The motion to amend failed by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner (1)
Nays: Mann and Weimer (2)
The motion to recommend approval carried by the following vote:
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Ayes: Mann and Weimer (2)
Nays: Brenner (1)
Weimer stated introduce a second option that reflects Councilmember Brenner's
failed amendment, since they need a unanimous decision. Rutan stated another option is to
approve only the tier one project, project 35, and hold project 36 for now.
Weimer moved to reconsider the committee's vote
The motion to reconsider carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Mann and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
Weimer moved to recommend approval of the resolution as presented, without
project 36. Delete " ... in eenstructien.'
The motion to recommend approval with an amendment carried by the following
vote:
Ayes: Brenner, Mann and Weimer (3)
Nays: None (0)
OTHER BUSINESS
There was no other business.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:44 p.m.
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council(g-.o.w hatcom .wa.us
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43 Dana Brown - Davis, Council Clerk
Barbara Brenner, Committee Chair
Public Works and Safety Committee, 3/30/2010, Page 3