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Home My WebLink About08/06/2002 Adjourned Meeting 104 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 6, 2002 - 7:30 A.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS - CITY HALL 1. ROLL CALL Present: Council: Mayor Mary Place, presiding, Council Members Clarence Barnett, Lynn Buchanan, Paul George, John Puccinelli, and Bernard Sims Staff: Dick Zais, City Manager; Glenn Rice, Assistant City Manager; Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works Department; Shelley Willson, Streets and Traffic Operations Manager; Joan Davenport, Supervising Traffic Engineer; Kris Betker, Traffic Tech II; Linda Rossignol and Royale Schneider from the Code Administration Division; and City Clerk Roberts Absent: Council Member Larry Mattson (excused) 2. REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT REGARDING CLEAR -VIEW AND STREET OBSTRUCTIONS • Introductions After giving a few introductory remarks on this issue, Chris Waarvick introduced the Traffic Engineering and Code Compliance staff members who were present for this discussion. The clear -view regulations are found in two chapters of the Municipal Code: One) Section 8.80 regulates vegetation at street intersections under the authority of the Director of Public Works; and Two) Section 15.01.040 regulates the location of buildings, signs, walls, fences and parking lots within the clear -view triangle under the authority of Code Administration. Council Member Buchanan pointed out a clear -view problem at 24 Avenue and Nob Hill Boulevard caused by the traffic control box. Mr. Waarvick stated that the appropriate staff members now review the plans and specs so that type of problem is not repeated. • Staff Addresses Clear -View Issues Joan Davenport stated that staff wanted to bring three issues to Council's attention: 1) Removal of vegetation blocking regulatory signs: Staff responds, on a complaint or notified basis, to vegetation blocking regulatory signs. She cited several examples and showed slides of the blocked signs. Staff has the authority to trim such vegetation without prior public notice; however, staff 105 AUGUST 6, 2002 — ADJOURNED COUNCIL MEETING notifies the adjacent property owner if it appears that the property owner has been maintaining the tree or plant. The vegetation is trimmed only to the extent that the obstruction is abated, and is done at the expense of the city. Staff is not recommending any changes to this section of the Municipal Code. 2) Enforcement of clear -view ordinance at street intersections: Joan Davenport advised that the current ordinance provides for a clear -view of an 80 by 80 foot triangle to be kept free of vegetation between two and seven feet in height as measured from the intersecting street centerlines at unsignalized intersections. She referenced the map in the council packet that identifies the 80 x 80 foot triangle at 24 Avenue and Tieton Drive. Staff is currently following an administrative policy that measures the clear -view area along the curb line or edge of pavement, extending 15 feet from the intersecting centerline perpendicular to the approach street and extending in either direction of the approach street at a distance dependent upon the posted speed limit. The new policy is based upon standards from the ITE Traffic Engineering Handbook and AASHTO, Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets. This new triangle does not involve as much property depth -wise, yet provides four more sight- distance seconds for the driver to determine if a vehicle is coming. The clear -view approaches in either direction, based upon the speed limits are: 40 mph: 415 feet 35 mph: 360 feet 30 mph: 310 feet 25 mph: 250 feet 20 mph: 225 feet 15 mph: 200 feet She stated that the Municipal Code exempts obstructions such as control boxes, mailboxes, tree trunks and power poles, permitting them to be in the clear -view triangle. While staff investigates quite a number of clear -view complaints, Council doesn't see or hear about them because city staff is able to handle them. Most citizens will take care of the problem after they are told about the regulations. She showed slides of clear -view violations at Park Avenue and Summitview; 30 Avenue and Tieton Drive; 24 Avenue and Tieton Drive; and 24 Avenue and Yakima Avenue. A discussion ensued on whether the rail fencing at 24 Avenue and Tieton Drive constituted a clear -view violation under the zoning ordinance regulations. Council Member Sims stated that staff would have to survey the entire city to determine the extent of the clear -view violations due to vegetation and buildings or fences and their relationship to accidents. Council Member Buchanan spoke in favor of the new triangle dimensions. 3) Trimming of vegetation over streets and sidewalks: Joan Davenport stated that the language in the ordinance provides the authority to have property owners trim vegetation that hangs over and impairs the use of sidewalks and streets, even if the vegetation is not within the clear -view area. The vegetation cannot be lower than 7 feet if it is above a sidewalk. This provision of the Municipal Code is enforced on a complaint basis. She showed some slides 2 106. AUGUST 6, 2002 — ADJOURNED COUNCIL MEETING of sidewalks being blocked by vegetation at "D" Street and 3` Avenue, "I" Street near Buwalda across from Barge Lincoln School, trees by Garfield School, and Linden Way. Linden Way is beautified by the stately, old- growth trees that provide a canopy over the street; however, a request made by a resident to have the street swept had to be denied because the City's street sweeping equipment cannot get down that street. Under the Municipal Code, the minimum height for any overhanging vegetation is 10 feet, which is no longer adequate to accommodate some of the newer equipment. Letters were recently mailed to residents where the streets would be seal coated to advise them that they may . wish to trim their trees so that they are not damaged by the seal coating equipment that reaches up to 18'. Council Member Buchanan felt that the City shouldn't require trees to be trimmed any higher than the 14 -15 feet required by the state. Shelley Willson informed Council that Yakima County requires 18 feet to protect their equipment and pointed out that it is also a safety issue for the employees who operate that equipment. Ms. Willson, joined by Joan Davenport, reported that staff is not requesting that the City ordinance be changed to require 18' of clearance; however, Council may wish to direct staff to develop a policy for a higher minimum canopy. • Related Items Joan Davenport continued with her presentation, stating that staff wanted to point out in its report that a different section in the Municipal Code regulates fencing, walls, signs and buildings, etc. that sometimes affects the clear view. She also advised Council that it is clear in the Municipal Code that property owners are responsible for removal of snow and ice from sidewalks adjacent to their property; however, there is no such regulation requiring property owners to trim or remove vegetation that block sidewalks. Another issue that affects the clear -view at intersections is parked cars, particularly in the downtown area, for which staff does not have a solution at this time. • Council Direction is Given Chris Waarvick stated that, at this time, staff is looking for direction from Council on the existing clear -view triangle versus the clear -view based on the speed limit. During the discussion that ensued, Council Member Sims opined that an assessment of the entire city would need to be done to garner information on the clear -view problems, how many areas would be affected, and what impact this proposed policy would have on the citizens. It was pointed out that the proposed policy would lessen the impact, as illustrated by the slides presented by staff; it disturbs less property. Council Member Sims questioned why the City would want to add more regulations that we don't have the manpower to enforce. Council Member Buchanan expressed his views that we should bring back the revised clear -view in the form of an ordinance and do something about trees that are below the state minimum of 14 -15 feet. Council Members Puccinelli, George, and Barnett favored the change in the clear -view ordinance. Mayor Place also agreed with the staff recommendation to change the policy. Mr. Waarvick reminded Council that city staff is responding to citizen complaints or employee - reported areas; they are not searching for problem areas. After learning about a 3 107. AUGUST 6, 2002 — ADJOURNED COUNCIL MEETING vegetation- trimming program that was eliminated due to budget constraints, Council Member George asked if staff could bring back cost information to - reinstate that program. Mr. Waarvick stated that staff could bring back the cost for a contractor to perform this work. 3. ADJOURNMENT BARNETT MOVED AND PUCCINELLI SECONED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 a.m. • READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: K Q . COUNCIL MEMBER DATE ' 9 17 Wz— COUNCIL MEM: 'R DATE • ATTEST: � .. CITY CLERK MARY PLACE, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Karen Roberts. Audio and video tapes of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office • 4