Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout0793 ResolutionW RESOLUTION A RESOLUTION SETTING FORTH THE POSITION OF THE CITY OF PASCO IN REFERENCE TO THE U. S. COAST GUARD PROPOSED NAVIGATION CLEARANCE STANDARD REVISIONS FOR THE COLUMBIA RIVER. WHEREAS, navigation clearance requirements have always been administered via public concensus , and WHEREAS, the Cities of Pasco and Kennewick and the Counties of Benton and Franklin have been working cooperatively and intensively on a project (now well under way) for a new bridge structure and up -grading of the Pasco -Kennewick bridge crossing the Columbia River at the present cros- sing site, and WHEREAS, the two highway bridges between Pasco and Kennewick both provide more than 50 -ft. vertical clearance over flood height and more than 50 -ft. over the normal water, and WHEREAS, existing clearances are not impeding now, and are not considered to be impeding future barge and tugboat traffic that the Columbia River may have in the foreseeable future, and WHEREAS, all preliminary studies, agreements by various entities as to funding, and application for funds submitted to the Urban Arterial Board have all been on the basis of the 50 -ft. clearance height, and WHEREAS, the present standard is documented in existing structures, for all of those have been built in accordance with U. S. Corps of Engineers (who managed the Columbia River navigation matters until 1967) navigation clearance permits, and WHEREAS, in 1967 the study and report on navigation, Colubia River and Tribu- taries, expressed no concern about a foreseeable need to alter bridge heights on the Columbia River to accommodate the forecast navigation vessel height, and WHEREAS, the Cities of Pasco and Kennewick and Counties of Benton and Franklin have adopted the lowest cost, austerity program for reconstruction of the old bridge, the new construction calling for 53 -ft. (3 -ft. heigher than the existing bridge), and WHEREAS, all barges and tugs can pass under the proposed height and to our knowledge no barges or tugs of larger structure are proposed to be con- structed in the foreseeable future, and -1- WHEREAS, the additional 10 -ft. height requirement would not allow the use of the existing piers on the present bridge, and WHEREAS, the proposed additional 10 -ft, vertical clearance height would add an increased cost of $4,500,000.00 to the over-all project, NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASCO DO RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1 . The City of Pasco wishes it to be understood by all, that the City is in no way objecting to river navigation; in fact, the City of Pasco encour- ages present and future river navigation. Section 2. The City of Pasco does object to the Coast Guard proposed navigation clearance standard revisions for the Columbia River for the following 1 reasons: 1) Necessary clearance height for Columbia River Crossings were established by a study by the U. S. Corps of Engineers in 1967. 2) Their study of 1967 did not express a need for the additional ten feet (10') for the Pasco -Kennewick Bridge. 3) This regulation would not benefit the communities along the banks of the Columbia River, including Pasco and Kennewick and the Counties of Benton and Franklin. Section 3. The additional 10 -ft. should not be considered unless there would be benefit to the public, and those benefits should be clearly and specific- ally defined. Section 4. If the U. S. Coast Guard, after evaluation of material pre- sented at the Hearing of August 13th, decides for the 10 -ft. additional clearance requirement, then those parties involved in the proposed change should contri- bute the cost of the replacement of the Pasco -Kennewick Bridge. -2- Section S. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect after approval and passage as required by law. PASSED by the City Council and APPROVED by the Mayor this _Z&Lday of leg 7' 1969. Att � A c Cliffg{d DaVgler, Uity Clerk Approved as to form- 42L��� X D. Wayne Cardpbell, City A torney G. E. "Ed" Carter, Mayor -3-