Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-11-1982 MinutesMINUTES PASCO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING JANUARY 11, 1982 CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at 8:00 P.M. by the Honorable E.A. Snider, Mayor. ROLL CALL: By Deputy City Clerk. Councilmen present were: Susan Boothe, Beverly Green, Charles Grigg, Ira Schmidt, E.A. Snider, Joe Jackson and Emerson Morgan. Also present were: Lee Kraft, City Manager; Greg Rubstello, City Attorney; Diane Dolan, Finance Director; Richard Erickson, Director of Parks and Recreation; John Fifer, Fire Marshall; Webster Jackson, Administrative Assistant and Gary Crutchfield, Community Development Director. VISITORS: There were no visitors wishing to address the council at this time. PUBLIC HEARING: MAYOR SNIDER DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED BUS ROUTES AND BUS ROUTE STOPS IN THE CITY OF PASCO. Mr. Peter Arneil of the Benton-Franklin Public Transportation Benefit Area Authority opened the special meeting by reiterating the bus operating hours (6:00 A.M. - 7:00 P.M. weekdays) and length of each run (every 1/2 hour). Discussion ensued regarding several bus runs needing rerouting. Item #1 regarding bus route serving the lower income area of East Pasco. Citizens were not pleased with the present routing on Beech Avenue, seeking perhaps a loop that served Wehe and Elm Avenues. Mr. Arneil presented two alternatives and the council agreed on a loop that would travel Eastbound on "A" Street to Elm Avenue, North to Parkview, return to town coming Southbound down Wehe Avenue to "A" Street and back to the transit center. Councilman Green asked whether stops had been determined and Mr. Arneil stated they had not but were not crucial at this time. Item #2 regarding bus route presently scheduled to make its way along Pearl Street to Riverview Drive. A question of safety prompted Mr. Arneil to suggest an alternate route from Pearl to Jan Street from 14th to 5th if the council would consider pro- viding stop signs at the intersections of 12th Street, 12th Avenue, 7th Avenue and perhaps 9th Avenue. Mr. Dave Bower, 2008 Riverview Drive, agreed with Mr. Arneil's Jan Street proposal offering from personal experience incidents that had proved Riverview Drive too hazardous for bus travel. Mr. Robert Pervis, 2010 Riverview Drive, concurred with Mr. Bower stating that with stop signs added the route would be much safer. Mr. Henry Kidwell, 4020 West Marie, suggested the route should pass through on Ruby and 20th to serve the large shopping center. Mr. Arneil then explained the transfer system to the council and that all transfers will be made at the transit center where all buses meet every half hour. The buses will not disburse until all buses have arrived at the transit center. He stated the fare will be $.50 (which will include transfers) as long as you keep going in the same direction. The council concurred with Mr. Arneil's proposed Jan Street route. Page Two MINUTES PASCO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING JANUARY 11, 1982 Continued: Mr. Howard Huhs, 1315 West Sylvester, ardently objected to the use of the railroad crossing at "A" Street. He expressed concern for safety of buses crossing these tracks which are heavy with train traffic at all hours of the day, but also the delay factor that can often times tie up traffic 5-8-12 minutes or longer thereby causing havoc with the bus's 1/2 hour schedule. He suggested rerouting under the Lewis Street underpass. Mr. Arneil did not feel there was a safety problem at the tracks since the bus drivers are professionals and must stop at every railroad crossing and signal light intersection. He also felt re- routing through the underpass would cause further delay in the 1/2 hour schedule. He felt we should keep the route as is to try for a while to see if we run into any problems with safety and/or delay. Councilman Morgan agreed with Mr. Huhs and said why wait to change the route after an accident. Mr. Huhs has experience with railroads and bus drivers and realizes this is not a safe crossing. Councilman Jackson also did not approve of crossing the tracks and suggested a route from Lewis Street to 4th and turn South on 4th down to "A" Street. Councilman Grigg stated there was also a crossing in Kennewick and had Mr. Arneil conferred with the Kennewick officials regarding this concern. Mr. Arneil stated he had not and in his previous experience the railroad crossingshad not been a concern. He then suggested an alternate route to have a loop coming in at Lewis Street, making the loop around Wehe and Elm and back up Wehe to Lewis and back through the underpass down First Avenue to "A" and to the bus stop and leaving the transit center it would return again to "A", First and Lewis. This route was acceptable to the council. The last concern Involved Clark Street and Octave bordered by 5th and 10th Avenues. Council Morgan felt there was a lack of service between 5th and 10th considering the bus routes are scheduled on three consecutive streets; namely, 3rd, 4th and 5th Avenues. He wondered at the possibility of running one route down 7th and 8th or 5th and 6th or any combination thereof. Mr. Arneil reminded the council that 6th through 9th streets are only 30 feet in width and would be difficult for a 35 foot -bus to maneuver an acute angle turn on these streets. Rerouting to these streets would also cause undue parking problems for residents. Councilman Grigg then asked "once adopted, can we change routes?" Greg Rubstello, City Attorney assured him that the Council could amend the ordinance. Mr. Edwin G. Frost, 1111 West Irving, reminded the Council to con- sider purchase of buses that are accessible to the handicapped If purchase of said buses are not feasible now, at least make provision for same for future purchase. Mr. Leland Richardson, 1911 North 20th Avenue, stated the proposed stop is on 20th in front of his property on North Pearl Street and suggested a stop South of Pearl. Mr. Arneil suggested the bus stop at a vacant lot (75 feet from the north corner of Pearl) which is between a house on the corner and Mr. Richardson's place. It was the concensus of the Council to leave the proposed bus route as is. Mr. Richard concurred. Page Three MINUTES PASCO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING JANUARY 11, 1982 Continued: Mr. Arneil then thankedthe Council for their assistance in getting a good bus routing network available in Pasco. ADJOURNMENT. Mr. Jackson moved that the special meeting adjourn. Seconded by Mr. Schmidt. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:10 P.M. A. Snider, Mayor ATTEST: eU4/4, Corine Garrison, Deputy City Clerk PASSED AND APPROVED this //P/ day of , 1982.