The Board of Island County Commissioners (including Diking Improvement District #4) met in Regular Session on May 8, 2000, beginning at 9:30 a.m., in the Island County Courthouse Annex, Hearing Room, Coupeville, Wa., with Wm. L. McDowell, Chairman, William F. Thorn, Member and Mike Shelton, Member, were present. By unanimous motion, the Board approved and signed the following minutes: April 24, 2000 Regular and Special Session; May 1, 2000 Regular Session.

Lou Legat, Island County Engineer, was presented with a CERTIFICATE OF GOOD PRACTICE approved by Resolution of the County Road Administration Board on April 14, 2000.

Steve Nerison, Plan Examiner and Building Inspector, Public Works/Community Development, was presented with the Employee of the Month award for April. Noted was that his efforts in dealing with the Public as well as various Island County contractors regularly earned high praise for his patience and helpful assistance. He willingly takes the extra time to explain the "why" of the Building codes and assist those who need help or clarification on projects.

After presentation and a brief description by Dick Toft, Human Resource Director, the Board by unanimous motion approved the following PAA’s:

In recognition of the upcoming National Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15 and Peace Officers Week May 14 through May 20, 2000, the Board by unanimous motion adopted Resolution #C-45-00 proclaiming May 15 Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week of May 14 through 20 as Peace Officers Week.

BICC 00-289

On presentation and explanation provided by T. J. Harmon, Emergency Services/GSA, the Board by unanimous motion approved and signed Contract Amendment EM010162A between the County and Washington State Military Department for Earthquake Mitigation Contract with the only change being the termination date from November 30, 2000 to September 30, 2000.

As outlined and presented by Cathy Caryl, Central Services Director, the Board approved and signed Amendment E to Maintenance Contract #RM-CENT-95-0017-E with TEC Services to identify and develop additional enhancements and necessary changes to all modules moved from the Unisys mainframe to more manageable client server system completed no later than January 31, 2000, for total amount under the contact not to exceed $340,382.00. Ms. Caryl confirmed this contract amendment was in compliance with the State Auditor’s comments.

At the time of hearing, several interested citizens from the area were in attendance. Lew Legat, Island County Engineer, indicated that the matter came about as a result of receiving received petition by several families living on Woodard Road requesting reduction in speed limit from 35 to 25 mph. From a map posted during the hearing, he outlined the Freeland area and the particular section of Woodard Road proposed for a reduction in existing speed limit, that portion outlined in orange and represented about 1,000 feet. A traffic study determined sight distance at several accesses as stated in the petition were below the current 35 mph sight distance standard. A speed study was not done because of the belief that the hill would influence the speeds up and down the hill. Average daily traffic in this area is estimated at 60o-800 cars on the local access road. The roadway itself is about 22’ wide with very limited shoulder width; sight distance at the crest of the hill is 25 mph. There are signs on Woodard Road as it approaches the highway alerting motorists to a stop ahead. There have not been accidents in the area in the last three years. He confirmed that the recommendation of the Department was to reduce the speed because of limited sight distance on several accesses/driveways in the area, and at the crest of the hill. He commented that the Department had looked into the option of reconstruction rather than reducing the speed limit but because of the amount of right of way and the roadway not centered in the right of way, it would take more than just a quick fix to reconstruct that section of roadway to comply with a 35 mph sight distance. A letter was received from Pete and Betty Moore not in favor of the speed limit reduction, but suggested that the speed limit be reduced on Highway 525.

John Berg, Freeland, suggested what was proposed would create another batch of scoff laws. when speed limit on Fish Road was changed to 35 mph there was for a time an officer with radar gun; once departed everyone went back to driving at the prior speed. There are a total of 9 driveways in the section proposed for reduction. School bus goes by several times a day and people stop behind the buss or in front and there are not going to be any accidents and people are not going to change their driving customs and would result in a bunch of people breaking a new law. He was strongly opposed to the speed limit reduction.

Iris Morrow, Freeland resident off Woodard Road, was delighted with the proposal for reduction in speed limit. Coming out of her driveway they really cannot see what is coming from one end. Although there have never been any accidents, some teens do tend to come barreling along and since she and her husband are of an age where reaction time is a little less, they support the reduction.

Commissioner Shelton supported the reduction in speed limit because of the Morrows’ driveway and another driveway even closer to the crest of the hill that makes it a dangerous intersection. This will provide additional warning to the motoring public breaking over the top of the hill and immediately confronting a stop sign. Trinity Lutheran Church has an access onto Woodard Road which potentially leads to a very congested area with poor sight visibility that has immediate access to the State highway.

Commissioner Thorn supported Commissioner Shelton’s comments 100%; potential for accident is high and believed the Department provided the appropriate recommendation.

Chairman McDowell recalled a friend recently having lost a daughter on a hill crest similar to this one, and he supported the speed limit reduction.

By unanimous motion, the Board approved Ordinance #C-39-00 (R-17-00) regulating speed limit on a portion of Woodard Road from 35 to 25 mph.

WHEREAS, on April 17, 2000, the Board of County Commissioners set May 8, 2000, as the date for a public hearing on reducing the speed limit on a portion of Woodard Road from 35 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour; and

WHEREAS, an engineering and traffic investigation has been made relative to the above described road; and

WHEREAS, from review of the information obtained during said engineering and traffic investigation, 35 miles per hour is greater than is reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist upon the road described on the attached Exhibit "A"; and

WHEREAS, regulation of maximum vehicle speeds and traffic control upon County roads is a function of police power properly exercisable by the Board of County Commissioners; Now, therefore,

BE IT HEREBY ORDAINED by the Board of County Commissioners of Island County, Washington, as follows:

PASSED INTO LAW this 8^th day of May, 2000 following public hearing.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

10.01.260 "W" Roads. The maximum speed limit on the road listed below shall be as follows:

1. Woodard Road, Road Log #21950, from SR 525 (M.P. 0.30) south to M.P. 0.49, twenty-five (25) miles per hour, from M.P. 0.49 south to Lancaster Road, Road Log #92060, Sections 10 and 15,

The Board reviewed with Mr. Kwarsick the matter of proposed Resolution R-21-00 Executing State Revolving Fund (SRF) Loan Agreement between Island County and Washington State Department of Ecology for West Beach Lake Acquisition Loan, tabled from the last meeting.

Mr. Kwarsick planned to discuss with the Board at the May 17^th Staff Session the draft 6 year Capital Improvement Program and the 6 Year Transportation Improvement Program which has a scenario to avoid debt service in the form of a bond and associated costs of bonding by internal fund loans. The source fund for internal fund loans would be the Solid Waste Fund. His concern with the proposal for a loan from Solid Waste for this purchase would be the adequacy of the funds to handle all three interfund loans and he wanted an opportunity to look further into that.

ACTION: issue tabled for one week.

As recommended by the County Engineer, based on lowest and best bids, by unanimous motion, the Board awarded three bids as follows:

• Liquid Asphalt Materials to Chevron Products for the period from May 1, 2000 to May 1, 2001.
• Asphalt Concrete Materials to Lakeside Industries for Modified Class G mix, Class B mix, ATB, and Tack Coat Oil, for the period from May 1, 2000 to May 1, 2001
• Traffic Control Signs to Zumar Industries for a period of 2 years with two 1 year extensions.

ATTEST: _______________________

Margaret Rosenkranz, Clerk of the Board