Meeting sets plan for future
Lou Marzeles
News Editor
Much of last Wednesday's Goldendale Planning Project meeting was spent enthusiastically identifying what makes the area a great place to live, and that enthusiasm continued into the practical phase of forming action committees.
Some 65 people filled the Grange Hall to take action on renovation and improvements to the area. The meeting was a follow-up to one last April, which identified initial priorities.
After opening remarks from Mayor Arletta Parton, the audience viewed presentations from members of the American Planning Association (APA) and Mindy Blomquist, executive director of the Greater Goldendale Chamber of Commerce.
George Sharp of the APA took a significant block of time to ask every member of the audience to rise and introduce themselves-and tell why they loved Goldendale. What followed was a comprehensive listing of area attributes. They included geological diversity, unobstructed views of natural beauty, low population density, strong work ethic, pride of ownership, the Goldendale Observatory, Victorian homes, being a great place to raise a family, and-the most frequently cited quality-good people.
"This is just a wonderful place," one person stated. "Where else can you stop your car in the middle of the street and start talking with the person in the next car, and no one honks?"
Mike Cannon of the County Economic Development Council told of seeing a parade in town once in which half of the marchers went in one direction and the other half in a totally different direction. "When that other half came back," he said, "people were cheering them on."
Riding the crest of inspiration arising from the steady stream of positive comments, Sharp then guided the audience into practical steps for moving forward. He conducted a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis, asking the audience to identify factors that would go under each category. Strengths again took center stage; qualities cited included geographic location, limited building heights, activities, room for growth, cheap power, being the county seat, a hospital, a strong artist community, the library, law enforcement, a golf course, great restaurants, senior services, and the fact that this is the only Goldendale in the United States.
Weaknesses identified included weeds in overgrown lots, rampant deer, a high poverty demographic, increasing light pollution, retail leakage (the tendency to shop out of town), junked cars, run-down houses, and no night life. The latter factor was cited in reference to studies that show that 70 percent of tourism dollars are spent after 6 p.m.
Blomquist then presented an overview of the Goldendale Planning Project proposal, which suggested creation of three primary action committees to act simultaneously and in conjunction with each other. The three committees-business development, Highway 97 signage, and revitalization-were subsequently formed, and the audience broke into their choice of committees. The meeting continued in committee discussion and gave brief concluding reports, with commitments made to continue monthly meetings and give regular accounts of progress.
New city parking law in effect
Lou Marzeles
News Editor
City Administrator Larry Bellamy says Goldendale's new parking ordinance will enhance its "curb appeal" and provide greater safety, particularly around schools.
"The majority of the community wants that curb appeal," Bellamy says. That's the aesthetic sense of how a city's traffic and parking areas look. "We're responding to that majority view."
The new parking regulations went into effect Oct. 1, and they include significant differences from the previous ordinance.
"Police officers will start issuing warnings" when violations of the new ordinance occur, Bellamy says, "but not citations initially. We're hoping for voluntary compliance, and we need to inform the public about the changes."
Following is an overview of the ordinance's key details:
U-turns
• U-turns are legal only at street intersections or street ends except at all four-way stop intersections.
School zone
• The school zone is defined as being Schuster Street from Collins to Simcoe; Simcoe from Schuster to Roosevelt; Roosevelt from Simcoe to Collins; Brooks from Roosevelt to King; King from Brooks to Collins; and Collins from Roosevelt to Schuster. The speed limit in this zone is 20 miles per hour.
Speed limits
• Thirty miles per hour is the limit on Simcoe Drive from South Columbus Street to Highway 97; on North Columbus from the bridge overpass for the Little Klickitat River to the north city limits; on South Columbus from south city limits to Industrial Park Way; and on Bickleton Road from Broadway to the east city limits.
• In areas other than those just defined, the city speed limit is 25 miles per hour.
Parking
•Legal parallel parking is right-hand wheels within 12 inches of and parallel to the curb.
• If your vehicle is 21 feet or longer, you can't park in any angled parking space; it's parallel parking only.
• Whether you're an individual or a business, you can't have a vehicle parked anywhere for the purposes of selling or storing it.
• You can't park, stand or stop a vehicle in any alley, along any curb or sidewalk painted yellow (whether or not signs give notice), to sell anything without a permit, adjacent to any parked vehicle, on a sidewalk or planting strip, within an intersection or crosswalk, on any bridge, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, within 20 feet of a crosswalk or fire station entrance, or within 30 feet of any traffic signal or sign.
Parking zone and time periods
• No parking between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. on West Main between Columbus and Golden; East Main between Columbus and Chatfield; South Grant between Main and Court; and North Grant between Main and Broadway.
• There is two-hour parking only between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on West Broadway north for 150 feet east of the Grant Street intersection; and North Grant east for 100 feet north of the Broadway intersection.
• You can't park anywhere in the school zone (see above) when school buses are loading or unloading.
Seventy-two hour limitation
• You can't park anywhere on any city right of way for longer than 72 hours. If it's a street in the city of Goldendale, you are not allowed to park any vehicle for any reason longer than that. The limitation extends to planting strips, that space between a sidewalk and the curb.
Trailers, campers, motor homes, and trucks
• You can't detach and leave any utility/camper/hours trailer or camper on any city street or alley. The same applies to trucks, motor homes, and anything that can be attached to a towing vehicle.
KVH gets city rezoning extension
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
The Goldendale City Council heard a request by KVH Chief Executive Officer MaLisa Mudgett to waive some of the requirements set forth by the Council for KVH's rezoning request. The matter has been before the Council for several months and involves improvements to an area currently used for employee parking.
Mudgett told the Council that a number of the required tasks had been completed at a cost of $7,300 and that, given the tight financial status of the hospital and the fact that new management had recently initiated strategic planning, they were reluctant to complete the project which calls for chip sealing the parking lot and dealing with drainage at an additional cost of $45,000. Mudgett was concerned that the chip sealing could be money wasted if the strategic plan calls for a different use of the parking lot.
The city's primary concern, as stated by public works director, Keith Grundei, is treatment of the parking lot prior to repairs to Garfield Street and the drainage at the Garfield, Allyn Street intersection. Mudgett indicated strategic planning should be completed within six months, which would be prior to project work by the city. The Council voted to extend the rezoning request another nine months.
Grundei also reported that paving on Broadway is expected to occur this Friday with work on cross streets as well. City administrator Larry Bellamy reported that the state intends to overlay Broadway in 2011 and the city will seek funds to take advantage of the state work for related city projects.
The Council proceeded with the proposed changes in water rate, selecting option three, as presented by the water rate committee. Option three is expected to bump medium use, residential home fees about $5.50/mo.and nearly double the annual cost for multiple unit, commercial housing. The proposed ordinance could be ready for first reading as early as the next Council meeting.
In other business, the Council passed a resolution committing the city to spend $15,000 plus $1,000 in-kind as a match for a $25,000 grant for a feasibility study for a business incubator in Goldendale. Also, Bellamy presented the first draft of the proposed budget for 2010 and announced that a budget workshop would be held on Monday, Oct. 12, and the public is invited. Bellamy also announced the hiring of Sandy Wells, who will fill the position vacated by Cora Heid. |
