Ocean Shores formally will draft a letter to the state Parks Commission expressing some concerns over a proposal to allow wind-powered recreational vehicles on state beaches, including those within the city limits.
The City Council on Monday agreed to have Mayor Crystal Dingler draft a letter to the Parks board asking that such activity not be allowed on the city’s off-leash dog beach south of the Taurus beach approach, and to restrict it from the heavily populated beaches closer to the downtown area. Council members will add their concerns to the letter and it will be presented at a later regular meeting.
“I didn’t have any objection to the wind-powered vehicles” when they first were brought up, Dingler said. “I just didn’t expect it to be (permitted) on the whole length of the beach. We probably have the densest population year-round here of any place on the Washington coast, and a lot of visitors, not just in the summer.”
The Washington Parks Commission in March will act on a recommendation that large sections of the beaches be open to the wind-powered vehicles, which were demonstrated during test periods that began in 2008 and brought out for a recent public meeting at the Ocean Shores Convention Center. They include kite buggies, blo-karts, or kite boards — all now banned on beaches except by special permit.
The vehicles would be limited to a maximum speed of 25 mph, and they would be required to yield the right of way to all pedestrians, horses and vehicles also using the beach, according to Steve Brand, the Parks Department’s partnership and planning manager. Brand, a former North Beach area ranger, told the council Monday that the state wanted to have the city’s concerns addressed and apologized for not bringing the proposed areas to the council sooner.
During the test periods where use was permitted in certain areas, Brand said, “We experienced no documented problems, no big issues. Because of that experience we are proposing to change the rules to allow the vehicles to operate on the beaches in specific area to minimize the potential for conflict.”
Use will not be permitted during state-approved clam digs, he noted, and also agreed there was too much traffic year-round from the Chance a la Mer approach to the Damon Road approach to allow it on that section of beach.
“We’re open to changing the areas,” Brand said. “We’re open to adjusting based on what your recommendations are and the council’s interest.”
Other issues raised were how the rules would be enforced, what restrictions would apply seasonally, how much use it would attract, and whether the state would help improve collection of beach garbage and restroom maintenance.
“That’s why I’m here,” Brand said, expressing a “desire to collaborate” on the new policies.
The Parks Commission meeting will be March 26 at the Better Business Bureau Office, 1000 Station Drive, Ste. 222, in Dupont.
For more information online and to comment on the proposal: http://ift.tt/1EuQ6Lx
Credit Rating
Finance Director Steve Ensley announced the city had received a higher credit rating from Standard &Poor’s Ratings Services, which raised the city from an A-rating to A-plus.
“It’s primarily based on all of our actions to reduce debt and build the reserves back up,” Ensley said of the rating report. “They had a lot of critical things to say about the (local) economy, but the actions that we have collectively taken were enough for them to raise it. That’s good for us.”
One of the significant factors was the city’s ability to refinance the $10 million in Convention Center debt.
“We’ve done the right things, and this is kind of the reward,” Dingler said. “It means that when we go out to refinance something or whatever we need to do, we get a better rate for our citizens. That is really what it is all about.”
Overlake Bridge repair
The city has received an estimate of what it will take to repair the Overlake Bridge, which was closed in December after an inspection found some rot in the wooden structure. The state Department of Transportation estimate was for $32,332 for the timber cap and pile repair. The council voted 5-0 to pay for the repairs from its contingency fund, with the motion made by Councilman John Schroeder.
Beach erosion session
Dingler announced a March 9 study session on jetty beach erosion is being planned with likely participation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Port of Grays Harbor, the city as well as affected residents. The session will start at 2 p.m. with a roundtable discussion on issues, such as the failure of the geotube sand-filled structures designed to stabilize an area north of the jetty.
“I think this will be a very interesting meeting and something that Ocean Shores as a whole needs to pay attention to because we could have some catastrophic problems there,” Dingler said.
No comments:
Post a Comment