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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Hearing - BOCCOpen Record Public Hearing Ordinance amending Ch. 11.04 of the Grant County Code titled "Maximum Speed Limits" (Rd 5- NW/Whitetrail Rd) February 15, 2022 3:30 p.m. In Attendance: Danny E. Stone, Chair Rob Jones, Vice -Chair Cindy Carter, Member Barbara J. Vasquez, Clerk of the Board Sam Castro, Public Works Director Sam Dart, Assistant Public Works Director Public: See sign in sheet 3:31 p.m. The Commissioners held an Open Record Public Hearing to consider an Ordinance amending Ch. 11.04 of the Grant County Code titled "Maximum Speed Limits" (Rd 5-NW/Whitetrail Rd). Sam Castro, Public Works Director, stated that the Commissioners received a petition signed by 37 constituents which was in 2 parts: a) Change the speed limit back to 35 mph on Road 5 -NW between Highway 281 and Road R -NW. b) Change the speed limit from 60mph to 45 mph on Road 5 -NW between Road R -NW and Road T - NW. Mr. Castro stated that the notice of hearing contained part a) only. Public Works will address part b) in the future via a public hearing. A map was displayed on the screen. Mr. Castro mentioned a traffic study that had been completed in August 2021 showing that the speed limit average was 53 mph and in the 85th percentile. The average daily traffic count was 4589 cars. He submitted a recommendation to reduce the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph. Review of the accidents in the area were due to inattention, speeding, fell asleep and distracted which are all driver caused accidents. Commissioner Stone asked the audience if anyone was there to speak against the lowering of the speed limit. No one raised their hand. The rest of the audience wanted to speak in favor of the speed limit lowering. Thayne Rich spoke for the group of people that signed the petition to lower the speed limit. He thanked everyone for placing the reader board out in the area with the public hearing information on it. Roy Sharp, a resident of Road 5 -NW asked what is the real purpose of lowering the speed limit? Was the traffic survey done before the construction of the round -a -bout? He stated that all traffic was detoured through Road 5 and now it's a more known road. Trucks and cars no longer have to travel through Quincy. He stated there is no real purpose to lowering the speed limit because it makes no difference. There is no enforcement of the speed limit in the area. Commissioner Jones stated that when he is traveling on Rd 5 to Wenatchee, his GPS tells him to drive that area which will increase the traffic in that area. Beau Lamens — Grant County Sheriff's Office Motor Traffic Unit Supervisor. The Sheriff is in support of the speed limit lowering. He says most the of the speeders are from out of town. GPS directs commercial vehicles that way. Possible advanced signage in the area. The decriminalization of traffic stops has made an impact. Thayne Rich — why lower the speed limit? Public generally drives 10 over so they feel that reducing the speed will help with this. A motion was made by Commissioner Jones, seconded by Commissioner Carter, to close the public comment portion of the hearing. The motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Commissioner Carter, seconded by Commissioner Jones to adopt the ordinance as presented. The motion passed unanimously.