City Council to hold public hearing over parking issues

Washington’s City Council will conduct a public hearing concerning parking issues on North Academy Street and near First Christian Church at the council’s May 9 meeting.

At previous council meetings, Tim Prichard, who lives on North Academy Street, complained about parking congestion and related matters on North Academy Street between East Main and East Second streets. Prichard contended that traffic associated with First Christian Church and its preschool were part of the parking problem. He asked the city to look into his complaints.

Earlier this year, First Christian Church officials agreed to work with Prichard to find equitable solutions to his concerns. The city’s public-works director and planning director have met with Prichard regarding his concerns.

“The Police & Fire Departments have visited the area to see firsthand the congestion/parking concerns in which Mr. Prichard has brought to the City’s attention,” reads a memorandum from Pete Connet, interim city manager, to the mayor and council.

Connet recommends the following:

• The west side of North Academy Street between East Main and East Second streets be marked as a “no parking” zone.
• Mark all curbs at the intersections of East Main and North Academy streets and East Second and North Academy streets 25 feet back from the intersecting curb lines.
• Remove the yellow-marked curb on the south side of East Second Street, except for the area needed as sight distance from its intersection with North Academy Street.
• Mark all curbs on North Academy Street five feet on each side of driveway entrances.
• Create a new crosswalk on East Second Street from the church’s parking lot to the church’s front-entrance area. Erect pedestrian-crossing signs as needed on East Second Street.

At its April 11 meeting, the council decided the city’s green-fleets review committee will review the city’s green-fleets policy ordinance to determine if it needs to be changed. The policy, adopted in June 2009, was put in place to qualify the city for economic-stimulus funds and other grants to reduce vehicle emissions and dependency on fossil fuels.

The committee’s members and when it will begin reviewing the policy have yet to be decided.

The policy has not provided desired results, according to a memorandum from Matt Rauschenbach, the city’s chief financial officer, to the mayor and council.

“Our green fleets initiative began with the conversion to bio-diesel and usage of E-85 gasoline in flex fuel vehicles,” reads the memorandum. “The highway diesel fuel tank was cleaned and transitioned to B20 bio-diesel and a tank installed for E85 gasoline. Our anticipation was for cost and efficiency of fuel to be equal or better than conventional fuels while reducing emissions and be eligible for grants to defray the cost of migrating to these alternative fuels. Our expectations have not been realized: 1) funding was not available for the improvements made to transition to alternative fuels; 2) bio-diesel is more expensive than conventional diesel: 3) some vehicles are unable to operate on bio-diesel; 4) E-85 mileage/gallon loss more than offset the reduced price per gallon. As a result we currently used B5 bio-diesel and have discontinued the use of E85.”

The memorandum notes that city likely will return to diesel with the next fiscal year’s fuel-bid award.