Sumner city council voted unanimously Monday to approve restricted parking in areas near the Sounder train station.
The zones—now classified as RPZ-3 restricted parking zones—are located on both sides of Cherry Avenue between Thompson Street and Willow Street, and on the south side of Harrison Street between Sumner Station and McKinnon Avenue. The RPZ-3 status will restrict parkers to three hours of parking at a time between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The zones were requested by petition in order to reduce parking congestion in front of residences on those streets.
“The zones will be in place in people’s front yards, but not associated with people’s side yards,” Paul Rogerson, the city director of community development, said.
The council also voted unanimously to approve an extension on negotiations to annex land in proximity to the city sewage treatment plant.
Public comment:
Current Maple Lawn Elementary PTA President Nancy Dumas spoke briefly about the interview process for selecting a new member of council for the vacancy left by Richardson. Dumas was the “eighth applicant” for the position, but her paperwork arrived 23 minutes after the deadline.
Dumas noted that the council voted not to ask applicants questions during the interview process.
“I’m curious why, when the first candidate sat down, the first question was about his desire to run in the fall,” she said. “The vote was no, but the first thing was a question.”
Mayor Dave Enslow, the person who had asked the question referenced by Dumas, responded that applicants had a choice whether or not to answer the question, and that it wasn’t meant to have any bearing on the council’s decision.
In other council news:
• The city proclaimed a celebration of Arbor Day and Parks Appreciation on April 30.
• Confirmed the reappointment of Larry Johns to a four-year term on the Parks Board and Gene McCaul and Dennis Tompkins to four-year terms on the Forestry Commission. All terms end April 2015.
• Confirmed the reappointments of Barbara Bitetto, Anita Miller, Marsha Vandenberg, Judy Caviezel, and Charlie Nordeck to the Sumner Arts Commission. All appointees hold three year terms lasting through April 2014. Cynthia Bush was appointed to the Planning Commission for a six-year term ending April 2017. Kevin Clegg and Robert Hansen were appointed to the Design Commission for four-year terms ending April 2015.
Look for more information about the April 18 city council meeting in updates throughout the week and in our April 27 print edition.
