Citizen concern is primarily pedestrian
By Kevin Hanson
The Courier-Herald
Yielding to complaints about the busy intersection of Semanski Street and Warner Avenue, the city of Enumclaw will soon be hiring a traffic engineer to develop a list of alternatives to best serve the needs of both pedestrians and motorists.
There are plenty of both trying to pass through the intersection, which is home to Enumclaw High School. The situation gets particularly sticky in the morning and mid-afternoon, immediately before school begins and right after the final bell rings.
A city staff request to hire an engineer was approved 3-2 by members of the Enumclaw City Council during their regular meeting of April 25. Councilmen Glen Jensen, Mike Ennis and Kevin Mahelona voted in favor of the traffic study, while Jim Hogan and Jeff Beckwith opposed the idea; council members Sean Krebs and Jennifer Krebs were absent.
"For a number of years we've been getting complaints," said City Administrator Mark Bauer, adding that it's primarily pedestrians who have gripes with the current situation.
Now, there are stop signs on Warner Avenue, allowing traffic to pass freely through the intersection on Semanski.
The last time the city made improvements to Warner Avenue, Bauer said, the plan called for creation of a four-way stop. The Enumclaw School District expressed concerns at that time, however, and the city scrapped its idea to add stop signs to Semanski Street.
Bauer said a traffic engineer will consider turning the intersection into a four-way stop, but will consider additional alternatives, as well - including a traffic signal, manual traffic control and leaving the situation as it is.
The city has hired Parametrix to do the work at an estimated cost of $9,450. The money will come from a reserve account in the city's Street Fund.
In other business during their most recent meeting, members of the City Council:
€ heard updates from leaders of three organization partially funded by the city. Making presentations were Cathy Rigg, executive director of the Enumclaw Area Chamber of Commerce; Pat Peterson, executive director of the Enumclaw Youth and Family Outreach Center; and Mari Roll, executive director of Plateau Outreach Ministries.
€ announced the city has reached agreement to purchase needed property for expansion of the wastewater treatment plant. A purchase price has not been negotiated, but the city has reached an understanding with the owner of property immediately north of the site.
€ agreed to temporarily lease space in the city-owned building at 911 Battersby Ave. to Tae Kwon Do Connection.
Kevin Hanson can be reached at khanson@courierherald.com.
