Goldendale council rejects parking ban, approves 4-way stop at Roosevelt and East Collins

The Goldendale City Council voted 4–3 on May 5 to install a four-way stop at the intersection of South Roosevelt and East Collins after a divided debate over whether to also eliminate parking on the north side of East Collins.

Council members and members of the public discussed sightline and safety concerns near the hospital, existing municipal parking rules, and how much parking would be lost under different options. The council initially considered a Public Works Committee recommendation to remove parking on the north side of East Collins from Roosevelt to Sanders Way and to add the four-way stop. That motion failed. A later motion limited the change to adding the four-way stop and passed 4–3.

The Public Works Committee had recommended removing north-side parking and adding the stop after citing current Goldendale municipal code provisions (no parking within five feet of driveways, no parking within 20 feet of a crosswalk and within 30 feet of a stop sign). Several council members pushed back on immediate removal of parking, saying strict enforcement of existing codes and repainting curb lines could address most problems while preserving a few community parking spots. Supporters of the committee recommendation emphasized daily traffic volumes and difficulties seeing approaching vehicles when pulling from driveways near the hospital campus.

Council discussion included practical details raised by the police chief and committee members: repainting curves and crosswalks, measuring distances between driveways to calculate how many parking spaces would remain if codes were strictly enforced, and the likely effect of removing the north-side parking on adjacent blocks. One council member said enforcing the 5-foot driveway setback would still leave poor sightlines for drivers exiting onto East Collins and that removing parking would likely reduce hazards for a larger number of daily users.

After the initial motion to eliminate the north-side parking and add the four-way stop failed (3 in favor, 4 opposed), Councilmember [name not specified in transcript] moved to add only the four-way stop and to enforce existing municipal codes; that motion was amended on the floor to simply add the four-way stop. The amended motion passed 4–3. Council members and staff agreed any further changes, including additional parking removals, would return to the Public Works Committee for more study and community input. The committee will meet next on Monday, May 12, at 2 p.m. to consider Broadway parking and to refine recommendations for Council.

Councilmembers who spoke during the public discussion referenced the specific municipal code distances (5 feet from driveways; 20 feet from crosswalks; 30 feet from stop signs) and estimated that restoring appropriate clearances could eliminate two or three parking spaces in the blocks near the hospital. The police chief cautioned that strict enforcement of existing setback rules could leave “almost zero parking” on the south side of the street if those distances are measured citywide. Several council members urged a phased approach: first repaint and enforce current markings and the new four-way stop, then reassess whether removing additional parking is necessary.

The council directed the Public Works Committee to refine its recommendation and return to council with measurements and an enforcement plan. In the meantime, the four-way stop installation at South Roosevelt and East Collins will proceed as approved.