Council authorizes maintenance agreement with WSDOT for 305/307 intersection camera system

The Poulsbo City Council authorized the mayor to sign a maintenance agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for the traffic-safety camera system at the State Route 305/307 intersection.

Why it matters: Council and staff described the agreement as a final technical step allowing cameras and related equipment to be established at a high-use intersection. Councilmembers asked whether the contract language sufficiently protects the city if WSDOT contractors damage or disable installed equipment during other work.

Police Chief Harding and city engineering staff described the agreement as one of the last hurdles before installation; Josh Raines of the engineering department was credited in the meeting for leading coordination with WSDOT.

Councilmember Eckert read a specific contract clause aloud (paragraph 1.5 in the draft) and said he was concerned language appeared to absolve WSDOT from liability for damage to the system even when the system is on a WSDOT pole. City staff said the agreement had been reviewed by the city attorney and that the city—s separate agreement with the camera vendor (VERA) obligates that vendor to incur costs for system repairs.

Motion and vote: The motion as recorded in the transcript was to authorize the city to sign the maintenance agreement between the city and WSDOT for the intersection camera system. The roll call as read in the transcript: McVay (aye); Eckert (aye); Tabor (aye); Crow (aye); Libdahl (aye); Newell (aye); Stern (aye). The mayor declared the motion carried.

Next steps: Staff said remaining tasks before the cameras operate are powering the devices and installing equipment. The city will coordinate with the vendor (VERA) regarding repair responsibilities under that vendor agreement.