Council to meet with DOT on Broadway parking; public works to explore LID option for roads

Goldendale council members discussed traffic and roadway funding options during the Nov. 18 meeting and agreed to schedule follow-up work through the public works committee.

The mayor said the city has been communicating with the Department of Transportation about a Broadway parking issue and will schedule a public works committee meeting that includes DOT representative Gary Albrecht and Chief of Police Mike Smith via Zoom to "know what the objectives are from the council on the proposed traffic study on West Broadway and get some more information." The mayor said staff will reach out to DOT to set times and then coordinate with the public works committee and police.

Council member Steve Johnston (reported absent) requested another public works committee meeting to explore the use of Local Improvement Districts (LIDs) as a possible funding mechanism for road construction. City staff said they have packet material from the city attorney that explains the LID process and that it is a lengthy process; councilors discussed whether a specific area (for example, Post Street) would be targeted and noted neighborhood interest would be important to justify forming an LID.

The council instructed city staff to email materials to councilors and to convene the public works committee to explore both the traffic study objectives for Broadway and the feasibility of an LID for improvements.

No formal votes were recorded on these follow-ups; the discussion resulted in direction to staff and scheduling for committee-level work.