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Goldendale council signals consensus for stop signs and a flashing speed sign on 21st Street
Summary
Following an ordinance committee recommendation, the council agreed by consensus to add two stop signs and a flashing speed sign on 21st Street to improve pedestrian and sight-line safety; placement will be finalized by the police chief and a public hearing will be advertised for a separate speed-limit ordinance change.
The Goldendale City Council gave consensus to move forward with the ordinance committee's recommendation to address safety concerns on 21st Street: add stop signs at Benson Court and Chatfield and to install a flashing speed sign east of Benson Court. The council emphasized that the police chief will determine the final placement of the flashing sign.
Members voiced concerns that the main problem is speeding on 21st Street, narrow roadway widths, parked vehicles on both sides, lack of sidewalks and limited sight lines. Several councilmembers noted that in at least one instance police contact with a speeding driver had reduced the problem locally, and that stop signs were a first step. The committee also said it would continue to consider parking restrictions, crosswalk placement and whether future new-construction standards should require wider streets or sidewalks to avoid repeating the problem.
Separately, council members indicated they will pursue changing the posted speed limit on North Columbus (from the bridge/overpass for the Little Quicotic River to the northern city limits) back to 25 mph; staff said a public hearing and ordinance change would be required and must be advertised before a formal vote.
Why it matters: Council members said the changes aim to reduce pedestrian risk and emergency-access problems on narrow residential streets. The plan is incremental: install traffic-calming measures first, then evaluate additional measures if speeding persists.
Next steps: The police department will review placement for the flashing speed sign, staff will advertise a public hearing for the North Columbus speed-limit change, and the ordinance committee will meet again to refine potential parking or construction-standards changes.
