Scott Harlan is determined to put the use of the city’s controversial traffic-enforcement cameras to a vote of Redmond residents — but it won’t happen this year.
Harlan, the lead organizer of the initiative, told the Redmond Reporter earlier this week that he won’t be able to submit the required 3,845 signatures to the city in time make the November ballot. He is now aiming to get Redmond Initiative No. 1 — “Let The People Decide on Red Light Cameras in Redmond” — on the ballot of a special election in February.
“The calendar precludes us from qualifying for the November general election, so yes, the election will have to be a special election following the November election,” Harlan said.
City clerk Michelle McGehee estimates the special election would cost the city between $70,000-80,000. The last time the city had a special election was in 2006 and it cost the city approximately $58,000, according to McGehee.
CRUNCH TIME
Harlan said he plans to turn in at least 5,000 signatures sometime next month. If the signatures are validated by King County, the initiative would be on the ballot for a special election next February, according to Harlan.
If the initiative is put on the ballot and passed, it would ban the use of traffic-enforcement cameras unless approved by Redmond City Council members and voters.
There may be no traffic cameras in place in the city by next February if the Redmond City Council votes this fall to end the one-year traffic-enforcement camera pilot program, which features red-light cameras at three busy intersections and a school-zone speeding camera.
Even if the cameras are not in place when the special election occurs, Harlan said the initiative — if passed — would repeal the city ordinance and require a vote of the people if the city wanted to install traffic cameras in the future.
The council will have a study session on the matter at its Oct. 11 meeting and then will vote to extend the program or not shortly thereafter, according to council president Richard Cole.
Harlan said he plans to present all of his signed petitions to council members at the Sept. 6 business meeting.
“The intent is to let them see the response this issue has generated in this city,” Harlan said. “It’s a critical part of the decision-making process.”
Harlan’s campaign volunteers will then make one final signature push Sept. 10 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., when they will go door to door throughout Redmond neighborhoods. After that, Harlan said he will submit the signatures to McGehee, the city clerk, who will forward the petitions onto the county, which will validate the signatures for a possible ballot measure. The city attorney will then draft a resolution, which has to be approved by council members before it goes on the February special election ballot, according to McGehee.
TOO EARLY TO DECIDE
Cole, who supports the program, said it’s still too early to say if the council will extend the traffic-enforcement camera program as there is much more data to analyze.
Cole said the council’s decision will be based on the infraction and collision data, not a few thousand signatures.
“Our decision on whether we renew the contract or not will virtually have nothing to do with (Harlan’s) signature gathering,” said Cole, adding that council members would certainly take notice if Harlan brought in 25,000 signatures. “That would send a message,” he said.
Harlan said he is confident the council will not extend the pilot program.
“The council will do the right thing,” he said. “Frankly, this is not a tough decision.”
It’s certainly a decision the council wants to consider carefully and thoroughly — something council member and public safety committee chair Hank Myers has said over and over.
Redmond Mayor John Marchione declined to comment on Harlan’s efforts, but did e-mail the following comments to the Redmond Reporter:
“The Traffic Safety Program has always been a one-year pilot program,” he wrote. “We continue to gather data and community input to make the best decision by December 3, 2011. Residents have been very forthcoming with their opinions and the council and I continue to listen to the wide variety of views being expressed. As part of our open transparent pilot evaluation process, we welcome residents’ opinions at mayorcouncil@redmond.gov.Given these ongoing efforts, it would be premature to comment on Mr. Harlan’s plans at this time.”
The pilot program began Feb. 1 with a one-month warning period and has generated nearly $600,000 and more than 7,000 citations since March, according to data released by the city last month. Most of the money goes to the King County for court costs and approximately another $50,000 has been paid American Traffic Solutions, the traffic camera vendor, according to financial data released last month.
Redmond police officials plan to present the latest data to the council’s public safety committee next month before the council deliberates and takes action.
The program features red-light cameras at three busy Redmond intersections — eastbound on Redmond Way at 148th Avenue Northeast, eastbound and westbound on Northeast 40th Street at 156th Avenue Northeast and westbound on Union Hill Road and northbound on Avondale Road where those two roads intersect. A speed zone camera is also located at Einstein Elementary, 18025 NE 116th St.
Cole said he feels the traffic camera program has made people more aware of their driving habits.
“In my opinion, it’s made more people aware,” said Cole, who would like to see speed cameras in front of all five elementary schools in Redmond. “People are slowing down at red lights and slowing down around schools. It’s having an impact.”
