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`b ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE of the City Council of the City
of Kent, Washington, amending Chapter 4.06 of the Kent
City Code relating to the operation of personal watercraft on
Lake Meridian.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT, WASHINGTON, DOES
HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 4.06.200 (C) of the Kent City code is hereby amended
as follows:
Sec. 4.06.200. Lake Meridian - Motor powered vessel restrictions - water skiing and
personal watercraft operation.
A. Generally. The following rules and regulations are adopted for the use of
motor -powered vessels on Lake Meridian:
1. It is unlawful to use or operate any vessel powered by motor power
on Lake Meridian, except that vessels with the following engines
will be permitted:
a. Water-cooled outboard engines of stock manufacture or
stock manufactured inboard engines with outboard drive
units (inboard/outboards) which vent all exhaust gases
through the lower drive unit in conjunction with cooling
water and/or vent at a point on the drive unit which is under
water at all times; or watercooled direct drive inboard
1 - PERSONAL WATERCRAFT - REGULATIO
engines equipped with a muffler or silencer of sufficient size
and capacity, to effectively muffle and reduce noise similar
to that of outboards and inboard/outboards. This includes
both propeller and jet propulsion watercraft.
b. Air-cooled outboard or inboard engines of stock
manufacture rated by the manufacturer at ten horsepower or
less.
C. Electric fishing trolling motors.
2. No vessel shall operate in excess of eight miles per hour after 6:00
p.m. until the hour of 9:00 a.m. and not in excess of thirty-five miles
per hour from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
3. Vessels exceeding speeds of eight miles per hour shall remain at
least two hundred feet from the shoreline and one hundred feet from
other vessels and swimmers and shall proceed around the lake in a
counterclockwise direction.
4. All vessels operating on Lake Meridian shall carry United States
Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices in good condition
for each person in the vessel.
5. Motor -powered vessels operating after sundown shall be equipped
with and have lit proper running lights.
6. The anchorage or moorage of unoccupied vessels is prohibited
except when tied to a pier or dock with the permission of the owner
of the pier or dock.
7. No remote controlled vessels powered by internal combustion
engines shall operate before 9:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m.
8. Skin diving is prohibited except as necessary for public employees
and their agents or other authorized personnel to perform their
duties or in the case of an emergency.
2 - PERSONAL WATERCRAFT - REGULATIO
B. Waterskiing. The following regulations apply to all water skiing activities
as defined in RCW 88.12.010(22) including, but not limited to, being towed
behind a vessel on skis, an aquaplane, kneeboard, tube, or similar device:
1. Water skiing on the lake at speeds up to and including eight miles
per hour is permitted any time between dawn and dusk.
2. Water skiing on the lake at speeds over eight miles per hour shall be
limited to the hours of 9:00 a.rn. to 6:00 p.m.
3. It is unlawful to water ski within three hundred feet of shore except I
as follows:
a. from privately owned shoreline, water skiers may start at
and return to shore by means of the most expeditious route;
b. from City owned shoreline, water skiers may start or return
(deep water start) from a distance of 200 feet or greater from
shore but are prohibited from starting or stopping within 200
feet of shore. For purposes of this provision, City owned
shoreline includes the swimming beach and boat launching
areas of the park. For purposes of starting at and returning
to shore as authorized herein, water skiers may temporarily
exceed the speed limit of eight miles per hour.
4. All persons in vessels towing persons on water skis, tubes,
surfboards, or similar contrivance shall remain seated at all times.
5. All operators of vessels having in tow or otherwise assisting a
person on water skis, tubes, surfboards or similar contrivance shall
comply with Section 4.06.060.
6. Regulations stated in this subsection shall not apply to vessels used
in water ski tournaments, competitions, expositions, or trials
therefore, which have been duly authorized by the City.
C. Personal Watercraft. In addition to RCW 88.12.145 adopted in Section
4.06.020, the following regulations shall apply to personal watercraft.
3 - PERSONAL: WATERCRAFT - REGULATION!
I . Personal Watercraft may be operated on the lake at speeds up to and
including eight (8) miles per hour any day except during hours of
darkness.
2. Personal Watercraft may be operated on the lake at speeds in excess I
of eight (8) miles per hour only as follows:
a. between the hours of 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m.; and
b. on even numbered days of the calendar throughout the year;
SECTION 3. - Severability. If any one or more sections, subsections, or
sentences of this Ordinance are held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall
not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this Ordinance and the same shall remain
in full force and effect.
SECTION 4. - Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in
force thirty (30) days from the time of its final approval and passage as provided by law.
JIM WHITE, MAYOR
ATTEST:
BRENDA JACOBER, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ROGER A. LUBOVICH, CITY ATTORNEY
4 - PERSONAL WATERCRAFT - REGULATIONS
PASSED: day of , 1998.
APPROVED: day of '1998.
PUBLISHED: day of , 1998.
I hereby certify that this is a true copy of Ordinance No. , passec
by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, and approved by the Mayor of the
City of Kent as hereon indicated.
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(SEAL:
BRENDA JACOBER, CITY CLERK
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