HomeMy WebLinkAbout3348ORDINANCE NO. -3 314 S
AN ORDINANCE of the City Council of the City
of Kent, Washington, amending Chapter 4.06 of the Kent
City Code relating to recreational vessels and related
activities within the City by adding a new subsection
regulating the operation of personal watercraft on Lake
Meridian.
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Chapter 4.06 of the Kent City Code
establishing regulations for recreational vessel use and related water dependent activities
within the City of Kent; and
WHEREAS, Lake Meridian provides recreational activities to both local
residents and members of the public, including swimming, waterskiing, fishing and other
similar water dependent activities; and
WHEREAS, during the last few years, recreational uses and more
specifically, vessel traffic on the lake have increased dramatically; and
WHEREAS, the increased popularity of personal watercraft has resulted in
increasing conflicts with other uses on the lake, such as waterskiing, creating concerns for
public safety; and
WHEREAS, Lake Meridian is approximately one hundred (100) acres in
size and due to the small size of the lake, all vessel traffic exceeding eight (8) miles per
hour must operate in an area at least two hundred (200) feet from the shoreline and one
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hundred feet (100) feet from other vessels and swimmers and must proceed around the lake
in a counter -clockwise direction; and
WHEREAS, personal watercraft are small, highly maneuverable, and fast
vessels that must operate in the same traffic area as other vessels and waterskiers; and
WHEREAS, regulations on water related activities have been in place for
a number of years; however, these regulations did not contemplate the increasing use of
personal watercraft; and
WHEREAS, testimony was presented during the April 1, 1997, public
hearing before the City Council on this matter as well as during the public safety committee
meetings held on March 18, 1997 and April 15, 1997 that increased use of personal
watercraft operation on the lake interferes with waterskiing and other recreational related
activity on the lake causing a threat to public safety, and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to maximize the recreational use of
the lake for all users to the greatest extent possible, and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to ensure that all different types of
recreational water dependent activities can be safely enjoyed on the lake; and
WHEREAS, restricting the times when personal watercraft may operate will
give all users an opportunity to utilize the lake and reduce potential conflicts in uses and
enhance public safety; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the testimony presented to the
Public Safety Committee and the full City Council has further reviewed alternative
proposals to enhancing safety on the lake; and
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WHEREAS; the City Council finds that the regulation of personal watercraft
on Lake Meridian would enhance the health, safety, and interest of all recreational users
of the lake; NOW THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT, WASHINGTON, DOES
HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The findings set forth in the recitals above are hereby
incorporated by reference as if set forth herein in full.
SECTION 2. Section 4.06.200 of the Kent City code is hereby amended
by adding a new subsection, Subsection C., 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:
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
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.
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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 atter 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.
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.
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2. Water skiing on the lake at speeds over eight miles per hour shall be
limited to the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
3. It is unlawful to water ski within three hundred feet of shore except
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.
1. Personal Watercraft may be operated on the lake at speeds up to and
including eight (8) miles per hour any damexcept during hours of
darkness.
2. Personal Watercraft mawoperated on the lake at speeds in excess
of eight (8) miles per hour only as follows:
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a. between the hours of 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m.;
b. on even numbered days of the calendar: and
C. from and including May 16 through and including
September 15th of any 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.
ATTEST:
BRENDA JACOBFR,kITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
f 7Z�
R0 4 -R A. LUBOVICH, CIT -'I- T RNEYi
PASSED: day of 0 / Q c� , 1997.
APPROVED: 7 day of �� , 1997.
PUBLISHED: 9 day of 11997.
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I hereby certify that this is a true copy of Ordinance No. 33 q-9 , passed
by the City Council of the City of Kent, Washington, and approved by the Mayor of the
City of Kent as hereon indicated.
P.ALAWAORD W ANCUETS K 12.ORD
(SEAL)
BRENDA JA O ER, CITY CLERK
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