OCR Text |
Show Bountiful Clear Vision ordinance discussed By GARY R. BLODGETT BOUNTIFUL What constitutes consti-tutes obstruction of vision for a motorist approaching a city intersection? in-tersection? This is the problem faciriig the Bountiful City Council. And once they conclude what constitutes obstruction, ob-struction, the council must deal with how the problem can be st be solved. There are a lot of variables to this problem and the council decid ed to table the matter until tonight so that council members can tou r the city and "get a better feeling' ' for some of the complaints beinj? received re-ceived by city officials. The current city ordinance specifies spe-cifies only trees as being an obstruction ob-struction of vision, but City Manager Mana-ger Tom Hardy told the council that there are hedges, shrubs, fences and even solid structures that block the view of motorisits at many of the city's intersections. "Police and street department personnel, as well as resident s in the neighborhood of these obstructions, obstruc-tions, have reported many complaints com-plaints of obstructed views," Mr. Hardy told the council. Randy Sant, who shares duties as the city redevelopment agency (RDA) director and ordinance enforcement en-forcement officer, said he finds it difficult to enforce the current on finance fi-nance because it does not specify obstructions other than trees. "The ordinance should include other natural and solid-structure obstructions or the ordinance lis useless," he said. He told the council that complaints com-plaints of poor visibility at intersec tions have skyrocketed in the pas t two years. The city's "Sight Ordinance" pertaining to safety at street intersections in-tersections provides clear vision for 30 feet each way. Mr. Sant said he is trying to get the property owners at intersections intersec-tions to comply with the ordinance . , "Some are complying while otihers i have been issued a citation for noncompliance. non-compliance. Councilman Robert Gramoll suggested that the city ordinance be defined as "any obstruction of sight" and don't try to list all the possible sight obstructions that can exist. Councilman Harold Shafter and Councilwoman Barbara Hoh'. emphasized a need to be consistent in enforcement of the ordinance and to do what has to be done to make the city intersections as safe as possible. Assistant City Attorney Rusty Mahan told the council, "It's always al-ways best to provide as much safety safe-ty as possible to lessen the chance of a serious law suit. Maybe the sight ordinance should be amended," he said. The matter is expected to come up for more discussion tonight (Wednesday) after the council has toured the city and studied the problem. |