PORT TOWNSEND — One more section of the city has been added to a list of places where skateboarding is prohibited.
A unanimous vote on Monday added the newly renovated Haller Fountain and terrace steps to the list of areas where Port Townsend police may issue a $66 fine to skateboarders.
The City Council agreed that they want to protect that place possible damage.
However, a broader topic was brought up in the discussion.
“I am not in favor of banning skateboarding on all city streets,” said Councilman Mark Welch.
“Obviously, that is extreme.”
Welch said he did not want to see the city begin outlawing an outdoor activity engaged in by the city’s youth.
Councilman Brent Butler agreed, saying he was concerned about removing non-motorized transport from within the city limit.
Mayor Michelle Sandoval said that the ordinance the council had passed was not doing any of those things. Instead, it protected a vulnerable part of the town.
“Skateboards are inappropriate on sidewalks,” she said.
“But I would put up a fight if we try to ban it on the streets.”
Two weeks earlier, that idea had been mentioned at a council meeting.
Councilwoman Catherine Robinson asked why the city should allow skating in the streets at any time.
“Because they have to skate to get there,” Sandoval said, referring to the skate park on Monroe Street.
As it stands now, there is no direct path through downtown or uptown which would allow a person to skateboard to the park.
Water Street is closed to skating from Monroe Street to Kearney Street. Washington Street is closed from Harrison Street to Monroe Street. And Monroe street is closed from Water Street to Lawrence Street.
Councilwoman Laurie Medlicott said she still wants to see the concerns of pedestrian safety be brought up as a special project — restating a concern she had mentioned at an April 7 council meeting.
Jim Todd told the council this week that members should begin considering pedestrian safety first.
No action was taken on a pedestrian safety ordinance however, and for now, only a short list of prohibited skating areas remain in effect.
City Manager David Timmons said at the April 7 meeting that if an area was not specifically listed in the skating ordinance, police could not enforce the law.
Currently the list contains sections of Water, Washington, Taylor, Adams, Quincy, Lawrence, Monroe, Polk, Tyler and Madison streets, along with Union Wharf, City Dock, the Park and Ride on Haines Street, Sims Way and now the Haller Fountain.
