In a rare combined meeting, the Klickitat County Board of Commissioners will sit in with the White Salmon City Council at the council's Dec. 4 regular session.
The public meeting will be held at the Park Center in White Salmon, beginning at 6 p.m.
The combined session appears to be the first of its kind for White Salmon.
"This has never happened before," said White Salmon Mayor Roger Holen.
"It's the first time since I've been here," agreed County Commissioner Don Struck.
The key agenda item to be discussed is how to improve traffic and pedestrian safety on NW Lincoln Street, a portion of which is within the White Salmon city limits, with the rest within the county's jurisdiction.
The topic came to the forefront following a neighborhood meeting in October at Lincoln Street resident Jack Barrett's house.
"Lincoln Street is a disaster waiting to happen," said Holen. "It's too narrow and there are no shoulders. We need to get together to look at possible solutions. When I come in that way, I just kind of hold my breath in that portion. If you meet a car there, it's not wide enough for two cars to pass."
Bob Chamberlain, one of the Lincoln Street residents, pointed out that traffic along Lincoln has built up over the years.
"Plus, there are faster cars and younger drivers," he added. "If they were to straighten the road and widen it, it would just make people go faster. It would just aggravate the problem."
The speed limit through the area is posted as 15 mph.
One solution to be discussed will be placing speed bumps along the street. But Struck said he believed a more dramatic change would be needed.
According to Struck, a portion of Lincoln could be turned into a one-way road.
"I suspect the recommendation will be to make it one way," Struck said. "There is a lot of pedestrian traffic, and new homes with kids, so it's necessary to do something with it."
Wil Keyser, director of public works for the city of White Salmon, said the portion that could be turned into a one-way lane would be from Garfield Street to El Camino Real. Keyser estimated that stretch of road was approximately one-half mile.
"That's the preferred option," Keyser said. "It would probably be one-way into town."
Chamberlain said he would prefer to see the one-way designation going out of town.
"Going into town, there is a steep pitch on the east end, and that gets icy and hazardous in the winter. It's downhill all the way, and people get the speed going and can't stop. But going uphill, you'd have to be more cautious."
Keyser explained what he saw when he went out to Lincoln one day at about 4:45 p.m. to watch traffic.
"There were 31 cars in a half hour, and all but two of them were going out of town," Keyser said. "We didn't have a radar gun, but it was pretty clear they were all going about 30-35 mph. In spite of the 15 mph signs, not many are paying attention to them."
A final decision on the best approach to the concerns could be implemented relatively quickly.
"We're trying to fast track it. We'll have a meeting to take public input, and hopefully shortly after the first of the year implement it," Struck said. "It's dangerous."
Regardless of the outcome in deciding on a fix for Lincoln Street, Holen said the concept of holding combined sessions may catch on.
"I think we're all in agreement that we should do that now and then," Holen explained.
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