MUKILTEO — Tim Eyman’s red-light camera initiative got the green light.
Wednesday, the City Council agreed to place Eyman’s initiative on the November ballot.
If a majority of voters agree, the city would be forced to hold a public vote any time it seeks to add red-light or speed-zone cameras. It would also restrict fines to the least expensive parking violation, which is $20.
“I think we really should put this on the ballot and stop thinking of ways to keep it off the ballot,” Mukilteo City Councilman Kevin Stoltz said.
Eyman and about 20 others showed up the City Council meeting Wednesday night to urge the council to allow residents to vote on the issue. Eyman, best known for his statewide initiatives, circulated a petition around the town where he lives to put the issue to a vote.
Eyman was concerned that the council would either change his initiative or decide against putting it on the ballot.
“They were simply asking for the right to vote,” Eyman said of the hundreds of people who signed his petition.
Council members spoke about 30 minutes before voting 5-1 to place the initiative on the ballot. Councilwoman Linda Grafer cast the lone vote against, saying the city should have the flexibility to place traffic cameras outside school zones for safety. Others council members agreed to let the voters decide, but said they disliked the initiative.
“I will support (putting the initiative on the ballot) but I will campaign against it,” Council President Randy Lord.
Mukilteo considered becoming the second city in Snohomish County to add red-light and traffic cameras. Lynnwood added the cameras three years ago and backers say the city has had fewer red-light runners. Others question whether safety or money are the main motivations for having the cameras.
Lynnwood made about $4.5 million on the cameras in 2008-09. The first five months of this year, the city has generated $2.2 million in cash from the cameras.
In May, the Mukilteo City Council agreed to hire an Arizona company to install and operate red-light and speed-zone cameras along the Mukilteo Speedway.
In June, after Eyman began his petition drive, the council shelved that plan.
Eyman says he sees the initiative, his first local one, as a sort of litmus test on the ability of city residents to put limits on the cameras, which have become popular nationwide. Snohomish County certified the signatures on his petitions last week.
Before Wednesday’s meeting, Lord said that he didn’t want Mukilteo to become ground zero for Eyman’s latest foray into public policy.
“I don’t feel comfortable having Mukilteo be the test case for the state,” Lord said. “All we’re trying to do is keep a couple streets safe.”
Oscar Halpert: 425-339-3429; ohalpert@heraldnet.com.
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