03/27/2007: "Public Hearing Today On Memorials On County Roads"

The County Council (CC) will take public testimony today on a proposed ordinance “to establish the time limit that roadside memorials remain within county road right-of-way to 90 days”.

In December of last year the CC received a report from Public Works on comments and concerns expressed on the increased number, and permanence, of memorials placed on the side of roads to “commemorate those who died in traffic accidents”.

At the December meeting some members of the public expressed their concerns that, while the memorials were placed in the right-of-way, they also were near private property, and while they realized the importance of them to commemorate the loss of a loved one, the erections remained, and were maintained as permanent. One property owner told the Council it was depressing to to see them each time one arrived and left their driveway. It was suggested that there should be, at the least, a time limit on how long they could remain in the right-of-way.

After some discussion by the CC, it was agreed that a 90 day time limit be establish, after which the memorials will to be removed by SJC Public Works. Responding to concerns that some of the memorials are, or could be, a traffic hazard, “such memorials may be removed sooner if, in the judgment of the County Engineer, the roadside memorials present an unsafe risk or if a planned road project requires the removal of obstructions in the right-of way”

The public hearing on the proposed ordinance will take place at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, in the Council Hearing room in the courthouse.