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State Sen. Maralyn Chase of Edmonds:noted that she serves as co-chair of the rail <br /> caucus in the state Legislature, where;she works with BNSF railroad representatives <br /> frequently. "And they make it very clear that they don't realty have a choice in the <br /> freight that they have to carry," Chase said. "That is why what you are considering here <br /> tonight is so very important. We need to support the national people who are working <br /> on this issue to see if we can get some control over these trains going through our <br /> community." <br /> City officials recognize they have no control over the railroad operations, so both the oil <br /> and coal train resolutions urge the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Energy <br /> Secretary and the Congress to prohibit the transportation of coal and oil via rail <br /> "through the City of Edmonds and all other populated areas <br /> Edmonds resident Barbara Tipton noted that if an oil train explosion occurs, first <br /> responders wilt have no choice but to cordon off the affected area and wait for the <br /> hazardous materials to burn out. The U.S. Department of Transportation assigns a one- <br /> half-mile evacuation zone for oil trail derailments and a.one-mile impact zone for an oil <br /> train fire, Tipton said, which would leave Edmonds' downtown core "up in flames. The <br /> shops, the restaurants, houses, condominiums, the Edmonds Center for the Arts, the <br /> Senior Center and the ferry dock. Don't let this happen." <br /> Month Van Hollebeke„ who has lived in Edmonds for 39 years and is a mother of six,, <br /> grandmother of seven and great grandmother of two, told the council she believes it is <br /> her duty "to do whatever I can — and ? urge you to do whatever you can — so that <br /> their future can be safe and healthy." <br /> After a few minor amendments, the council unanimously passed the oil train resolution <br /> then quickly moved on to approve the coal train resolution. Councilmember Mike Nelson <br /> noted that while the council has approved resolutions in past years opposing coal and <br /> oil trains, "we have not actually said, 'We don't want these things running through our <br /> city. That's what this resolution says. We don't want these trains coming through our <br /> town. We don't want them to come into Washington state. We don't want them period." <br /> Due to the number of speakers during the public comment period, the council chose,to <br /> defer several agenda items to a future meeting. Among them: proposed changes;to the <br /> city's sign code, including those governing sandwich-board signs downtown; a quarterly <br />