Another push to set limits on the number of garage sales allowed annually in Aberdeen gained traction this week when the Aberdeen City Council approved a Public Works Committee recommendation that the limit be set at four.

After a lengthy debate about the numbers and whether or not the regulation would be enforceable, a voice vote had the bill passing on to a third reading and public comment period — and potentially final vote at the council’s Sept. 26 meeting — by a count of 9-3. Councilwomen Tawni Andrews and Alice Phelps and Councilman James Cook accounted for the “no” votes.

Councilwoman Dee Anne Shaw, chairwoman of the Public Works Committee, called for an amended version of the bill to be brought back to the floor. The original, with a limit of two, had been tabled at the previous meeting.

The amended version would allow for four garage sales per calendar year, no more than 12 days total and limited to three days per sale. There was also the added provision that, if Aberdeen schedules a city-wide garage sale such as Montesano has every August, sales on that date would not count toward the limit of four. The ordinance would take effect Jan. 1, 2018.

Councilman Tim Alstrom said he was fine with the first proposed limit of two. “I can’t wrap my head around why anyone who lives in a residential area would need more than that.”

Councilman Alan Richrod said, “I know I’m preaching to a brick wall, but if we don’t have a method of keeping records of (the number of properties and the number of garage sales) then why bother?”

Shaw appealed to the council: “I really hope this passes, and I hope the neighborhood I represent doesn’t misunderstand my intentions. I think this could benefit the city, and I tried to take in the wishes of the council and the committee (drafting the compromise).”

Councilman Denny Lawrence stopped short of proposing an amendment, but did mention a way the city could keep track of properties while giving garage sale enthusiasts a valuable tool.

“We could have those registered with the city,” he said. “Anyone can go to the website and get a list of all the garage sales that week, and we’d have a record of it.”

There were actually three votes: one to bring the bill back to the floor, one to accept the amendments, and another to pass it to the third reading. All passed 9-3 with Andrews, Phelps and James Cook the no votes.