News
Council To Decide Whether To Cut Ten of Twelve Crossing Guard Locations, Retaining Willow/Palo Verde & 6th/Daisy
(July 8, 2005) -- On July 12, the LB City Council is scheduled to decide whether to approve a recommendation from its Public Safety Committee to eliminate crossing guards at ten of twelve locations as previously advised by city management...but not to cut crossing guards at two locations -- Palo Verde/Willow and 6th St/Daisy Ave. -- pending further review.
The ten locations in which the Public Safety Committee agreed with city management's request to eliminate crossing guards are:
- Magnolia Ave. & Willow St.
- Nieto Avenue and Vista Street
- 7th Street and Olive Avenue
- Bellflower Boulevard and Arbor Road
- Lakewood Boulevard and 23rd Street
- 7th Street and Cerritos
- Orange Avenue and 60th Street
- Bellflower Boulevard and Spring Street
- Bellflower Boulevard and Wardlow Road
- Studebaker Road and Keynote Street
City management acknowledges that its proposed cuts are a cost saving measure...but also insists the cuts are justified on the merits. We post below details of city management's rationale for proposing the elimination of crossing guards at all twelve locations.
On May 10, the City Council received management's recommended cuts and sent the hot potato to its Public Safety Committee (comprised of Councilmembers Val Lerch (chair), Bonnie Lowenthal (vice chair) and Patrick O'Donnell (member)) to hold a hearing and make recommendations to the Council.
On June 20, the Committee held an early evening hearing at which city staff justified the cuts on the merits (details below). However, a resident of the Palo Verde/Willow area testified about the dangers of high speed traffic in the area...and Councilwoman Bonnie Lowenthal agreed. Councilman Patrick O'Donnell likewise said that although the intersection wasn't in his 4th district, he did not feel comfortable recommending the cut based on his knowledge of the area.
The Committee voted 3-0 to recommended that crossing guards at Palo Verde/Willow and 6th/Daisy be retained pending further review...but recommended that the ten other locations be cut. .
On July 12, the City Council could vote to accept the Public Committee's recommendations; or not eliminate crossing guards at any of the locations...or do something else we haven't thought of.
The cuts are part of management's three year deficit reduction plan (to address Council-approved spending exceeding revenue). City Hall estimates savings from cutting all twelve crossing guards in the first year would be $137,900.
The twelve crossing guards proposed for elimination may be just the first. "City staff also recommends that an annual evaluation occur of up to 15 percent of the locations and that recommendations to add, eliminate or re-assign locations be brought to the City Council for consideration," says a city management agendizing memo.
A "Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee" came up with the list of the twelve proposed cuts. The Committee consists of 13 members...none of whom are elected and nearly all of whom are appointed by the City Manager. Nine members representing Council districts are appointed by the City Manager. One represents the PTA, chosen by the PTA. One represents LBUSD, chosen by LB's School Superintendent. One represents the City Traffic & Transportation Engineer (appointed by City Manager). And one represents non-public schools in the LB area, appointed by the City Manager.
This body issued recommendations (referencing LB Municipal Code section 10.68.010) as to "whether any intersection utilized by children going to and from school poses a special problem of safety, requiring the installation of an adult crossing guard [and] shall advise the City Council of its findings and recommendations."
In April 2005, the Pedestrian Advisory Committee sent city management a memo, stating in pertinent part:
By May of 2004, the [Pedestrian Safety Advisory] Committee had already taken action to deem the following intersections as no longer hazardous, as defined by Section 10.68 of the Long Beach Municipal Code, and no longer required the assignment of an adult crossing guard:
Magnolia Avenue and Willow Street
Nieto Avenue and Vista Street
7th Street and Cerritos Avenue
Palo Verde Avenue and Willow Street
7th Street and Olive Avenue
...The Committee’s meetings in November of 2004 and February of 2005 were
consumed with the task of reviewing the re-evaluation studies conducted by City
staff. The Committee carefully considered each location taking into account the
re-evaluation study results, accident rates, proposed or implemented traffic
safety enhancements, and their personal knowledge of the area. As a result the
Committee voted to retain adult crossing guards at six locations by continuing to
deem the intersections as hazardous, while voting unanimously that seven
locations were no longer hazardous, as defined by the Long Beach Municipal
Code, and thus no longer required the assignment of an adult crossing guard.
The Committee respectfully requests that the City Manager forward the following
twelve intersections, listed in order of Committee action, to the City Council for
their consideration of no longer staffing the intersections with adult crossing
guards beginning at the start of the 2005-2006 school year:
1. Magnolia Avenue & Willow Street - This signalized intersection is located
two blocks northwest of Lafayette Elementary School. Current public school
service area boundaries no longer require elementary school students to cross
Willow Street at the intersection. A re-evaluation study conducted in the winter of
1999 revealed that the intersection did not meet the Municipal Code warrants for
the deployment of an adult crossing guard. In reviewing the study, the
Committee also concluded that the construction of Robinson Academy and the
expansion of classroom facilities at Lafayette Elementary School resulted in a
marked decrease in the number of students crossing at the intersection. On May
13, 1999, the Committee voted unanimously to have the adult crossing guard
removed from the intersection. On February 13, 2003, the Committee voted
unanimously to reaffirm its earlier vote; thereby, deeming the intersection as no
longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of the adult crossing guard as
necessary.
2. Nieto Avenue and Vista Street -‘This all-way stop intersection is located
immediately adjacent to Rogers Middle School and Lowell Elementary School. A
re-evaluation duration study conducted in the winter of 1999 revealed that the intersection
did not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult crossing
guard. In reviewing the study, the committee also considered the fact that there
is no entrance to Lowell Elementary School at the intersection and that students
should be directed to continue to the intersection of Broadway and Nieto Avenue
to cross where an adult crossing guard is stationed. On May 13, 1999, the
Committee voted unanimously to have the adult crossing guard removed from
the intersection. On February 13, 2003, the Committee voted unanimously to
reaffirm its earlier vote; thereby, deeming the intersection no longer hazardous
permitting the re-deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.
3. 7th Street and Cerritos - This intersection is located one block north of
Franklin Middle School. There are no public elementary schools within a quarter
mile of the intersection. An adult crossing guard was initially deployed at the
intersection to assist students in crossing 7 Street at an uncontrolled pedestrian
crossing. A traffic signal was subsequently installed at the intersection in
October of 1997 to improve circulation around Franklin Middle School and to
enhance pedestrian safety for students and others crossing 7th Street. A re-
evaluation study conducted in the winter of 2003 revealed that the intersection
does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult
crossing guard. On February 13, 2003, the Committee voted unanimously to
deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of
the adult crossing guard as necessary.
4. Palo Verde Avenue and Willow Street [NOT recommended for elimination by Council's Public Safety Committee] -- This signalized intersection is
located at the southwest corner of Emerson Parkside Academy campus and in
the general vicinity of a number of private schools. A re-evaluation study
conducted in the Spring of 2003 discovered only light elementary school student
crossings at the intersection both before and after school. The study ultimately
revealed that the intersection does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the
deployment of an adult crossing guard. On May 15, 2003, the Committee voted
unanimously to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-
deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.
5. 7th Street and Olive Avenue - This intersection is located in the vicinity of St. Anthony Elementary School, a private school, and Stevenson Elementary
School, a public school. An adult crossing guard was initially deployed at the
intersection to assist students in crossing 7th Street at an uncontrolled pedestrian
crossing. A traffic signal was subsequently installed at the intersection in June of
2000. A re-evaluation study conducted in the fall of 2003 revealed that the
intersection no longer met the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an
adult crossing guard. On October 16, 2003, the Committee voted unanimously to
deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of
the adult crossing guard as necessary.
6. Bellflower Boulevard and Arbor Road - This signalized intersection is
located on the boundary between the City of Long Beach and the City of
Lakewood. There are a number of private schools located on Arbor Road west
of the intersection; however, current public school service area boundaries no
longer require elementary school students to cross Bellflower Boulevard in the
vicinity of the intersection. A re-evaluation study conducted in the fall of 2004
revealed that the intersection does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the
deployment of an adult crossing guard. On November 16, 2004, the Committee
voted unanimously to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting
the re-deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.
7. Lakewood Boulevard and 23rd Street - This signalized intersection is
located two blocks from Buffum Elementary School. A re-evaluation study was
conducted in the fall of 2004. During the study period not a single student was
observed crossing Lakewood Boulevard during the hours the adult crossing
guard was on duty. The reevaluation study ultimately revealed that the
intersection does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an
adult crossing guard. On November 16, 2004, the Committee voted unanimously
to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-depfoyment of
the adult crossing guard as necessary.
8. 6th Street and Daisy Avenue [NOT recommended for elimination by Council's Public Safety Committee] -- This signalized intersection is located at
the southeast corner of the Edison Elementary School campus. A pedestrian
bridge over 6th Street is provided west of the intersection for students
approaching the school from the neighborhoods to the south. Recent school
service boundary changes, resulting from the opening of Chavez Elementary
School, no longer require students to cross 6th Street to attend their home
school. A re-evaluation study conducted in the fall of 2004 revealed that the
majority of the students crossing at the intersection do so in the western
crosswalk, which is protected from vehicle conflicts by the one-way street and the
traffic signal. The re-evaluation study ultimately revealed that the intersection
does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult
crossing guard. In reviewing the study the Committee also concluded that the
service boundary change would also result in a marked decrease in the number
of students crossing at the intersection in subsequent school years. On
November 16, 2004, the Committee voted unanimously to deem this intersection
as no longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of the adult crossing guard
beginning with the 2005-2006 school year.
9. Orange Avenue and 60th Street - This uncontrolled pedestrian crosswalk
is located immediately adjacent to Gethsemane Baptist Christian School. This
intersection was re-evaluated twice, once in October of 2004 and again in
December of 2004. On both occasions only light student crossings were
observed at the intersection. The re-evaluation studies ultimately revealed that
the intersection does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the deployment
of an adult crossing guard. On February 10, 2005, the Committee voted
unanimously to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-
deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.
10. Bellflower Boulevard and Spring Street - This signalized intersection has
fully controlled left-turn movements and is located two blocks southeast of Carver
Elementary School. During a re-evaluation study conducted in January of this
year only three students were observed crossing at the intersection during the
times the adult crossing guard was on duty. The re-evaluation study ultimately
revealed that the intersection does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for the
deployment of an adult crossing guard. On February 10, 2005, the Committee
voted unanimously to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting
the re-deployment of the adult crossing guard as necessary.
11. Bellflower Boulevard and Wardlow Road - This signalized intersection is
located west of Burcham Elementary School and Marshall Middle School and is
in the vicinity of a number of private schools and daycare facilities. The traffic
signal at the intersection has been recently renovated. During a re-evaluation
study conducted in January of this year, less than twenty elementary school
students were observed crossing at the intersection during the times the adult
crossing guard was on duty. The re-evaluation study ultimately revealed that the
intersection does not meet the Municipal Code warrants for t h e deployment of an
adult crossing guard. On February 10, 2005, the Committee voted unanimously
to deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of
the adult crossing guard as necessary.
12. Studebaker Road and Keynote Street - This uncontrolled pedestrian
crosswalk located two blocks southwest of Keller Elementary has been re-
evaluated three times in five years. Only light pedestrian crossings were
observed during all three evaluations. The pedestrian crossing has not met
Municipal Code warrants for the deployment of an adult crossing guard for more
than five years. On February 10, 2005, the Committee voted unanimously to
deem this intersection as no longer hazardous permitting the re-deployment of
the adult crossing guard as necessary.
It is the Committee’s expectation that the effected schools and Councilmembers
would be notified of the intention to no longer staff the above noted intersections
with an adult crossing guard before the end of May so that parent notifications
can occur before the end of this school year.
The City Council has the independent power to accept or reject, in whole or in part, cuts proposed by city management and/or the Council's Public Safety Committee.
The crossing guard program is administered and funded by LBPD within the General Fund. In the FY 04 Adopted Budget, the school crossing guard program is $1,48l,925 with 53.8 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions. Crossing guards are permanent part-time positions, and 53.8 FTE translates to approximately 95 part-time guards.
Crossing guards are paid (as of April 04) $9.00 per hour for the first four years of service, after which they receive $9.64 per hour. These permanent part-time positions are eligible for a City pension, accumulate holiday, vacation and sick time similar to full-time City employees, but do not receive City health insurance. They do receive $400 for every 174 hours worked as an in-lieu health insurance payment.
Management says costs for the crossing guard program have been fairly stable for the past six years, increasing by only 0.5 percent, despite the addition of four additional locations during that same time period. From FY 03 to FY 04, the budget for the crossing guard program grew by $70,271 or 6.1 percent, due primarily to the negotiated salary increase granted to employees represented by the International Association of Machinists (IAM) union.
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