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Council Cuts Nine of Twelve Crossing Guard Locations, Spares Willow/Palo Verde, 6th/Daisy, Willow/Magnolia For Now With Future Uncertain; Add'l Sites To Be Examined For Possible Elimination Next Year
(July 16, 2005) -- At its July 12 meeting, the LB City Council voted 8-0 ( The Council retained crossing guards at three locations -- for now -- pending further study: Last month, after city management agendized the item in May and recommended eliminating crossing guards at 12 locations, the Council referred the item to its Public Safety Committee (Councilmembers Lerch, Lowenthal, Kell) which recommended retaining cross guards at City management acknowledges that eliminating the crossing guards it proposed 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 elimination the crossing guards at the nine locations cut by the Council.
At the July 12 Council meeting, Assistant City Manager Christine Shippey said cutting ten of twelve crossing guard locations would save $112,000 a year; cutting the third will presumably save a bit less.
Ms. Shippey told the Council that "in our collaborative discussions with the [LB Unified] School District, we recognize that there is a basic need to ensure the safety of our children, even when the criteria for staffing a guard are not met. As such, Superintendent Chris Steinhauser will give each school that may lose a guard the option of developing a volunteer crossing guard program, with training provided by the Long Beach Police Department."
Vice Mayor Jackie Kell said she'd received input urging that the crossing guard be retained at Willow/PV. City Hall Traffic Engineer Dave Roseman indicated that changes are being implemented at Councilwoman Rae Gabelich, who said she'd driven her son through the Willow/Palo Verde area "and I know it is a nightmare there" and said "I hope this is not just a continued study or review but that [Willow/Palo Verde] will be removed from this list [for elimination.].
But later in the meeting, management reiterated its intention to reexamine the three spared intersections for possible elimination in the further review...along with up to 15% of other crossing guard locations in the city next year (and in subsequent years).
Asked by Councilman Gabelich how LBPD would assist in developing a volunteer crossing guard program, an LBPD representative said, "We will work with the school We'll develop a training program, work with their volunteers..."
Councilman Frank Colonna urged that LBUSD work with city officials to make sure parents are informed that there no longer will be a crossing guard at Nieto/Vista...and said signage should be aggressively examined to ensure faded signs, if any, are immediately replaced.
The nine locations in which the Public Safety Committee agreed with city management's request to eliminate crossing guards are:
The crossing guards eliminated now 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," city management said in a memo to Councilmembers.
These cuts (and presumably others in the future) were recommended by a "Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee" which 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.
In recommending the elimination of crossing guards at 12 locations, the Committee cited LB Municipal Code section 10.68.010 calling for determination of "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." The Committee reported:
...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. [not cut by Council, slated for further examination] 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. [not cut by Council, slated for further examination] 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. [not cut by Council, slated for further examination] 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. Contact us: mail@LBReport.com |