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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 09/28/1973489 Council Meeting Attendance MINU.T,ES- OF MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL PE:TALUMA, CALIFORNIA September 28; 1973- Adjourned meeting of the City Council of the City o;f Petaluma was called to order by Mayor Putnam at the hour 'of 7:35.o'clock a.m. Present: -Councilmen "Brunner *, Cavanagh, Jr., Daly Harberson, Mattei, Perry, Jr. and Mayor Putnam. Absent: None. *'Arrived at.7:45,o'clock a.m. Agenda It was agreed to consider Agenda Item #2 re- garding reapportionment at this time. Re Reapportionment Mayor explained -that the, reapportionment Res #6425A NCS relating.-to Senatorial Districts has divided parts of— ,Sonoma County and the feeling has been expressed that .the County should. remain in one district; whereupon, Resolution #6425A N.C.S. addressed to the :California Supreme Court relating to reappor- tionment wa.s� introduced by Councilman Perry, Jr., seconded by'Councilman..Daly, and adopted by 6 aff- irmative votes; 1 absentee. East Washington Police Chief Larr-y.Hig.gins addressed the Council Street- -Maria Drive on the complaints received by the Police Depart - Pedestrian Crosswalk ment regarding the electric signal on East Washington-Street,at Maria Drive. He explained that motorists.become - accustomed• to the flashing yellow light and do not notice the change to.red. A number of citations have been issued by the Department during the•last month for violations at the intersection. Failure to- yield right -of- way to pedestrians -and disregard for the red light have'created a dangerous condition for the school children using the crossings. Chief Higgins presented an overlay on the location of the accident that occurred on September 28, 1973, when a vehicle entering E'as't Washington Street from Maria.Drive struck and injured a school child. He .gave, details of the accident and informed'the.Council that a police officer has been assigned to the duties of a crossing guard at the intersection as an interim safety measure. Chief Higgins, also presented,statistics regard- ing the number of children using the, pedestrian crossings at,the intersection and schedule of the 45 -15 school sessions. The next session begins on October 2;2, 1973; however, Mr.. Dan Longaker,,.Principal,,Bernard Eldredge School, stated that,an ihter.se ssion will be held begin - ning next Wedne'sday th,approximately fifteen children attending.- Chief Higgins estimated approximately $1,776 for the City to provide a crossing guard'at the , intersection to June 22,• 1974, for-children using the crossing going to and coming from school. As added information,. he pointed out to the Council that there are a number of.other hazardous school crossings in the City. 490 September 28,1973 East Washington Director of Public Work..s David Young recommended' Street -Maria Drive a full traffic•actuated signal for.both,'Vehicles.. Pedestrian Crosswalk and,•pedestrians as.a solution to the problem at (continued) an� approximate . cost: of - $27, 000. He ,estimated six months for complete installation of a.full traffic . signal system. In the interim period," he recommended, that • a ' four -way :stop :s -ign be installed ;with. appropriate. advance warnings- and,,. in -addition, that a,.,drossing guard be employed to proVide'.further.protection for the school children:_ Chief. with the, recommendation. Mr. Le.sly Meyers, Superintendent of the Petaluma. Schools, appeared before the Council and -stated that. the crossing guard at. Kenilworth. Junior High School •is .funded by .the School District and that the 'School District also has,some guards at "McDowel S choO 1. H e referred to a letter, dated Se "ptember 15,.. "1.973,- from Assi.stant.Sonoma "County Counsel John' C. Gaffney.wherein the Attorney General's ruling was explained that -a school , district does•not have authority to,hire, cro.s.s.ing guards. Copy of. said - letter submitted and Mr. ' De,a -n Magowan, • 'Superintendent, 'O`ld Adobe School District,.&Lso spoke and urged the Council to resolve the problem. Upon conclusion of the •discus -s' on, a 'motion was made by Councilman Perry, Jr., and seconded by Councilman Daly, to install a four -way stop sign as soon as possible and,to hire an adult crossing guard.begihn ng Monday for the inter- section at East Wasihngton Street and Maria Drive., Motion carried unanimously. Chief Higgins pointed out the time involved to. hire and train a school crossing guard, and.it was agreed by the.Council that a Police officer continue to ,service. as a crossing guard until a person is employed and trained. for °tYie position. Director of Public Works David Young.indicated that a;, four- way.:stop sign could be installed ' by next­Tuesday and.that the flashing yellow light would be changed to',a flashing red light. Mayor Putnam stated that.a - committee will be appoinrted.immediately to consider and explore a policy regarding other •school. crossings, financing, etc., and that the ,East Washington Street- Maria Drive .full•-traffic signal, visibility at.. the -in- tersection, f.uriding., etc. ; will be a part of the committee's report- For the record, Councilman Brunner-suggested that the,projec.t of- dropgates at Jefferson Street in the 1973 -74 Capital Outlay be forestalled and the funds used•for the subject traffic signal. project. Also discussed was the use.-of -Gas Tax. Funds. 4 cl 1 September 28, 1973 Suit=- Smith.vs Councilman Cavanagh,..Jr.., informed the Council Brunner, al that he plans to ask appropriate staff members to- furnish.him with a. resume' of all actions, dates,..etc., related to the subject case. Adjour,hment.::: There.being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 - o'clock a.m.