05/15/2001 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 5/15/2001 friends and relatives park in front of the homes in the area of the crosswalk. Because of her jobs, she has dealt with children for twenty years and would not jeopardize the lives of children in front of her own house for "convenience." Mr. Limpert said he felt that a car parked on the south side of the street to the east of the crosswalk would block the view of children in the crosswalk. He believes the view should be clear at all times, not only when children are going to and from school. Mrs. Kasler said she would not presume to have enough knowledge or authority to create this ordinance on her own. So she went to the person in the city who not only has the knowledge but the authority and background to deal with this issue, the Police Chief, who is in agreement with the ordinance as written. Mr. Miller sugge~ed that the crosswalk could possibly be widened if there are concerns that cars are pulling up too close to it. Mr. O'Grady reiterated that he is fighting against the ordinance because he is convinced that it is creating a hazard for children. He thinks what is in place now is safe. Mrs. Weir said she felt that she and her neighbors are being discriminated against as they are probably the only houses in the city (on the non-hydrant side) where parking is not allowed in front of the homes. She asked Law Director Gareau if it was legal. The Law Director replied that, if Council in its infinite wisdom determines that's the way they are going to adopt and enforce the traffic code, then so be it. You have to use common sense. It was his observation, when this issue was brought up, that it would restrict people from parking but also stopping and standing 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In his opinion, it was overkill. Mrs. Weir stated again that the only problem is before and after school, and she wondered if this situation existed anywhere else in the city. Brain Kuite, 25735 Lorain Road, is a bicyclist and has been injured a number of times. He is a fervent advocate of helmet use for bicyclists, rollerbladers and motorcyclists. Mr. Kuite also does not believe bicyclists should have to walk bikes across every street, and he does not believe that they should ride with the traffic but on the opposite side. President Saringer suggested this topic be discussed in the Safety Committee. Mr. Nashar commented that it had been discussed in the past and it had been decided that helmet use should be left to the discretion of parents. Mr. O'Grady, chairperson of the Safety Committee, suggested that Council members who were in favor of mandating helmets speak to him after the meeting. If there is enough interest, he will take the issue into committee. Bill Kelly, 4161 Canterbury Road, directed his comments to the Safety Committee. It seems to him that on one hand the Safety Committee talks about the safety of the majority on a school crosswalk zone versus the inconvenience of afew-that's the Pine School situation. On the other hand with the STOP program, they talk about the inconvenience of a few versus the safety of the majority. He wishes they would get themselves corrected. He recently received a traffic ticket and paid the fine. He thinks most of the people in the community respect the law, and they pay their fines. If someone has a "beefl' and thinks the ticket was wrong, they have an opportunity to go down to Rocky River Court. The law is the law. The legislature here passes ordinances that the Police Department has to go along with. He wanted to be put on record as supporting the STOP program A lot of the people in Ward I that he has talked to appreciate the police officers and their being out on the street and being visible. 12