03/19/2002 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Miautea of 3119102 ~ police officers. The first week the reduced busing goes into effect, the city will have four ;y„ ~ additional officers on the street. Plus we will be using fire personnel and service personnel to make sure that we have enough people on the street to obsen-e what the traffic patterns are. At this point in time, the city does not want to make any decisions about deployment of current resources because we don't know where the studens are going to be crossing. We are going to be out there looking at those major intersections and the side streets to see what lrappans and then we will come back together with the schools to look at redeployment or the placement of a traffic officer. With reaped to the left hand turns, this was a recommendation that came fin the schools in addition to another ordinance that came from the city administration that we restrict the right turn on red at the Claque and Lorain irrtersedion because of the construction that is going an at this time. Mr. Miller asked if the deployment of four more officers on the streets means on general patrol and available for call to a given area if there is a need. Service Director Thomas said that was correct. Dr. Doug Sebring, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, said he thought there were two different issues. He believes the ordinance would prevent left turns into the school driveways, and the parents are concezned about turning back onto the roads from the school driveways. The schools are looking at possibly adding a lane on Butternut Ridge as requested by Mrs. Stockdale, but that does require review by the city. The schools are certainly willing to address this in any way that is for the benefit of the students and the city. He thanked the Mayor for having taken the time to set up the meeting with the Safety Director, the Service Drredar, the Police Chief and the Fire Bent. It was a positive meeting, and everyone did try to look at all the contingencies that could be expected due to the reduced busing in April. There are a lot of unknowns and there certainly are going to be some changes in the driving habits and the traffic patterns within North Olmsted. Everyone at the meeting voiced concerns regarding the safety of children. The school and city administration are trying to reach as many residents of North Olmsted and remind them that there is going to be an increased volume of traffic on the roads as well as more students. With younger children, parents are being asked to take an additional step in helping those kids understarttd how to safely walk on streets during those times of the day. Everyone realizes that children walk to and from their friends and neighbors' houses during the summer and during the weekends when school is not in session. The real difference is there is an increased volume of traffic an the roads in the mornings when school is beginning. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, around most of the elementaries, there won't be that much mare traffic except for parents being there. Chief Ruple has penned a letter with the aid of the school resource officers which will be given to parents as a way to try to encourage their safety. On another math, he would like to invite Council and any members of city governmenrt who would be available on Tuesday morning, March 26, to attend the All Nations celebration/ naturalization program at the high school. Annually at this event, a naturalization and immigration officer is present and individuals who are being sworn in as new citizens of the United States are presected to the studem body. Congressman Kucinich is scheduled to be there as is the Mayor and several other public officials. It's one of the additional ways in which the city government tries to cooperate in the education of children by i0