03/07/2006 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 3/7/2006 ,~, back over to Clague and to Brookpark. If the road is blockaded, the bus will only be able ' to go down MacBeth and will have to go back north to Lorain Road. This will create a safety hazard for 33 children who will have to walk through the construction area and around the culvert. Another choice is for about a dozen of the children who live south of Esther to walk to Brookpark, which means they have to cross the exit ramps from I-480 which is not a good idea. He wanted to make sure Council was aware this does impact quite a few children. He applauds Mr. Barker for his concern about the southbound speed on Clague once the road does open. Because of the nature of transportation, quite a few children will have to cross the street. Bus drivers have been in touch with parents to remind them about safe crossing procedures, and they have reiterated to the students how to watch for traffic and await the signal from the driver before approaching the bus. In answer to a question from Councilman Barker about the possibility of a bus traveling northbound on Clague and pulling into Esther and backing up into a driveway to turn around, Dr. Sebring said buses cannot be backed onto a street without a police escort. To send a bus north on Clague, they would have to add another vehicle and create a new route. They do not have an extra bus to do so. Councilman Orlowski suggested that perhaps Dr. Sebring could speak with Mayor Patton about opening up the W. 227 Street bridge to two-way traffic. That would relieve a lot of Fairview traffic off of Clague and the side streets. Dr. Sebring said the schools would have no aversion in approaching Fairview Park if that is a better solution for the children. Mayor O'Grady said he had discussed the opening of W. 227 to two-way traffic with Mayor Patton, and she was not inclined to change it. Charles Dial, 27959 Gardenia, spoke about rumors he has heard about city officials socializing after Council meetings, which he feels should be noticed public meetings. Another rumor he has heard is the Mayor has a temper, which he said was not true as the Mayor did not lose his temper with what he called people who were bullying and obstructionists. Deborah Kessel, 22965 Esther Avenue, discussed safety concerns on Esther Avenue. As the mother of two children, she is concerned about the increased traffic on the street. Since construction began last week, massive amounts of motorists at all times of the day and night, as many as 226 vehicles in one hour, travel down Esther Avenue. Although the Mayor mentioned there was increased enforcement, she said there have been no police officers on the street. People have chosen to blatantly ignore the road closed bamers positioned at I-480 and Lorain/Clague intersection. They use Esther as they would Clague Road to get to their destinations, often at speeds greater than 25 mph. There is no regard to minimum speed, assured distance or safety of others when these vehicles use Esther. Mayor Patton of Fairview Park made a choice and continues to make a choice to deny North Olmsted's request to temporarily open W. 227 as atwo-way street from Brookpark. As stated in the Plain Dealer on January 23, 2006, "Her city is going to maintain the status quo just as it did when similar improvements were made on W. 220. The area is heavily residential and some areas have no sidewalks." Mayor Patton stated, "People just learn to take different routes." Ninety-nine percent of the vehicles using Esther Avenue do not pause, stop or live on Esther Avenue in North Olmsted or Fairview Park. She inquired of the Mayor and Council as to what choices are 11