TITLE
Recommendation to adopt the findings of the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee relating to updating crossing guard locations at intersections throughout the City based on qualification criteria; and
Receive and file the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee report on Crossing Guard Deployment Plan for the 2016-2017 School Year and concur with its recommendations. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The need for school crossing guards has evolved over time due to neighborhood changes, new school construction, population redistribution, school schedule changes, and traffic control signalization upgrades. In 1978, Long Beach voters, through a City ballot initiative, established the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) to advise the City Council on crossing guard assignments throughout the City and ensure that crossing guards were appropriately deployed. PSAC is charged with determining whether an intersection utilized by school children requires the installation of an adult crossing guard, and advising the City Council of its findings and recommendations.
On May 10, 2005, recommendations to the Mayor and the City Council included developing a Crossing Guard Deployment Plan to review existing crossing guard locations to affirm continued need. Staff recommended an evaluation of 15 percent of approved crossing guard locations every year to ensure appropriate allocation of resources. This evaluation enables the reassignment or elimination of crossing guard locations that no longer meet the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) criteria. City staff also recommended that additional locations be brought annually to the City Council for consideration.
Beginning in 2008, PSAC had difficulties securing volunteers to serve as members and PSAC activity was put on hold. In 2013, the City Manager, the Department of Public Works and the Long Beach Police Department worked closely with the City Council to reconstitute PSAC. On August 13, 2015, December 10, 2015 and May 5, 2016, P...
Click here for full text