11-9-2011 Approved Meeting Minutes
RECORD OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
9 NOVEMBER 2011
PAGE 1.
QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF
JANESVILLE, HELD IN THE MUNICIPAL BUILDING COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ON
NOVEMBER 9, 2011 AT 4:30 P.M.
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN REENTS AT 4:30 P.M.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: ALLEN FUGATE, EDWIN JAMES, BRAD REENTS, RUSS
STEEBER AND JASON STOUT WERE PRESENT.
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: DENNIS RYAN, KARISSA CHAPMAN, AND MIKE PAYNE.
AGENDA ITEMS:
A. ROLL CALL
B. MINUTES
Meeting of August 24, 2011. Said minutes were approved.
C. ADULT CROSSING GUARDS
Mr. Ryan presented an overview of this topic, and then moved on to discuss each location
individually. The Committee decided to listen to presentations and citizen input on all 6
locations first, then make their recommendation and vote location by location after that.
1. Lapham Street & S Oakhill Avenue
Mr. Ryan presented the Engineering Division’s recommendation to discontinue the
adult crossing guard at this location after the current school year. There were no
citizens present to speak. Committee Member Steeber motioned to discontinue adult
crossing guards at this location. Second was by Committee Member Fugate, and the
vote was 5-0-0 in favor of discontinuance.
2. S Grant Avenue & Kellogg Avenue
Mr. Ryan presented the Engineering Division’s recommendation to discontinue the
adult crossing guard at this location. An unidentified woman spoke in favor of crossing
guards at this location who later clarified that she was actually in favor of crossing
guards at Kellogg & Oakhill. Mary Ulrich (2131 S Pine Street) and Linda Demontigny
(2121 Pioneer Road), both parents of school age children, spoke in favor of crossing
guards. Amanda Nichols (2206 Sheridan Street) also spoke in favor of crossing
guards, citing dangerous speeds, motorists refusing to stop and a vision issue with a
pole. Ms. Nichols also stated that she herself has helped children cross at this location
when a crossing guard was not present. The motion for this location was combined
with item #3 because the two locations are relatively close together.
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9 NOVEMBER 2011
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3. Kellogg Avenue & S Oakhill Avenue
Mr. Ryan presented the Engineering Division’s recommendation to discontinue the
adult crossing guard at this location. Committee Member Steeber commented that
there are two crossing guards a block away from each other and discussed eliminating
one or the other. Brian Gilbertson (401 S Pine Street) spoke in favor of keeping a
crossing guard at this location, citing high traffic speed and volume. Committee
Member Reents and staff discussed how the “vehicle gap” is identified and studied. It
was noted that Kellogg & Oakhill had a lower gap rating than Grant & Kellogg. Brian
Gilbertson questioned what the weather was like when the counts were taken. Staff
replied that directives for counting children require favorable weather and all days that
counts were taken followed the guidelines. Committee Member Steeber combined a
motion to discontinue the adult crossing guard at Grant & Kellogg; and continue the
crossing guard at Kellogg & Oakhill. Committee Member Steeber indicated the criteria
may be met by combining the two locations. Second was by Committee Member
Reents, and the vote was 5-0-0 in favor of discontinuing Grant & Kellogg and
maintaining Kellogg & Oakhill.
4. Center Avenue & Rockport Road
Mr. Ryan presented the Engineering Division’s recommendation to discontinue the
adult crossing guard at this location. No citizens were present to speak. Committee
Member Steeber motioned to discontinue adult crossing guards at this location.
Second was by Committee Member James, and the vote was 5-0-0 in favor of
discontinuance.
5. Randolph Road & N Wright Road
Mr. Ryan presented the Engineering Division’s recommendation to discontinue the
adult crossing guard at this location. Committee Member Steeber and Mr. Ryan
discussed the time cycle for crossing. Ed Gergets (1901 Edon Drive) was present to
speak in favor of retaining a crossing guard. Mr. Gergets indicated he was there to
represent “all children” not just his own, and cited: 1) people run red lights often, 2)
there is “zero” police presence, and 3) the ‘walk’ time is not long enough for children to
get across. Tom Brien (1916 E Racine Street #8) appeared to speak in favor of adult
crossing guards. Mr. Brien reported that he is the current crossing guard at this
location and he has experienced or witnessed several vehicle/pedestrian near misses
including one that involved himself crossing with a child. He also stated that there are
many children who walk to school early to partake in the breakfast club, and that there
are more kids walking home in the afternoon than in the morning. Also witnessed by
Mr. Brien are illegal U-turns and malfunctioning signals (including pedestrian push
buttons) from time to time. Mr. Brien questioned why a previous study included gap
and speed studies while the current study did not. Mr. Ryan explained that existing
traffic signals create too many difficulties to obtain relevant data for those two items
and traffic signals can be used as an alternate to crossing guard protection, per the
Council Policy. Dr. Mike Kuehne, Principal of Kennedy Elementary School (3515
Amhurst Road) spoke in favor of retaining crossing guards at all the locations that were
reviewed, especially at N Wright Road and Randolph Road. Dr. Kuehne stated that
saving a couple thousand dollars is not worth the risk of a child being hurt. He also
stated that children do not always use good judgment and benefit from adult
assistance. Committee Member Steeber motioned to continue adult crossing guard
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protection at this location. Second was by Committee Member Reents, and the vote
was 2-3-0 with Members James, Fugate and Stout voting nay so the motion failed.
There was a follow-up discussion regarding whether another vote to “discontinue” was
necessary, but the consensus was the previous vote dictates discontinuance by
default.
6. S Jackson Street & Rockport Road
Mr. Ryan presented the Engineering Division’s recommendation to discontinue adult
crossing guards at this location. There were no citizens present to speak. The
Committee Members began discussing the task of the Transportation Committee and
how it is to perform its duties. The 2006 Crossing Guard Study was discussed
between Staff and the Committee. Committee Member Fugate reiterated that
ultimately it is the parent’s responsibility to provide or direct their children to the safest
option. Committee Member Steeber motioned to continue adult crossing guards at this
location. Second was by Committee Member Stout, and the vote was 4-1-0 in favor of
maintaining crossing guard protection, with Committee Member Reents voting nay.
D.MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
1. Committee Member James thanked staff for reviewing the adult crossing guard
locations and the community’s input. He stated that he appreciated a good hard look
at this subject and indicated “analysis (of the program) needs to be an ongoing thing”.
2. Committee Member Steeber asked staff to check the “walk” timing of the signals at
Wright and Randolph to make sure there is enough time for kids to cross safely.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:35 p.m.
The next meeting is scheduled for 4:30 Wednesday, February 8, 2012.
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