HomeMy Public PortalAbout1993-09-23 TRAFFIC & PARKING COMMISSION:t•
AGENDA ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AT
THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
LYNWOOD TRAFFIC AND PARKING COMMISSION
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1993 AT 6:00 P.M.
OPENING CEREMONIES
1. CALL FOR ORDER - CHAIRMAN DELMAR CABARET
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POSTING
4. ROLL CALL OF COMMISSIONERS
DELMAR CABARET
EDMOND R. ARCHAMBAULT
WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM
JOE DARYL BATTLE
EDWARD PACHECO
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
R EIVED
CI OF LYNWOOU
CITY CLERKS OFFICE
SEP 2 0 1993
AM PM
718191IOlUI12111213141516
I
SCHEDULED MATTERS
6. VACATION OF ALLEY EASTMENT FIRST ALLEY SOUTH OF
MULFORD AVENUE, EAST OF COURT STREET
PUBLIC ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
COMMISSION ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
ADJOURNMENT
T07 -228
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE TRAFFIC AND PARKING COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF LYNWOOD
August 26, 1993
A regular meeting of the Traffic and Parking Commission of the
City of Lynwood was held on Thursday, August 26, 1993. The
meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council
Chambers at 11330 Bullis Road in the City of Lynwood, California.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Delmar Cabaret.
Commissioners, Edmond R. Archambault, William Cunningham,
Edward Pacheco, and Chairman Delmar Cabaret answered roll call.
Joe Battle was absent. Emilio M. Murga, Director of Public
Works and Deputy Jones of the Sheriff's Department were also
present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The pledge of allegiance was led by Commissioner Cunningham.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POSTING
Mr. Murga announced that the agenda of August 26, 1993, was duly
posted on Monday, August 23, 1993.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Cunningham motioned to accept the minutes as
written. Commissioner Pacheco seconded the motion, and the
minutes were approved.
PUBLIC ORALS
There were none.
SCHEDULED MATTERS
There were none. Mr. Murga explained that John Oskoui was
appointed as temporary Director of Facilities Maintenance and
that he (Mr. Murga) would be facilitating the meeting.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
Mr. Murga mentioned that there were a few items pending and he
wanted to review them briefly. ,
Mr. Murga said that the County of Los Angeles has proposed to put
in the third lane on Imperial Hwy at no cost to the City of
Lynwood but that their proposal would completely eliminate
parking the total length of Imperial Hwy and that this is a
1
concern because some business's have very limited or no parking
at all and that staff needed to talk to the owners to get their
opinion.
Chairman Cabaret said that the commission had asked for a survey
of the shop owners before and Commissioner Archambault asked if
the survey had been done yet.
Commissioner Archambault said he was concerned because some
locations had no parking and no room for trucks such as the
liquor store on Fracar.
Commissioner Cunningham asked how the problem could be solved.
Mr. Murga said that a survey would be done and be bought to the
board at the next meeting. He also said that he has been in
contact with the County regarding the proposed third lane and
that after driving Imperial Hwy. the County representative, was
willing to consider alternatives or entertain any suggestions.
One suggestion made was to allow parking in some locations with
the condition that in the future, as areas are developed, that
new parking restrictions are imposed not to allow street parking.
Commissioner Cunningham said that if the plan were to go ahead as
planned without ironing out the snags, that the plan would not
work. He also said that the letter that was prepared but was not
heard had a lot of good points in it. He also expressed concern
that even if the Sheriff's Dept. came out to deal with a
illegally parked car, that it would compound the problem and
stated he would like the auto -club consulted to see if they had
any ideas or if staff could come up with options.
Mr. Murga stated that 808 of the congestion that can be relieved
is at the intersections and said his concern is to get the three
lanes of traffic to clear the intersections.
Commissioner Cabaret expressed concern on eastbound Imperial east
of Atlantic because the I -710 freeway bridge has only two lanes
and said this creates a bottleneck. He said there is little
traffic going south on I -710 and that most traffic goes across
the bridge to northbound I -710.
Commissioner Cunningham said that the LA County reported that
when the new I -105 freeway is open to traffic that the traffic on
Imperial will increase and it does not make sense to him.
Commissioner Cabaret said that the County report attached to the
proposal to widen Imperial said that Imperial Hwy traffic would
be increased and does not make any sense. He said he asked for a
clarification.
2
Mr. Murga said that one of the upcoming projects is to widen
Imperial Hwy between Atlantic Avenue to the southbound I -710
freeway on ramp (just east of Wright Road) on the south side
only. He went on to say that the LA County report is contrary to
Caltrans estimate that Imperial Hwy. will go down in traffic and
that Long Beach Blvd. will increase. Mr. Murga went on to say
that widening Imperial Hwy. and putting in a third lane should
decrease congestion in the area.
Commissioner Cunningham said that if the project is approved, as
was previously discussed, and if Imperial is widened from
Atlantic to Wright road, then the alley on the south side just
east of Atlantic where people traveling west bound on Imperial
who make left hand turns into the 76 Station alley would have to
be eliminated because it is a dangerous area.
Chairman Cabaret suggested a danger exists for pedestrians who
might be at risk due to the bus blocking the view at that
location. He asked previously if there were any accidents and he
was told there were none.
Deputy Jones said he agreed it was a dangerous situation and that
he had seen potential accidents but does not know of any. He also
said that delineators were a good idea, as Mr. Murga suggested,
but could be expensive because they would need to be replaced
often. He suggested maybe increasing the light for left turn
movements onto Atlantic Ave.
Commissioner Pacheco inquired about the vacating of that alley
and Mr. Murga responded that the alley that was vacated was next
to the Pescado Mojado and that the owner had decided not to close
the alley.
Commissioner Cunningham asked staff to keep it in mind to try and
solve it.
On another matter, Mr. Murga said that he received a call from a
parent of a student who attends St. Emedius regarding a letter
from the City saying the City would not be funding a crossing
guard. He also stated that the mid -block crosswalks have been
eliminated and the remaining crosswalk would be repainted and
legends re- stripped.
Chairman Cabaret expressed sadness that there used to be an adult
volunteer crossing guard at the location and she was advised not
to do it because she would be liable since she was not a city nor
a school district employee. He said it was a bad situation that
since there was no money to pay for a crossing guard.
Commissioner Cunningham asked if there was a state law that
requires the school board to provide a crossing guard. He
thought the school board took care of it until he found out the
city was doing it.
3
Chairman Cabaret said it was a private school and would not have
to follow the same guidelines as a public school.
Deputy Jones said that in some cities, the crossing guards are
part of the police force. Mr. Murga added that still on other
cities, the crossing guards are paid by the city and some are
paid by the school district.
Mr. Murga updated the commission on various CIP's.
El Segundo between Long Beach and Alpine and Palm Ave between
Alpine and Long Beach is currently under construction. The City
is also ready to bid the City Hall Re -roof project, Imperial Hwy
widening, Slurry Seal, Sidewalk Reconstruction, Long Beach Blvd
Concrete Improvement. Also the following projects will be ready
to be sent to bid in a month or so. They are Atlantic
Reconstruction, and Bullis Road.
Mr Murga answered Commissioner Cunningham's question on funding
by stating that Prop C funds are being used to fund Atlantic and
Bullis Road with Inter Modal Surface Transportation Efficiency
Act (ISTEA) funds. Mr. Murga also stated that the last phase of
Long Beach Blvd widening project will take at least 6 -8 months
to acquire the property before construction can begin.
Commissioner Cunningham asked if the drainage problem on Long
Beach near Louise was going to be addressed and also asked about
the Traffic Signal approved for Long Beach Blvd and Louise.
Mr Murga responded by saying council approved the traffic signal
but funds have not been appropriated to commence the installation
of the signal. As for the ponding water problem, Mr. Murga
explained the City will be paying for the reconstruction of the
two (2) corners and Caltrans will be paying for the installation
of the storm drains and catch basin. Mr. Murga further explained
that two new traffic signals were going to be installed, one
south and one north at the freeway on and off ramps that will be
owned and maintained by Caltrans.
Also, Mr. Murga said that the City is in the process conducting a
well site study to replace well 20, built by Caltrans, that could
not be used due to high levels of contamination.
Commissioner Cunningham asked what the Saturday clean up program
was; asked if it was a training period. Said it should be broken
up to smaller groups. Commissioner Pacheco asked what the
students get paid.
Mr. Murga said the program is going on now, that the City was
hiring supervisors and that the students were paid $5.00 /hour.
4
Mr. Murga also mentioned that the City was using County Work
Fare personnel from the Welfare office and that the California
Conservation Corp would also be doing work for the city.
Commissioner Cunningham asked the Sheriff when the bike patrols
were going to start.
Deputy Jones said that the Bicycle patrol was already on patrol.
He stated that they are going out now but are not going after
heavy crime activity, but rather are going to trouble areas where
people complain about, like panhandlers, loiters etc.
Public Works monthly report was attached to provide the
commission with the month of July's 1993 report.
COMMISSION ORALS
Commissioner Archambault said that a tree needs to be trimmed on
Los Flores just west of Bellinger. He stated that people have to
go out into the street because it blocks the sidewalk. In
addition, he said they had converted the garage into living
quarters and that trucks park on the street.
Commission Cunningham said we should refer this to Code
Enforcement and Chairman Cabaret asked if the City could trim
what was overhanging in the right of way.
Commissioner Archambault said that they did a good job patching
Bellinger but that there are still some pot holes and could they
be repaired.
Commissioner Pacheco wants to know why parking enforcement is not
ticketing trucks around the Market place because they park on
Bullis and block driveways. They also block the sidewalks. He
said he asked parking enforcement and was told that they were
told to not cite but he would like the parking enforced.
Deputy Jones said they cannot give tickets because the city does
there own parking enforcement. The only thing they do is tow a
vehicle if it is blocking a driveway. But, they will not ticket.
Commissioner Archambault also said that the motorcycle shop on
Bellinger blocks the sidewalk and Chairman Cabaret added that
they test drive motorcycles on Fernwood and would like the area
patrolled if possible.
Commissioner Cunningham mentioned that there are two large trees
on Imperial Hwy that block the view if you are south on Cornish
and want to make a right hand turn. He said that you have to go
past the limit line to see oncoming traffic. In addition, he
said Mr. Wang (previous director of Public Works) said that those
trees were also causing sewer problems. In addition, he said
Mayor Richards had agreed verbally to make a note to have the
5
trees removed. He said there was accidents in the past caused by
the trees and wants to know if some of the money received by the
city can be used to have them removed. He said Mayor Richards
had made mention and agreed that the trees should come out.
Commissioner Cunningham also asked that a work order be issued to
refill the pot hole located at 10821 Cornish. He said the street
was recently patched and it has been holding but there are a few
areas that need to be addressed. He said part of the reason why
the street is in bad shape is the school bus coming down the
street to enter straight into the school district.
Chairman Cabaret asked if the Sheriff Dept had any concerns and
Deputy Jones said that there is an uncontrolled intersection on
LeSage and Carson and had an accident. He would like to request
a stop sign.
Chairman Cabaret said he had requested that John Oskoui look into
and find out about a program that Councilman Armando Rea had
mentioned where by the City and the Sheriff dept would work
together to remove junk cars from residences. would like more
information on that program or another type program.
Deputy Jones said he would like the commission to know that if
there are any hot spots they would like the bike patrol to go to,
to call the sheriff station and ask for the person in charge of
the bike team.
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Commissioner
Archambault. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Cunningham
and passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned to
September 30, 1993, at 6:45 P.M.
T07 -146
J
• •
DATE: September 23, 1993
TO: THE HONORABLE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE
TRAFFIC AND PARKING COMMISSION
FROM: Emilio M. Murga, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: VACATION OF ALLEY EASEMENT FIRST ALLEY SOUTH OF
MULFORD AVENUE, EAST OF COURT STREET
PURPOSE:
To recommend that the Traffic and Parking Commission support the
vacation of the first alley south of Mulford Avenue, 200 feet
east of Court Street and make a recommendation to the City
Council.
BACKGROUND:
A request to vacate the above mentioned alley has been received
from the Department of Community Development. The City of
Lynwood and the Lynwood Redevelopment Agency currently own all
parcels abutting this alley.
ANALYSIS
Based on an investigation conducted by the Engineering Division
it has been determined that the alley is not needed for access or
circulation purposes, since its easterly portion was already
vacated and all utilities have been abandoned or relocated (see
attached sketch).
The Fire Department and Sheriff's Department have no objection to
the proposed vacation.
The vacation request will also be reviewed by the Planning
Commission. The City Council will hold a public hearing before
making the final decision on the proposed alley vacation.
RECOMMENDATION
To recommend that the Traffic and Parking Commission support the
vacation of the first alley south of Mulford Avenue, 200 feet
east of Court Street and make a recommendation to the City
Council.
t07 -177B
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CENTURY 4 on
• •
State May Exert �'o�bver. tp nxpec
Rail Project Linking Ports, L.A.
By NORA ZAMICHOW
TINES STAFF wRITFR
W hen the state wants to build a highway on a recalcitrant homeowner's land.
there is a simple solution. The house is condemned and its owner offered the
fair market value.
Today the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles want to build what is widely
regarded as a key transportation link in the state —the Alameda Corridor, a
modernized rail line to connect the ports with Downtown.
But She landowner— Southern Pacific Transportation Co. —has set the price at
$260 million. more than four times the appraised value of the land.
Even though negotiations broke down last week. officials may soon acquire a tool
that they said would allow them to push the project through. The Legislature has,
sent a bill to Gov Pete Wilson that grants thestatethe right to use eminent domain
to acquire the right of way
Wilson has not taken a position on the bill. which he must decide on no later than
Tuesday said I P Tremblay, his spokesman.
Please see ALAMEDA, B6
C��y � lvnes ��el�S
I
A: Railroad, Backers of New Line Battle Over Cost of Land
med from 1111
.bin is expected to be a lough
r Wilson, who has promised
ive the California economy
ho has maintained close ties
i business community This
)wever, cuts both ways—po-
ly aiding many businesses
angering one — Southern Pa-
6thern Pacific officials oppose
legislation, saying they are
:led to be justly compensated
relinquishing the rail line,
at would be modernized but
ed with two of the firm's
's unfair; [the bill] is hostilely
Ing out an industry that
t't deserve to be treated that
" said Bob Starzel; vice chair.
of Southern Pacific. "We are
lg a corridor that's an integral
of our business, a key element
he 20-mile, $1.8- billion Alame-
da Corridor is designed to allow
;e . railroad companies —each of
,eh has its own set of tracks —to
slowly as 5 m.p.h. on tracks that
crisscross roads, frequently tying
up traffic. Not all the cargo goes by
these slow trains —some 20,000
trucks daily travel between the
ports and Downtown over what are
often crowded streets and free-
ways, said Gil Hicks, executive
director of the Alameda Corridor
Transportation Authority.
The antiquated system, some
say, could put Southern California
at a disadvantage with other West
Coast ports that promise to estab-
lish more modern facilities.
The proposed Alameda Corridor
Is designed to ease congestion,
eliminating the need for trucks and
allowing trains to travel In open
trenches at about 40 m.p.h. The
project Is expected to create 10,000
immediate construction jobs and
750,000 long -term jobs in the re-
gion.
Last week, officials with the Port
of Long Beach ended negotiations
with Southern Pacific. Only weeks
earlier, officials with the Port of
Los Angeles stepped away from
the bargaining table. Under a ten-
day to close the deal, which had
come under close scrutiny by May-
or Richard Riordan's newly ap-
pointed harbor commissioners.
When the railroad began negoti-
ating with port officials, it demand-
ed $500 million for the right of way
The State Board of Equalization
valued the land at $60 million. The
Alameda Corridor Transportation
Authority appraised it at $78 mil-
lion. After one year of negotiations,
the price tag was tentatively set at
$260 million —an amount that crit-
ics have called profiteering.
"The price that was being dis-
cussed was grossly excessive," said
Daniel Wm. Feaster, president of
the state Public Utilities Commis-
sion. "Because what Is the public
acquiring? They are acquiring the
liability for the existing corridor,
the burden for improving it and
when It's Improved, among the
principal chief beneficiaries would
be the current owner, Southern
Pacific Railroad."
S outhern Pacific, a longtime
campaign contributor to Wil-
1 to campaign disclosure records.
The railroad has donated more
than $200,000 to California legisla-
tors in the last eight years, records
show
The bill before Wilson, authored
by Assemblywoman Juanita
McDonald (D- Carson), would al-
low the state to condemn the
Southern Pacific land and purchase
it for fair market price.
If the bill is signed, it would be
the first time that the principle of
eminent domain has been used
against a railroad in the state,
according to state officials.
Ironically, when railroads first
began setting down tracks, some
residents declined to sell key par-
cels of land or offered them at
exorbitant prices. The power to
take private property for public use
was then developed.
Other states, such as Texas, have
that power through rail authorities,
said Warren Weber, director of
legislative affairs with the Depart-
ment of Transportation in Sacra-
memo.
om Houston, a lawyer negoti-
ating for Southern Pacife, said
the bill would increase the cost for
the land.
"They'd be condemning both the
property and SWIthern Pacific's
bosuns;' said Ilopslun, contend-
ing that this would raise the price
to well over $500 million and tie up
the project in legal battles.
But McDonald vows that the
Legislation would get the Alameda
Corridor project back on track, and
would allow the purchase for less
than $100 million.
Although the federal IntersLdc
Cummorce Comillissiou has ulu-
m.rtc juriadictwu over the railroad
industry, McDonald said Transpor-
tation Secretary P edenco Pena had
assured her that the federal gov-
ernment will not interfere.
":Southern California has experi-
enced tremendous unemploy-
ment," McDonald said. "We can dl
afford an opportunity like this to be
passed up."
FlyWhMiv
Give Electric
Car a Charge
■ Autos: Sacramento
utility unveils model of
high -tech battery it
believes could make such
vehicles practical.
By MICHAEL PARRISH
TIMES STAFF WRITER
In what its backers called a
breakthrough in eftorts to make
electric cars practic }Al and afford-
able, a Sacramento utility Thurs-
day unveiled the first working
model of a battery that stores
energy in a high -tech flywheel.
The device, which stores energy
mechanically, uses the same prin-
ciple that keeps a yo -yo or potter's
wheel spinning. It was designed by
American Flywheel Systems Inc.,
a small Bellevue, Wash., company,
and built by Honeywell Inc. of
Minneapolis, which since the 1970s
has been building flywheels for
aerospace and defense projects.
Some familiar with the technolo-
gy say substantial technological
hurdles remain. But a spokesman
for its chief sponsor, the Sacra-
mento Municipal Utility District,
was optimistic as the designers
announced the development in
Seattle.
"We believe the AFS- Honey-
well team's flywheel battery will
transform the market for electric
cars, making them truly long -
range vehicles," said Winston
Ashizawa, SMUD's deputy assist-
ant general manager.
Ashizawa estimated that a full -
size prototype engine could give
electric cars a range of 300 to 600
miles between charges —as much
or more than conventional gasoline
autos. The best existing chemical
batteries last 120 miles between
charges.
"A long -range electric vehicle is
of far more general service," Ashi-
zawa said, "so instead of it being a
second car, it could be the first car
for a family, dramatically improv-
ing its marketability "
Proponents also believe that in
mass production, a flywheel bat-
tery car could be priced competi-
tively with gas - powered autos and
be operated more cheaply
Flywheels spin like tops, speed-
ing up as they store energy and
slowing as the energy is used —to
propel a car, for instance. They
were widely researched in the
1970s and 1980s, when alternative -
energy schemes were well- funded.
But with the fall in oil prices in
recent years, interest tapered off.
They also had a big technological
drawback. They couldn't store
enough energy
But the new generation of fly-
wheels —built from extremely
tough materials, including graphite
fibers and Kevlar, the synthetic
material used in bulletproof
vests —have much higher spinning
speeds, allowing greater energy
storage.
Please see FLYWHEEL, D4
CogtZeu r irom D2
' ftesearcth in flywheel technology
has increased as the auto industry
faces a 1998 deadline in California
and other states to put the' first
electric cars on the road. Calstart,
the consortium attempting to fos-
ter an advanced transportation in-
dustry in California, is seeking
funds for a project with U.S. Fly-
wheel Systems Inc. of Laguna
[fills. Hughes Aircraft Co. and
Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory are also working on
flywheel systems.
Others see substantial problems
before flywheels prove practical.
Philip C. Symons. manager of
public transport,itiun projects at
the Electric Pcr•ver Research Insti-
Lute, the research arni of the utility
i ndusu'y, racenti" e�aluatcd the
state of the technology He worries
I
hat flywheel cars could prove
overly expensive. And while fly-
wheels themselves have drainati-
cally improvrd. related
nents have not, he said.
"What we don't know as yet is
how well we will be able to reduce
the weight of all these other sub-
systems so that we can obtain,
usable energy," Symons said.
SMUD and other electric utilities
would reap vastly increased reve-
nues in any big switch from gaso-
line to electric cars. But the uuli-
tics have sought to encourage
technologies that would lend
themselves to overnight recharg-
ing, when the utilities have great
excess capacity
For that reason, SNII1D favors a
long -range vehicle that could ac-
commodate a famih s needs all
day So far the unlit, has contrib-
uted federal and state grants total-
ing mntr, than $2 million to the
AFS flywheel bau,ry ccc.,lup-
ment.
SMUD expects a batmr-, proto-
tvpe that can be tested I au
makers in 1904 and a full -siz
prototvpe by 1995
FLYWHEEL: Battery for Electric Car
Flywheel battery may let cars go 300 to 600 miles between charges.
- •� _ S/ SUNI]JIL SEPt`ITiBEit 5, 1993 J3 "I
Budget. Cuts Could Leave Many
Schools Without Traffic Guards
■ Safety: With classes
about to start, districts in
unincorporated areas are
scrambling for volunteers
or other solutions. `It's an
absolute fiasco,' one
administrator says.
Robison, who said the district
cannot afford to pay for crossing
guards, is working to find alterna-
tives to the 14 guards the county
pays for in the district.
"We have had budget cuts for
four years. They have had cuts for
two," she said. "We're not cut to
the bone. We're into the bone."
The Hacienda La Puente Unified
School District stands to lose 17
crossing guards.
The Pasadena Unified School
District that serves seven schools
in unincorporated Altadena will
lose 10 crossing guards.
Other districts with schools in
unincorporated areas stand to lose
one to three crossing guards. Those
are El Monte, Monrovia, Duarte,
San Gabriel, Charter Oak, Bassett
and Azusa. Most will temporarily
use administrators and parents to
protect children as they cross the
heavy lanes of,traffic.
The Azusa district, however, de-
cided to pay for two guards to keep
up the normal level of staffing at
intersections, said Bill McIntire at
the county Office of Education,
which contracts with a company to
provide the crossing guards.
A report Tuesday from the chief
administrative officer to supervi-
sors will recommend that school
districts pay the full cost of the
crossing guards, county sources
said.
"There simply isn't any money,"
said Dorothea Park, a management
analyst for the chief administra-
tors's office. Park said there is not
even enough money to finance a
suggestion by Supervisor Michael
Antonovich to have the county and
schools share the cost.
Robert Alaniz, a deputy for Su-
pervisor Gloria Molina, said his
boss wants the issue resolved
quickly and is also willing to sup-
port a split deal.
However, he said, there is a
feeling that school districts can
pick up the bill since they benefit-
ed from the state's property tax
shift from the county But school
districts are not pleased with Anto-
novich's suggestion. Pasadena, for
example, would have to pay about
$75,000 under the plan.
"Where are we suppose to come
up with the money? We've already
budgeted for the year," said Supt.
Vera Vignes. However, she said] if
it comes to Sept. 14, the first day. of
school, the district will have no
alternative but to pay for the
crossing guards.
S an Gabriel Unified's Supt. Gary
Goodson said it is widely known
By RICHARD WINTON
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
With classes starting as early as
Tuesday, the San Gabriel Valley's
school districts are scrambling to
protect students in unincorporated
neighborhoods from an unantici-
pated problem that threatens to
make walking to school more dan-
gerous than ever.
The Los Angeles County Board
of Supervisors ended all funding
for crossing guards in county areas
in a budget - cutting move that
attracted little attention in July
Unless county supervisors ig-
nore staff advice Tuesday and
restore the $1.7 million funding
cut, school districts will be forced
to leave students unprotected or
pay for crossing guards or use
administrators and volunteers at
well - traveled intersections.
Supervisors ended the funding
after the state stopped mandating
that the county pay for crossing
guards. The decision will not affect
crossing guards who work within
city boundaries.
C ounty officials say no crossing
guards will be on duty when
students in the unincorporated ar-
eas of Rowland Heights, Hacienda
Heights and La Puente return to
school Tuesday In the days fol-
lowing, students in Altadena and
scattered other incorporated areas
will face the same problem.
"Because you're relieved of your
civic duty it doesn't mean you let
children be killed," said an angry
Sharon Robison, superintendent of
Rowland Unified School District.
that the supervisors will not
change their minds. He said that
when his schools go back into
session Sept. 17, administrators and
PTA members will help.
Hacienda La Puente Unified
School District plans to , use prinpi-
pals and assistant principals as an
interim measure to cover some of
17 intersections guards usually
cover when school begins Tuesday,
said Assistant Supt. Joyce Craig..
"We can't afford the guards. Our
budget is set and unlike the county
we have not had any mandates
removed," she said. The district,
which cut $6.6 million in the last
two years, would have to pay more
than $100,000.
Monrovia Unified students going
to Same Fe Elementary School
will be guided by administrators
across the busy Myrtle and Long -
den avenues on Thursday, the first
day of school. The district is trying
to recruit parent volunteers to take
over.
The 34 affected school districts
were notified of the cutbacks
Aug.2 by the county Office of
Education. However, school ad-
ministrators say they have heard
little since then and have had to
rely on supervisors' offices to keep
them up -to -date.
"It's an absolute fiasco," said
Robison, of Rowland Unified, who
was still investigating the matter
at the end of last week. "I'm not
sure I can put administrators and
parents in the streets. It is a
question of liability "
Times staff writer Howard Blume
contributed to this story.
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