HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Council Action Form dated March 11, 1999 I 7
Item #
Date: March 11, 1999
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
SUBJECT: EXTENDING THE SCHOOL BUS LOADING ZONE ON BURNETT
AVENUE BY MEEKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
BACKGROUND:
The City has received a request from the Meeker Elementary School Principal Harry
Heiligenthal to move the existing School Bus Loading zone on Burnett Avenue north 60
feet to accommodate the loading of kindergarten school students during noon periods.
Previously, the noon-time loading activities for kindergarten school children had been at
an undesignated zone on 20t" Street next to the Kellogg Avenue intersection. This was
in a very visible location for teachers to monitor and the bus was stopped only for a
short period to pick up children. However, after receiving complaints and reviewing the
site, police officials suggested that the activities be moved to a location where there was
less potential for vehicular conflicts.
After reviewing alternate sites with staff, school officials believed that the most
appropriate place to move the kindergarten loading activities was in an extended zone
on the east side of Burnett Avenue. School officials believe that this extended zone
would be appropriately placed since it would be visible for teachers to monitor and only
a short distance from the school. Other alternatives that were considered included
moving the bus loading zone activities within the parking lot next to the school.
However, school officials believed that this would lead to problems since this is often
congested with parents picking up as many as 20 children during the noon period.
To safely accommodate this loading activity, the existing zone should be extended 60
feet north to a location 150 feet south of the 20th Street intersection. By extending this
zone, teachers standing in front of the school monitoring activities can see the children
boarding busses. Currently, there are sight limitations consisting of both the school
building and trees along the side of the school that do not make this visibility possible if
the bus loads along the north end of the existing zone. It should be noted that although
this zone will be moved north 60 feet, the other busses will stop along the south end of
the zone where a bus pad and sidewalk leading to the south door of the school exist.
This will not impact the area needed for parents to pick up children since most of these
activities are done in the parking lot in front of the school. Shown on the attached
diagram is the proposed location of the new bus-loading zone.
Staff has notified residents along the west side of Burnett Avenue adjacent to this
proposed zone about this measure. No concerns have been expressed about this
measure.
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CAF — Extend School Bus Load — Meeker School
March 11, 1999
Page 2
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the request to extend the existing Bus Loading Zone along the east side
of Burnett Avenue north 60 feet to a location approximately 150 feet south of the 20th
Street intersection. This extended bus-loading zone will be designated for the same
"7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. during weekdays" period as the existing one along Burnett
Avenue.
2. Do nothing.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt alternative
number 1, thereby directing the City Attorney to draft an ordinance extending the
existing Bus Loading Zone along the east side of Burnett Avenue north 60 feet to a
location approximately 150 feet south of the 201h Street intersection. This extended bus-
loading zone will have the same "7:00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. during weekdays" as the
existing one along Burnett Avenue.
COUNCIL ACTION:
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MEEKER SCHOOL BUS LOADING ZONE
PROPOSED 60 ' EXTENSION
® LOADING ZONE
N PROPOSED BUS LOADING ZONE EXTENSION
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REVISED 2/18/99