HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD-029-01
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DNP029-01
THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
REPORT
Meeting:
General Purpose and Administration Committee
File # /f?{?"(/;r
Res. # GlfI-!brz~() I
Date:
Monday, March 26,2001
By-law #
Report #:
PD-029-01
FILE #: CG 1.5
Subject:
MUNICIPAL POLICY FOR
TEMPORARY CROSSING GUARDS
FILE: CG 1.5
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended to Council the following:
1. THAT Report. PD-029-0 I be received;
2. THAT further to Resolution GPA-435-00 that Temporary Adult Crossing Guards be
utilized only where there is a clearly identifiable increase in danger for children crossing
a street due to increased vehicular traffic from construction vehicles and/or traffic
diverted due to construction activity in accordance with the process outlined in Section 3
of Report PD-029-01; and
3. THAT all interested parties listed in this report and any delegation be advised of
Council's decision.
1. BACKGROUND
1.1 In 1997, Council received a petition from parents for placing an Adult Crossing Guard at
the comer of Beaver and Robert Streets in Newcastle Village. This was at the time of the
demolition and reconstruction of the Newcastle Public School. Staff and Council
supported this request, on a temporary basis, due to the volume of parental vehicular
traffic and construction traffic in this location.
In September 2000, staff relocated this Crossing Guard to the intersection of Beaver and
Edward Streets on a permanent basis. Several parents requested that Council restore a
Crossing Guard at the other location at Beaver and Robert Streets. On October 16, 2000,
Council approved an extension of the temporary Crossing Guard until June 2001.
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REPORT NO.: PD-029-01
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1.2 At the same meeting Council adopted Resolution #GPA-435-00 "THAT the need for
additional [temporary] school crossing guards be investigated in other areas of the
Municipality where schools are being built and adjacent subdivisions are being
constructed" .
2. COMMENT
2.1 Staff from Public Works and Planning Departments reviewed Council's request to
determine if there were some objective criteria that could be utilized to provide some
guidance to determine when a temporary Adult Crossing Guard should be deployed.
Staff concluded that there were no numeric criteria or set of conditions that could
adequately be utilized to determine when a temporary Adult Crossing Guard was needed.
Situations in each plan of subdivision vary so greatly (construction phasing, location of
school, traffic volumes, timing of school construction, etc.). In essence, each situation is
untque.
2.2 Staff consulted with other municipalities in Durham Region. No lakeshore Municipality
has a policy in place regarding Temporary Crossing Guards. Moreover, they do not
favour such a policy for the same reason that staff do not recommend that the Clarington
establish such a policy. Once an Adult Crossing Guard is deployed, even on a
temporary basis, it is difficult to subsequently reduce the level of service.
2.3 The Town of Ajax indicated that if there were children crossing at a location where there
was construction, they asked the construction company to provide a flag person until the
construction was finished. The Public Works Department indicate that this is not
desirable since it may impact the costs of construction and that flag persons may not be
fully attentive to the children's movements.
2.4 It is therefore recommended that, if Council wants to pursue a policy of deploying a
temporary Adult Crossing Guards across the Municipality, it should be a reactive
approach. Specifically, there should be a formal request by a school board and a
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REPORT NO.: PD-029-01
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subsequent review of the situation by staff to determine if there is danger to children
crossing the street due to increased vehicular traffic from construction activity or revised
traffic patterns due to construction activity. It is further recommended that the School
Board and School Council be informed of the termination date for the temporary
crossing.
3. CONCLUSION
If Council wishes to pursue a policy of hiring and deploying temporary Adult Crossing
Guards, it is recommended that they only be utilized in a limited manner where there is a
clearly identifiable increase in danger for children crossing a street. The process to be
utilized is as follows:
a) the relevant school board make a formal request to the Municipality; and
b) staff review the request and make a recommendation for Council's consideration.
c) the School Board and School Council and Principal be informed of the time-
period for the temporary Crossing Guard.
Respectfully submitted,
Reviewed by,
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Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Chief Administrative Officer.
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REPORT NO.: PD-029-01
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Interested parties to be notified of Council and Committee's decision:
Joel Sloggett
Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington
Catholic District School Board
1355 Lansdowne Street West
PETERBOROUGH, Ontario
K9J 7M3
Roy Wierenga
Kawartha Pine Ridge District
School Board
Education Centre
1994 Fisher Drive
P.O. Box 719
PETERBOROUGH, Ontario
K9J7Al
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