A“front porch survey” that included photographs and video was presented by Kyle Campbell. Campbell documented how living in the neighborhood he first moved to 15 years ago has “Over the last two years been unbearable... I’ve watched community safety rapidly erode.”

Traffic problems at SPHS detailed, scope of study not finalized

January 30, 2015
Santa Paula News

Traffic problems around the high school seemed to erupt over the last two years at least one speaker told the City Council and Santa Paula United School District Trustees at a special joint meeting held January 26.

The Community Center was crowded for the meeting that Mayor John Procter said he hoped demonstrates that the boards, often at loggerheads in the past, are “inseparable... not only is it the right thing to do, but it’s our duty to work with you guys.”

Santa Paula High School has been a particularly sore point with neighbors who sought relief with parking districts - only one so far has garnered council support - and parents who fear sports programs are threatened due to traffic issues.

During a presentation of a possible Neighborhood Safety Zone, Lois Zsarnay, a high school neighbor for 24 years, said the traffic and parking issues have become unbearable in the last two years.

Zsarnay said part of the problem is the rising number of events being held almost nonstop on campus, increasing in January alone from an average few to a now calendared 62, “A 600 percent increase... “

Such activities, she added, have prevented her from having her own gathering and celebrations.

With traffic, parking loss, noise and other impacts, “That’s what we’re objecting to, we have no rights,” she noted.

Zsarnay said the community needs an event center outside a residential area for youth sports and activities.

Kyle Campbell noted his own 20-year public safety career’s perspective on the rising problems in the area surrounding the high school. 

From a “front porch survey” that includes photographs and video Campbell has documented how living in the neighborhood he first moved to 15 years ago has “Over the last two years been unbearable... I’ve watched community safety rapidly erode.”

Campbell showed a video of Saturday evening traffic that showed cars packing curbs, a school bus stopped in the middle of the street, speeding vehicles, jaywalkers and accident near misses.

The growth of the high school and campus construction can be blamed for some impacts, he noted but the most serious safety issues are due to the “Increased use of high school facilities,” that have worsened traffic volume and speed.

Quality of life for those living in the area has declined with vandalism to cars, lack of residential parking, noise and trash littering yards and streets greatly increasing. 

“Santa Paula Street used to be so calm,” he noted.

All issues are compounded, said Campbell, because “There is little to no law enforcement on the street,” which must be corrected; signage is also lacking.

Campbell said a safety corridor should be crafted that would include managing high school facility use, the establishment of more parking districts and more parking for those using the high school for events.

“Traffic calming is the meat and potatoes,” of the plan using “intelligent physical design,” as well as “focused enforcement.”

The school and city must establish drop-off zones, utilize solar speed indicators, install traffic slowing street speed tables, upgrade the visibility of crosswalks and direct foot traffic as much as possible to the campus side of streets.

Campbell said the corner of 5th and Santa Paula streets is “dangerous” and designated no crossing areas should be created.

The joint panel also heard of a proposed traffic study by Interim Public Works Director Brian Yanez and Dennis Lammers of Stantec, which is working on crafting a plan for such a report.

Yanez said the council would consider expanding the parking district February 2 but a traffic study “is a completely different thing,” that will identify trouble spots, drop off points, safety enhancements and other issues.

But, he added, the school district and the city have not yet finalized the scope of work that will be undertaken.

Lammers said the study would include “all the stakeholders, city residents, school, police,” and others to be able to “better understand the issues from first hand experience.”

The study will also examine remote parking possibilities and could include projections on likely traffic patterns following the development of new homes in East Area 1 where 1,500 residential units are planned.

Procter said there has been some criticism centered on the time of year the study is expected to cover, which does not include heavily attended football season. 

Any study without such data, he noted, would not be the “most representative,” of actual impacts but Lammers said that could be overcome. 

When asked to pinpoint project completion by Vice Mayor Martin Hernandez, Yanez said although the scope of work for the study should be completed soon he could not yet say when the actual study would be done.

The city, he added, is “still working on a school cooperative agreement,” and a memorandum of understanding for the study has not yet been finalized.

After some comments from school board members, and council Councilwoman Ginger Gherardi said although “I absolutely support doing a comprehensive study,” it is “just part of the problem... we have an enforcement problem now,” that must be addressed with more police presence and action.

With financial constraints City Manager Jaime Fontes said perhaps the school district would share the cost of a motorcycle officer and Police Chief Steve McLean said other personnel issues, such as increasing the hours of part time cadets could be examined; more patrols could also be ordered for peak school times. 

The discussion said SPUHS Board President Michelle Kolbeck, is a “great way to collaborate,” on the traffic issues and upcoming study.





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