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Sierra Madre council directs short-term safety fixes at elementary schools and asks city manager to negotiate crossing-guard MOU with PUSD
Summary
The City Council approved short-term pedestrian-safety measures near Sierra Madre Elementary and Sierra Madre Bridle schools and authorized staff to pursue discussions with Pasadena Unified School District on crossing guards; council also approved pursuit of a police motorcycle purchase and asked staff to report back on MOU terms.
The Sierra Madre City Council on Oct. 1 approved immediate pedestrian-safety measures near Sierra Madre Elementary and Sierra Madre Bridle schools and asked the city manager to negotiate an agreement with Pasadena Unified School District on crossing-guard services.
The council voted to proceed with four low-cost public-works steps recommended by staff: repainted crosswalks (including a ladder/piano-key pattern), refreshed school-zone signage, new LED stop signs and in-roadway pedestrian signs. Director Arnulfo Yanez told the council the four items together cost about $23,395 and could be implemented in two to three weeks; the council approved paying for the work from available appropriations.
Why it matters: Council members and staff stressed student safety at peak arrival and dismissal times. "Heightened enforcement is a deterrent to bad behavior," Police Chief Arinto told the council, and council members emphasized the need to coordinate enforcement with longer-term measures.
Crossing guards and enforcement: The council directed the city manager to begin negotiations with Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) for a shared-cost crossing-guard program; city staff said a cost quote from providers runs about $27,000 per guard per school year using current procurement estimates, and the manager will seek a cost-sharing arrangement. Councilmembers said they expected the district to take primary responsibility for administration and scheduling if it participates. The council also authorized staff to seek quotes and return with a purchase order for a police motorcycle—intended for flexible traffic enforcement and school-zone coverage—using non-general-fund sources where possible.
Operational context and budget: Police and public-works staff told the council the city’s enforcement capacity is limited because community-service officer positions have constrained hours; councilmembers asked staff to prioritize non-general-fund sources (asset forfeiture, grants) for a motor unit. Staff said crossing-guard contracts and the MOU would be brought back to council for approval before any binding commitment or supplemental appropriation.
What was not decided: The council did not commit city funds to a permanent crossing-guard program without a negotiated MOU; final staffing and cost-sharing terms will return to the council for approval.
Next steps: Staff will implement the low-cost signage and crosswalk work within weeks, ask PUSD for a cost-share meeting already scheduled for Oct. 6, and return to council with proposed MOU terms and any required budget actions.
