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Teacher urges extra speed camera near Michigan Avenue Elementary after repeated speeding
Summary
A longtime teacher and resident asked the City Council to place an additional automated speed camera near Michigan Avenue Elementary, citing repeated drivers exceeding the 15 mph school zone; the police chief said current cameras and citations are catching many violators and offered to share enforcement data.
A veteran teacher and 25-year resident asked the City Council on Tuesday to add an automated speed camera near Michigan Avenue Elementary after repeatedly observing drivers exceeding the posted 15 mph school zone. Mark Kessler, who said he supervises the school crosswalk most mornings, told the council he recorded a vehicle traveling 35–40 mph through the zone and delivered a petition with 12 parents’ signatures asking for more enforcement.
Kessler said existing cameras “start to slow down” drivers where they are currently installed but do not capture traffic heading southbound past the school entrance. “How is that gonna be right?” he asked, urging council action to protect students arriving and leaving school.
Police Chief Doug Gerke responded during the Citizens Forum that the corridor cameras are part of an enforcement program and that, “anyone that’s moving above the 11 mile an hour and over right now are getting citations.” Gerke said earlier duplication of camera placements had caused some drivers to receive multiple citations, which staff has reviewed, and that citation notices (about $100 each) have been issued repeatedly in the corridor. He offered to pull and share enforcement data with the council and to speak with Kessler after the meeting to confirm camera orientations and coverage.
Deputy Mayor Gilbert thanked Kessler and praised police enforcement, saying the city had installed security cameras “everywhere” and would continue to improve public safety systems. Council members asked the chief for more data on citation counts and camera coverage.
Discussion only: council did not vote on adding or relocating a camera during the meeting; Chief Gerke said he would follow up with the speaker and provide the data to council. Kessler said he will continue gathering petition signatures if the council wants additional resident input.
Why it matters: automated speed enforcement and officer deployment are primary tools local governments use to reduce vehicle speeds near schools and protect pedestrians, and residents pressed the council to ensure coverage in the specific direction where the teacher reported repeated dangerous passes.
Next steps: the chief offered to supply citation and camera-coverage data to staff and council; no formal direction to reallocate cameras or fund a new device was taken during the meeting.
