Cloverdale council urges short-term safety steps, sends Jefferson Elementary crosswalk request to infrastructure subcommittee

Cloverdale City Council members on Aug. 27 reviewed a school request for a mid-block crosswalk on Jefferson Street near Jefferson Elementary and gave staff direction to pursue lower-cost, temporary measures and further study before installing a permanent crossing. Staff said an engineer’s traffic evaluation and an Americans with Disabilities Act–compliant design would normally be needed for a permanent mid-block crosswalk. Public-works staff suggested testing cheaper mitigation first — enhanced school signage, pavement markings, red-curb no-parking zones to improve sight lines, rumble strips or temporary speed deterrents and radar speed signage — and said staff can paint curbs and install thermal striping and rumble elements while engineering work proceeds if the council desires. Michelle Holden, principal at Jefferson Elementary School, told the council that more than 20 families were using a rear gate and cross-street as a walking route during construction and that the school lacks clear school-zone signage and consistent sight-line protections. Parent Amanda Harrington spoke in public comment saying volunteers and a crossing guard have had “close calls” with drivers running stop signs and that enforcement and physical measures are needed. Council members emphasized the hill-and-straightaway speed issue in the area and noted past success with physical traffic calming elsewhere in town (rubberized speed humps and narrowed turn lanes). Several council members said they prefer trying signage, painted curb and temporary speed-deterrent installations before committing to a costly crosswalk that could remove parking and require engineers and ADA ramps. The council directed staff to take the issue to the infrastructure subcommittee for a deeper review and to return with specific recommendations, including potential locations to preserve parking and sight lines, options that avoid substantial parking loss, and cost estimates. No formal ordinance or engineering design was approved at the meeting.