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Residents urge action on road safety, school problems and loss of community center during public comment
Summary
Multiple residents told council about dangerous conditions on Jefferson Boulevard and Baven Road after two bicyclists were killed, alleged vaping and drug activity at a local high school, unlicensed food sales, and concerns that a community-center project stalled and a bar will open in its place.
Several public commenters raised safety and quality-of-life concerns during the Aug. 6 public comment period.
Waverly Clemons (public comment) told council that his granddaughter, Layla Clemons, and her girlfriend, Jaya Chapman, were struck and killed while riding a bicycle on Jefferson Boulevard and Baven Road. He asked council to close that stretch to bicyclists and pedestrians, to post signage and to impose fines for violators; Clemons offered to distribute notices and volunteer to help enforce the change.
Resident Guy Stevenson told council he had received multiple reports about vaping, fighting and drug use inside a local high school restroom and asked whether school resource officers were present.
Several commenters raised noncompliance with food-service rules: Stevenson said he had reported vendors selling food without licenses and asked staff to address food-safety enforcement.
Rhonda Pope Flores spoke about efforts by her tribal community to develop a community center at a site that she said became subject to red tape and was instead redeveloped as a bar; she urged the council to recall that history when considering approvals and penalties for future operators.
No council action on these public-comment items was taken at the meeting; staff accepted the comments and council acknowledged condolences and the requests for follow-up.
