Bountiful council approves temporary crossing guard, speed signs and new crosswalk after Traffic Safety Committee review

Bountiful City Council on Jan. 28 approved three recommendations from the Traffic Safety Committee to address student and pedestrian safety near Bountiful Elementary and in nearby neighborhoods. The council voted unanimously to: authorize a temporary crossing guard at 50 West and 1600 South through the end of the school year; install speed limit signs on 750 East near Mill Street and 5th South; and create a marked pedestrian crosswalk at 100 North and 400 East.

The Traffic Safety Committee and city staff described the crossing-guard recommendation as a temporary measure while the Davis School District submits an updated routing plan for the new elementary campus. "It was recommended by the committee that the council approve a temporary crossing guard through the end of the school year," City Engineer Lloyd Cheney told the council during the presentation. Committee members and parents said volunteer coverage had been inconsistent and the reopened pedestrian path between the school and the park — described at the meeting as the original "kiddie trail" — provided relief but was vulnerable to future changes in campus design or legislation.

The nut of the decision, council members said, was immediate student safety pending a longer-term plan. Parent Brooke Free Baron, speaking during public comment, noted the community willingness to pay: "A crossing guard would maybe be about $5,000 ... Maybe we could give it to the city instead of the food bank," she said, describing a 5th grader's suggestion and urging the council to prioritize children’s safety.

City staff described operational details for the other two measures. Cheney said 750 East is a low-volume street — "less than 400 cars a day" — and recommended speed limit signs at the east property line near Mill Street for northbound traffic and near 5th South for southbound traffic. On the bus-stop/crosswalk request near the food pantry, the committee proposed moving the marked crossing to 100 North where there is better visibility and an existing street light.

Council members and staff discussed broader issues raised during committee meetings, including a lack of early coordination between the school district and the city during school site design. One council member said state legislation under consideration about "hardening" school campuses for active-shooter safety could affect access points where schools abut city property. The council asked staff to pursue closer coordination with the school cluster and to monitor relevant legislation.

On logistics, Police Chief told the council the crossing-guard supervisor had begun recruitment in anticipation of the vote and "believes that he has found someone," meaning the post could be filled quickly once hiring steps are completed.

The council approved the Traffic Safety Committee recommendations in one motion. The motion was seconded and passed by unanimous vote.