The council moved quickly to address safety problems reported around Westview Elementary, voting to suspend the usual rules and adopt Ordinance 5-26 the same night.

Eric Gambler, principal at Westview Elementary, told the council the school serves roughly 550 students and that arrival/dismissal creates bottlenecks and pedestrian risks where there are no sidewalks. Neighbors described blocked driveways, confrontations and near-physical altercations when drivers refuse to move. "There are 550 to 600 kids packed into this school," one neighbor said, describing the safety hazards and lack of sidewalks.

City staff and police described a planned mix of short-term trials and longer-term infrastructure work: temporary delineators and traffic-calming measures, targeted signage and striping, improved lighting and possible pedestrian-focused features. In response to public urgency, a council member moved to suspend the rules to expedite action; the suspension motion passed on roll call, and the council then moved to adopt the ordinance that creates targeted no-parking restrictions (time-limited around arrival and dismissal) and directed staff to implement interim measures while exploring permanent improvements.

The ordinance passage was accompanied by a commitment from council and staff to evaluate short-term trials and report back with recommendations for permanent infrastructure.

Next steps: City staff to install signs and trial temporary measures, coordinate with the school and public works for longer-term striping and pedestrian improvements, and return to council with an implementation timeline.