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Keizer multimodal committee backs pedestrian-flag pilot and asks council to seek staff recommendation
Summary
The Keizer Multimodal Safety Committee voted Jan. 15 to support its pedestrian-flag pilot and to send the issue to City Council, asking staff to prepare a recommendation that will include legal, insurance and public-works input. The committee noted nighttime visibility and liability questions that staff must address.
The Keizer Multimodal Safety Committee voted Jan. 15 to support the city’s pilot pedestrian‑flag program and to forward the topic to City Council, requesting that staff prepare a report weighing program continuity, liability, costs and placement criteria.
The motion to support the pilot passed after members heard neighborhood feedback that flags help daytime visibility and communicate pedestrian intent. Tammy (Greater Northeast Keizer Neighborhood Association) told the committee she had contacted residents and "got a hold of 52 people who would really like to keep it on there if at all possible" and that she had received about 25 pro‑program responses so far.
Committee discussion focused on measurable limits and liabilities. Several members cited other cities’ experiences and ODOT guidance, arguing that flags should be limited to school or park crosswalks and placed only where public works confirms a safe installation. Staff clarified that the pilot had been city‑funded during the trial but that any expansion beyond the pilot would require a local sponsor or additional council direction and could carry new costs for flag replacement, reflective material, or education campaigns.
Brenda Lam, who helped coordinate the pilot locations, framed the program as a tool for people who are already crossing: "we're just trying to give them a tool to help them cross." Committee members asked staff to gather data on flag loss and replacement costs, whether QR code survey responses have been captured (staff noted potential website update interruptions), and to consult legal and risk‑management staff on liability exposure.
The committee’s second motion — to send the issue to City Council and ask staff to prepare a recommendation that includes legal, insurance, police and public‑works review — also passed. Staff warned that the timing of a formal recommendation could slip into budget season and may be affected by staff turnover; Council or staff could also make an interim decision to maintain the pilot while analyses continue.
What’s next: The committee will forward its support and ask City Council to direct staff to return with a formal recommendation. The record does not list a detailed roll-call vote; the meeting transcript records the motions passing with ayes and noted abstentions but does not provide a named tally.
