Residents urge immediate traffic-calming at Cole and Stevenson after pedestrian death

Several residents used public-comment time at the June 22 meeting to press the council for action after a January pedestrian fatality at the Cole and Stevenson intersection. An unidentified resident (speaker 6) told the council they had previously left messages and asked for an update on the Stevenson/Cole safety project, saying another person had since died and requesting pedestrian funding or temporary measures.

A veteran resident (speaker 4) recounted personal service and pleaded for enforcement and engineering changes, saying: “I raised my hand twice to protect our land against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. I didn't realize that we had enemies behind the wheel with their coffee cup and their telephone and at the corner of Cole And Stevenson.” Nora Tackenboge (speaker 7) said, “I just hope that, you know, Eileen's death wasn't in vain,” and recommended visible temporary measures such as hand-held red flags to increase driver awareness. Cindy Proctor (speaker 8) urged reconsideration of low-cost traffic-calming options and cited ADA access gaps and increased cut-through traffic on Rilla and Melody lanes, offering videos documenting vehicles running stop signs.

Speakers asked staff for clearer timelines and interim steps rather than waiting for longer engineering projects; council members did not announce immediate new funding at the meeting but the concern was recorded for follow-up.