Buck Wargo
CITY HALL -- For residents north of downtown, more speed humps will
have to wait.
The Glendale City Council voted 3-2 Tuesday night to reject a plan to
add as many as 18 speed humps in the Rossmoyne-Mountain area until more
review of the plan is done by the council-appointed Transportation &
Parking Commission. No timetable has been announced.
The decision upset many residents who said more measures are needed
now to further slow vehicles and reduce traffic volumes in front of their
homes and protect children. The area is bounded by Monterey Road on the
south, Brand Boulevard on the west, Glendale Avenue on the east and
Mountain Street on the north.
Other neighborhood residents and those who live outside the area
oppose the speed humps they say turn roads into private streets. The city
installed 16 speed humps two years ago and added five stop signs to deal
with traffic concerns.
During the meeting, Glendale fire officials gave their strongest
warning yet about more speed humps slowing emergency response of
paramedics and fire trucks and putting lives in danger. Foothill
residents north of Mountain Street face delays of up to a minute with
speed humps, Assistant Fire Chief Chris Gray said.
Many residents have complained about drivers cutting through,
especially those heading to the Glendale Community College. The
additional humps are intended to push more traffic onto Monterey Road to
access Verdugo Road and northern sections of the city.
"This process is upsetting," said Geneva Street resident Janet
Bonifer, whose street would get three speed humps under the proposal. "We
have stood up here for years. I hope you put your studies aside and
listen to the residents. Dealing with the city government is the most
unpleasant experience of my life."
Mayor Dave Weaver and Councilman Sheldon Baker and Councilwoman Ginger
Bremberg said more time is needed before acting since they just received
the report on Friday. Councilmen Gus Gomez and Rafi Manoukian, however,
said it is time to act.
Baker criticized transportation staff for trying to fast-track the
plan without adequate review by the council and transportation
commission, which also received it on Friday. He said the installation of
speed humps two years ago was supposed to be a six-month test case, but
it has yet to be reviewed by the council.
"This council member is a wee bit upset," Baker said. "I think you are
cramming this down the throat of the City Council."
