WRITTEN PUBLIC
COMMENTS RECEIVED
Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Name and Signature: ___________________________________________________________ Michael Nazarian Michael Nazarian Kenya Aiken Kenya Aiken David Kobaei David Kobaei Shirin Farasat
2 STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL/SUBJECT TO ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE/ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT Confidentiality Note: This e-mail (and any attachments hereto) is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. Dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail or the information contained herein by anyone other than the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify us immediately and destroy the original message and all copies. Thank you.
Hello City Council and Mayor -
I'm writing about the Coldwater Crosswalks proposal. My name is Julie Glucksman; my husband Toby Emmerich and I have lived on for almost 24 years. We use Coldwater Canyon Boulevard as both pedestrians and as drivers. And while we understand that it might be nice to have a crosswalk marked somewhere on the stretch between between the Fire Station and Heather Road, we are concerned that 3 crosswalks, with all the attendant concrete islands, metal signage and overhead lighting, is an overkill solution.
Specifically:
- 3 crosswalks is too many: residents have been successfully navigating without ANY crosswalks for generations, with no pedestrian fatalities (as far as we know). We don't suddenly need 3 crosswalks, each of which increases the opportunities for start and stop traffic, rear ends, and - god forbid - pedestrian fatalities. There aren't enough people crossing at the proposed 3 crosswalks to make it worth the risk, the money spent, and the visual clutter of 3 new crosswalks. Why not consider ONE new crosswalk, and see how it is used, before installing additional crosswalks?? This plan is vast overreach. - Resident buy-in: in a perfect world, if you are putting a crosswalk in front of someone's house, they would be willing. Do you have the residential buy in from the people most directly effected by the installation of the crosswalks? So far we have heard vehement resistance from the people who are about to have a crosswalk in front of their home. - Crosswalk design: 1) Raised concrete islands are not necessary for pedestrians on a two lane street, and create a hazard for drivers. Please consider eliminating concrete islands from the design. 2) Metal arms over the street, concrete islands and signage is a lot of visual clutter on what has been a picturesque, tree-lined boulevard. IF you add a crosswalk, we can support painted lines on the street, and signs on both sides, but are leery of any tree removal, and of metal arms with overhead signage. IF you install more than one crosswalk, please show some restraint in the imposition of new visual elements, and please try not to remove trees. IF you must have all that visual clutter, then please only ONE CROSSWALK.
In short, only ONE crosswalk, if you must, and ideally with the buy-in of whoever lives right in front of the new crosswalk. We don't have enough pedestrians who need to cross to justify the risk, the upset and the visual clutter of three new crosswalks.
Many thanks for all your consideration and work on behalf of the City.
Best regards,
Julie Glucksman and Toby Emmerich
3 "green" act). I would feel safer if I could walk down Coldwater facing traffic, but I can't because I cannot safely cross Coldwater.
For five years, members of our community have worked with the Department of Public Works and the Traffic and Parking Commission to find ways to improve the hazardous condition of Coldwater.
Numerous suggestions have been made by the residents and rejected by the DPW, including traffic lights, stop signs and speed bumps.
Five years later, DPW has, in consultation with members of the community (pro and against cross walks), made a proposal that is unquestionably a step in the right direction. This specific proposal as described in detail in the Staff Report is for three conspicuously marked crosswalks with center “islands”.
This proposal accomplishes two important things:
1. It affords ways to cross Coldwater – currently there is about a mile between places where safe crossing is possible; notably, people using crosswalks must use common sense. E.g. entering the crosswalks only when assured that oncoming traffic has stopped; and
2. The three center islands will greatly curtail the single most dangerous activity on Coldwater – high speed passing.
I support the staff report and recommendation of 3 cross walks with the center islands.
I recognize that several people have offered well-meaning objections to various aspects of this proposal. DPW has held many community outreach sessions over the past 5 years and we've finally arrived at a path forward to address safety issues on Coldwater. The crosswalk is one of many solutions that DPW staff is proposing to make Coldwalk a resident friendly street. I am asking that you support the DPW staff and their proposal to install 3 cross walks with the center islands.
Regards,
Anne
4 The City keeps a copy of all E-mails sent and received for a minimum of 2 years. All retained E-mails will be treated as a Public Record per the California Public Records Act, and may be subject to disclosure pursuant to the terms, and subject to the exemptions, of that Act.
From: Sylvia Wolkowisky
To: City Clerk; WebCBH MAYORANDCITYCOUNCIL
Subject: Objections to proposal to install 3 crosswalks on Coldwater Canyon drive Date: Tuesday, August 6, 2024 6:31:19 AM
CAUTION: EXTERNAL SENDER
Be cautious when clicking links or opening attachments. Verify the sender's email address and be on the lookout for phishing attempts.
Dear Mayor, City Council Members and City clerk,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the installation of crosswalks on Coldwater Canyon Drive. Having lived on Coldwater for over 10 years, I have never found a need for crosswalks. My only regular crossing point is at the park where a traffic light is already in place.
I am concerned that adding three crosswalks to this busy road would be excessive, unnecessary, and potentially dangerous. The speed of some vehicles driving on Coldwater Canyon is quite high (not to mention that they are distracted by their phones), and it may be challenging to see flashing lights during the day. I fear that drivers may not have sufficient time to stop if someone is in the crosswalk. Additionally, I fear that these crosswalks may give a false sense of security to pedestrians (children) and they may not be as careful crossing the street.
While some residents believe that crosswalks might slow traffic, it is concerning to think that we might rely on pedestrians to manage speed. Are we using humans to slow traffic down on Coldwater? I would be more supportive of crosswalks if they were accompanied by traffic lights to ensure both pedestrian safety and to slow cars down.
I urge you to reconsider the necessity of these crosswalks and weigh whether the potential risks and costs justify their installation. Your careful evaluation of these concerns is greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your attention to this matter,
Sylvia Shapiro )