Agenda Related Items - Meeting of May 20, 2025
Supplemental Packet Date: May 20, 2025
THOUSAND OAKS CITY COUNCIL
Supplemental
Information
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2:30 p.m.
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THE FOLLOWING
4 PAGES ARE
RELATED TO ITEM
12.A.
1 From: Autum Sasala <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2025 8:39 PM
To: Nader Heydari; David Newman; Mikey Taylor; Al Adam; Bob Engler; Tie Gutierrez; Jim Mashiko; Elise Vasquez
Subject: Crossing Guards
[Some people who received this message don't oŌen get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important at hƩps://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdenƟficaƟon ] CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organizaƟon. Do not click links or open aƩachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
To whom it may concern,
I am a resident of Newbury Park and parent of students in CVUSD. I’m wriƟng today requesƟng pausing crossing guard cuts for one more year and asking the new Director of Public Works to engage with CVUSD on the public safety needs for our youngest residents who need safe streets to thrive.
The city has taken many posiƟve steps in prioriƟzing safety for biking and walking residents on high traffic streets in our city. Crossing guards are an essenƟal piece of that commitment by the city to a safer and healthier family-oriented community. However, many schools—especially those near busy intersec Ɵons and roads—are at risk of losing dedicated crossing guards who help students safely navigate their routes to and from school. Crossing guards do more than manage traffic. They provide peace of mind for parents, reinforce safe roadway habits for growing children, and act as a visible reminder to drivers to slow down and be alert in school zones. These are not luxuries—they are essen Ɵal safeguards.
I respecƞully ask the City Council to reconsider the current proposed removal of crossing guards and allow district and campus staff, who know the individual needs of their campuses and families, Ɵme to meet with the new Director of Public Works and create a plan that works for city, school district, and residents. It is my belief that even one child using a crosswalk to school is enough of a reason to fund this essenƟal city program.
Thank you for your consideraƟon and aƩenƟon to this criƟcal issue.
Autum Sasala
1 1
Nader Heydari
From: Carrie Howard <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 10:10 AM
To: Nader Heydari; Jim Mashiko; Elise Vasquez
Subject: Crossing Guards, a No-Brainer for Our Community CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Carrie
Howard
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
[email protected]
702.575.2929
20 May 2025
City Council/Staff
City Hall, Thousand Oaks
Dear City Council Members/Staff,
As a resident and CVUSD educator, I am writing to express my deep concern about pedestrian safety near our local schools, particularly at busy intersections where children cross daily on their way to and from school. I urge the city to prioritize funding and staffing for crossing guards at these high- traffic locations.
With growing traffic congestion and distracted driving on the rise, school zones have become increasingly dangerous for our youngest residents. Children often lack the judgment or visibility to safely navigate busy streets alone. Crossing guards play a critical role not only in protecting students but also in reinforcing traffic laws and encouraging safe behavior among drivers.
Many parents in our community feel anxious each day, unsure if their children can safely reach school. In some neighborhoods, there are no guards at all, or they are only present during limited hours. This leaves large gaps in safety coverage, especially for students attending early programs, staying for after-school activities, or walking from different neighborhoods.
By investing in more trained crossing guards and reviewing current coverage, we can help prevent tragic accidents and promote a culture of safety around our schools. The presence of crossing guards is not just a precaution—it is a necessity.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent issue. I hope you will consider taking immediate steps to ensure every child can walk to school safely.
Sincerely,
Carrie E. Howard
Some people who received this message don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important 2 1
Nader Heydari
From: Cassie Pensky <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 1:46 PM
To: Nader Heydari; David Newman; Mikey Taylor; Al Adam; Bob Engler; Tie Gutierrez; Jim Mashiko; Elise Vasquez
Subject: Crossing guards
[Some people who received this message don't oŌen get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important at hƩps://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdenƟficaƟon ] CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organizaƟon. Do not click links or open aƩachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Hello,
I’m wriƟng to express my support for the city to maintain crossing guards near elementary schools. It shouldn’t be a quesƟon that this is necessary. Please don’t let a child be injured or killed due to a speeding driver in the name of budget. Surely we can find a way to support our local communiƟes with this small but criƟcal measure of safety.
Thanks,
Cassie Pensky
Conejo resident
3 Name City Item # In favor/ Opposed Comment
Samantha Muscarella Thousand Oaks 12A - 2025 Crossing Gua Neutral/D oes Not Apply As you review the Crossing Guard Program, I respectfully urge you to consider the following:
Street safety is the City’s responsibility. It is the role of local government to ensure that public infrastructure, including school routes, is safe and accessible for all—especially our youngest residents.
Walking starts with children and builds community. Encouraging childre n to walk to school is more than a convenience—it's a foundational step toward creating a citywide culture of walkability. This culture supports broader city goals, including sustainability, health, and vibrant public spaces.
Don’t let data points override human judgment. Children are not data. Elementary aged children cannot accurately perceive the s peed of oncoming cars or judge crossing times with the precision needed to stay safe. The presence of tr ained crossing guards is not just practical—it’s essential.
I urge the City staff to work in partnership with the school district to do everything possible to preserve and grow a culture of walking—starting with the school commute and extending into our neighborhoods, parks, and retail zones.
Please also recognize that every elementary school deserves a cr ossing guard. All children deserve a safe path to school, regar dless of their zip code or the traffic statistics on nearby streets.
Thank you for your time, and for prioritizing the safety and well-being of our city’s children.
Betsy Connolly Thousand Oaks 12A - 2025 Crossing Gua Opposed In February 2023, the City Council adopted a School Crossing Guard Program Policy that replaced the council’s understanding of the community and staff’s expert judgment with fixed data points tied to mandated actions. At the time, Council members were assured that efforts would be made to increase th e number of students walking to school. But changing behavior and shifting culture is difficult work, and despite the efforts made, the number of children walking to schoo l has barely changed.
Now that the council's temporary pause on the policy has ended, the removal of crossing guards is expected to begin when CVUSD schools reopen in the fall. Nearly half of the current crossings did not meet the policy’s thresholds. Tonight’s agenda includes a proposal to authorize staff to “engage with Conejo Valley Unified on options for future program oversight, including possible transfer of the program to CVUSD.” This would be a step in the wrong direction. The City of Thousand Oaks is fully responsible for public safety, including the sa fety of children crossing city streets. Cities have jurisdiction over the key factors that influence pedestrian sa fety—speed limits, traffic signals, signage, sidewalk conditions, parking rules, and lane widths. The city employs public safety experts, and councilmembers are entrusted to bring community concerns into the decision-making process.
In contrast, CVUSD’s expertise lies in education and campus operations. School board members are elected for their focus on stu dent learning and academic success. District staff are educators—not traffic or public safety professionals—and they lack the authority to make changes to street crossings near campuses.
The council should direct city safety professionals to collaborate with district education experts to evaluate each site identi fied for crossing guard elimination. If the city is seeking to solve staffing and scheduling cha llenges by partnering with CVUSD, that is a conversation worth having. The district does have more experience recruiting and retaining part-time or contract employees and stronger relationships with local resi dents—something the city may lack. Collabor ating? Yes. Transferring oversight? No.
The city must retain oversight because infrastructure improvements —such as enhanced signage, revi sed parking rules, or sidewalk modifications—may be more effective and sustainable than stationing a crossing guard at some locations. Only the city has the authority to implement those changes. At other sites, high volumes of foot traffic in the morning may justify a morning-only guard, especially where many students walk to school and stay for afternoon childcare. Schoo l principals understand these behavioral patterns. City and district experts should be working together on behalf of the community.
Most of our schools are embedded in neighborhoods, where safer st reets for students walking to school translate into safer stre ets overall. Drivers notice signage or a crossing guard and respond by slowing down and paying more attention. Th is improves the driving culture of the entire neighborhood. In s ome areas, city streets have become like mini freeways, with alarming speeds that make it unsafe for anyone—child or adult—to cross. In those cases, the city should address how traffic affects residents’ safety and their ability to enjoy their neighborhood.
The 2023 policy produced useful data, but that data should inform decisions—not replace thoughtful judgment. Collaboration betw een the City and CVUSD, with each contributing its area of expertise, is the right approach. Shifting oversight responsibility to the school district is not.
Tonight, you should continue the pause on crossing guard elimin ations while city staff work with district experts to develop sustainable solutions. Get this right—for today’s children and for future generations of Thousand Oaks families.
Marisa Post Thousand Oaks 12A - 2025 Crossing Gua Opposed Hello city council members, I am the parent of four young children that attend Ladera Stars Elementary School. We have a thriving community of parents who know each other and appreciate the opportunity to walk our kids to school. We ma y not have a number that qualifies us to have a crossing guard. Ho wever, I ask that you please consider our
neighborhood and the other neighborhoods of local elementary sch ools when deciding upon a recommendation for crossing guards. The streets of our schools run off major arteries of roads here in thousand Oaks. People are in a hurry and our children are small. We desperately need the assistance o f crossing guards to ensure the safety of our children and even their parents that are walking them to school. I know the other school sites have been deemed as very dangero us by parents, the road to Ladera Stars academy is equally dangerous. The through street has no stop signs and we have street parking blocking visibility. Please rejec t the recommendation and opt instead to keep crossing guards for all schools.
Katharine Pope Thousand Oaks 12A - 2025 Crossing Gua Opposed This affects me heavily. I have 6 children’s that need to cross a high traffic street.
Kenneth Pope Thousand Oaks 12A - 2025 Crossing Gua In favor My children use this crosswalk every day. The 3-way stop sign is very d angerous without a guard. I have seen several cars run this stop sign. Cops pull people over regularly.
TO COUNCIL: 05/20/2025
MEETING DATE: 05/20/2025
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