Council Keeps Crossing Guards After Public Outcry

Parents of local school children persuaded Foster City leaders on Monday night to pay $21,000 and hire a crossing guard in front of city schools for the next fiscal year.

City Council members initially agreed to cut the cost of funding the crossing guard out of the city budget for next year. But after 10 concerned residents spoke out to protest the cut, the council members voted 3-2 to change their decision.

Councilman Charlie Bronitsky, who voted in favor of paying for the crossing guard, said the community needs to find a long-term funding solution.

Bronitsky was joined by fellow council members Rick Wykoff and Pam Frisella to reverse the prior decision.

Bronitsky said he'd be willing to fund it for the next fiscal year, but during the interim, residents should attempt to find ways to pay for the guard because the city would not be able to afford the long-term cost. 

"If it is saved this year, we will have to cut it next year," he said.

Bronitsky said he'd be willing to donate the seed money to begin a community fund, in faith that residents would donate to it as well in an effort to raise the money necessary to hire a guard.

"We need a long term solution. The solution is to do it ourselves," said Bronitsky.

Mayor Linda Koelling and Art Kiesel voted against reinstating the full cost of the crossing guard into the budget. They agreed they would be willing to pay for six months of the guard, at $10,500, to compel the community to come up with a sustainable funding source for the guard.

Koelling also said the onus of the cost should be shared with the San Mateo-Foster City School District. She suggested that the two join together to pursue grants available through the county superintendent of education, which could fund the cost of the guard via the "Safe Routes to School" program.

"We've got to think outside the box, and we've got to work together," said Koelling.

Kiesel said he wanted to hold off on paying the entire year's worth of cost for the crossing guard until he saw community collaboration toward finding a sustainable funding source.

He and Koelling agreed only funding the guard through the end of the year would put pressure on the community to come up with creative funding sources.

Wykoff, who proposed cutting the crossing guard at a budget study session last month, said he was swayed to pay for the crossing guard after hearing comments from residents.

"Quite frankly, I am persuaded we have to re-think the issue," he said.

Wykoff  initially proposed cutting the crossing guard in an effort to cope with the structural deficit facing the city.

The city's leadership is attempting to come up with $2.6 million worth of spending cuts and additional money over the next two years in order to balance the city's budget.

Final budget decisions for the upcoming fiscal year will be approved at the next council meeting, June 20.

Jennifer Selvitella, President of the Foster City Elementary School PTA, told the council during public comment that it is the responsibility of city government to ensure residents' safety.

Nancy Charlow, a Foster City resident and former crossing guard, said the council's cutting funding for crossing guards would show disregard for the health of children.

She pointed to the reckless driving habits that are common today, as too often people are driving while using their cell phones or trying to rush through school zones and as a result are putting children at risk.

"It is really dangerous out there," said Charlow.

Charlow also said that $21,000 necessary to keep a crossing guard posted would be a "drop in the bucket" compared to what the city would pay if an accident occurred, or if it was found liable for putting children at risk.

"You will have blood on your hands," she said.

In other business, an anonymous resident donated $30,000 to the city, which is to pay for the Senior Shuttle and keep it from being cut next year.

City Manager Jim Hardy said the city received the donation late last week, and that it would allow the city to pay the up-front cost of the shuttle next year.

"The funds are available and we have the check," he said.

The cost for the door-to-door senior shuttle had been on the budget chopping block, prior to the donation.

Mayor Koelling expressed the appreciation of the council to the anonymous source for making the donation.