Brentwood Public Safety Committee considered parking, speeding and distracted driving, and more at its meeting on Thursday. It was the first meeting of the committee with new alderman David Plufka as chairman. Aldermen Steve Lochmoeller and Tom Kramer are also members. Andy Leahy is on the committee but was out of town.
Attempts to slow down drivers cutting through neighborhoods continue. At the Sept. 15, 2014 Brentwood Board of Aldermen meeting, officials tabled an ordinance to change street signs that warn, ‘Slow Children’ to ‘Play Street.’ The Public Safety Committee were told Thursday that 24 signs already say ‘Slow Children’ and will not need to be changed. Eleven still say “Slow Children Playing,” and will be changed to ‘Slow Children.’
Alderman Tom Kramer addressed anyone who may have expressed concern that a “Slow Children” sign would imply that children were ‘slow’ in the area. On the contrary, the signs, as they are displayed with the 
caricature of a child playing or running between the words ‘Slow’ and ‘Children’, do not, and are not in any way meant to convey that message. (Kramer’s comments are a correction from what was previously stated, and are from an email from Kramer.)
Ten residents have volunteered to host block parties on their streets for the National Night Out on August 4. The city is trying individual parties this year rather than one big one at a public pool, Chief of Police Dan Fitzgerald said, even though it could be hot. Alderman Steve Lochmoeller said he and his wife are hosting one of the parties and he challenged all the aldermen to do the same.
An individual (described as elderly in the meeting) has had a hard time pulling out of his driveway in the 8500 block of Joseph because his neighbors own 3-4 vehicles each, parked in the street, including a large pickup truck that’s often parked in line with his drive. The committee decided to have the neighbors come in to talk it over.
Lane markings on Eager Road under the Magna Bank overpass seem to wear off quickly, and the committee talked about using a more permanent type of paint. It could especially be a problem now with construction traffic from Manhasset Village construction. Members said they often drive that way and will keep an eye on it.
In a discussion to assign a Brentwood police officer to McGrath and Mark Twain elementary schools during morning drop off and afternoon pickup chairman, David Plufka, said some parents say cars go too fast and it’s a dangerous situation. Chief Fitzgerald said with officers already at High School and White, it would use most of the officers on duty. Plufka and Lochmoeller said it could be an opportunity for officers to get out of their cars and interact with residents.
Cut-through traffic on Pine, White, Eulalie, Rosalie and Parkside often drives too fast, and has been a recurring problem, City Administrator Bola Akande said. Making streets one-way, putting “pace car” stickers on residents’ cars, and speed bumps or other “traffic calming” measures were discussed. There was already one meeting on the problem and Alderwoman Cindy Manestar, who was in the audience, said she would like a another. Kramer said a city-wide traffic study was previously quoted at $2,900. They sent it to Ways and Means to decide where funding for a study will come from.
A sign at the Sonora / McKnight crosswalk to Tillis Park was considered. Fitzgerald said it’s an “awful crossing.” The committee considered a sign that lights up when a button is pushed.
In a discussion about reintroducing a bill that would ban texting for all ages, Plufka, who is an attorney, said he disagreed with the city attorney’s opinion that a city bill would conflict with an existing state bill baring texting while driving for under 21. There was a concern that if it was challenged it could be expensive for the city to defend its position. It will be brought up again at the next meeting. The board of aldermen rejected such an ordinance in March.
Alderman Kramer wants “Left Turn Yield” sign at the Wrenwood / Strassner intersection. He said drivers turning left from Strassner don’t yield to drivers going straight from Wrenwood, and it’s even more dangerous when pedestrians are involved.
Parking restrictions on Swim Club Road and Woodsey Drive were discussed. The issue in both cases is if there is room for emergency vehicles to get through.