Tip O’Neill amongst many of his pithy adages once proclaimed, “Be patient with democracy”. I think we’ve all felt similar frustration on occasion with how slow the process of getting things accomplished can take within our democratic system of government.
Although the process can be slow we are however fortunate to live in a society where the average person can adduce an idea for consideration to their government and sometimes see results. If you had an opportunity to watch the City Council meeting on November 6, 2006 you would know that I am referring to the traffic situation on Altair Avenue.
The residents who live there were very concerned with speeding vehicles in their neighborhood and the danger they faced every time they tried to exit their driveway or cul-de-sac. Initially two representatives of the neighborhood John Wienckowski and Gerard Aarons came before the City’s Traffic Advisory Committee.
The two gentlemen voiced their concern and the public safety issues on behalf of their fellow neighbors as to how their Altair Avenue neighborhood has become a raceway for speeding vehicles using the street as a short cut to East Hillsdale and Edgewater Boulevards. The Traffic Advisory Committee realized the gravity of the matter and following policy, which requires these matters to have public notice and hearings, placed the matter on the agenda for the following months meeting.
At the next monthly meeting in October 2006 the Altair neighborhood representatives returned. There was lively discussion and brainstorming on how to mitigate what was indeed a serious concern for public safety. In the end many of the ideas and views advanced were written in a staff report which outlined some excellent recommendations for calming traffic.
Your City Council read the report and on November 6, 2006 in public session listened carefully to many residents from the neighborhood who expressed their views and opinions regarding this traffic concern. John Wienckowski presented a very impressive video display depicting the problem in graphic detail. Your City Council then discussed the problem at length with Councilmember Wykoff suggesting the placement of a stop sign on Altair at Polaris.
After assimilating the views and ideas of both the city staff and the residents of the neighborhood the consensus of opinion of the City Council was that this is a serious public safety concern that cannot be allowed to continue unabated.
The culmination of this process was the incorporation of residents, city staff and Council Members arriving at an effective solution to calm traffic for this area which was proffered as a motion which was seconded and voted upon with unanimous approval.
The end result was lowering the speed limit to 25 mph from 35 mph, placing edge lines on the roadways, installing stop signs on Polaris and Altair and placing signs identifying Altair as a street limited for “Local Traffic” only. I believe this will help make Altair a safer street and I personally thank the concerned community members who engaged themselves into the democratic process that brought the matter to the City’s attention.
This was not a swift process nor was it a process where everyone agreed with everyone else along the way. However the important thing is that we worked as a team, community and government, to resolve an issue. We are fortunate to be part of a process steeped in values and principles where any individual can walk into the halls of government and see an idea become law.
We as citizens in a free society are often times charged with the responsibility of stepping forward with a better idea and taking it to the steps of our government with relentless pursuit. Most of the best suggestions I’ve heard have come from community members who drop by on Sunday to ask questions and give advice.
I invite you to drop by and visit with me on Sundays between 3:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M in the Council Chambers. If you have any questions or remarks that you would like addressed at any time please feel free to call me at 650-349-2316 or e-mail me at jkiramis@fostercity.org.
At this time I would like to say that my family and I would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season and a safe, happy and prosperous New Year.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you.
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