Crosswalks and community organization funding top Claremont council agenda tonight

The saga of the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park continues. The Claremont City Council on Tuesday will consider adopting a code prohibiting jaywalking as the city continues to work to address overcrowding at the popular hiking destination.

Over the last 2 years the city council has been working to address overcrowding, littering and safety issues at the park. A major concern for many has been pedestrians using the roadway as a walking path. To fix this problem, the city has created a pathway along the west side of Mills Avenue as well as created a crosswalk connecting the south parking lot with the park itself.

However, it is believed that a further step is needed. If adopted, the local ordinance will require pedestrians to use crosswalks not just in the wilderness area, but throughout the city.

City Attorney Sonja Carvalho has indicated that she believes adopting such a code might conflict with existing city law. For example, under one city code pedestrians are allowed to walk along the roadways in residential and business areas. Mills Avenue is included in that regulation. Despite this conflict, staff still recommends moving forward with regulating the city’s crosswalks, believing it “will still resolve much of the conflict that has been occurring between motorists and pedestrians in the roadway.”

The council will also approve the use of funding for the 2013-2014 Community Based Organization (CBO) and Homeless Program.  

Both programs provide an opportunity for the city of Claremont to help aid local nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing for the needy in the local community. CBO is dedicated to building the social, economic and family infrastructure within the city of Claremont. The homeless program serves those providing shelter and aid to the chronically homeless, those without reliable shelter or on the verge of homelessness.

The city has allocated $86,650 for the CBO Program with $60,000 available through the Homeless Program. Eighteen agencies have appealed to the city for CBO funding with requests totaling $131,776. Six have asked for a total of $68,000 in homeless funding. View the list of applicants and requests on the city’s website at www.ci.claremont.ca.us. The city council meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, 225 W. Second St.