To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: JANE CHUNG, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER
TITLE
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DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE PROPOSED POLICY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY’S CROSSING GUARD PROGRAM, INCLUDING IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ANNUAL REVIEW PROCESS
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On May 5, 2026, the City Council approved modifications to the City’s Crossing Guard Program, reducing the number of staffed locations from 27 to 18 and establishing a more equitable, objective, and sustainable program. To ensure these critical actions are maintained, the School Crossing Guard Subcommittee has developed proposed policy goals and objectives to guide ongoing administration and review of the City’s Crossing Guard Program.
BACKGROUND
Following the City Council’s action on May 5, 2026, the City of Redondo Beach and the Redondo Beach Unified School District issued a joint press statement on June 18, 2026, outlining the approved program modifications and the coordinated efforts that the City and School District are undertaking to keep families, students, and the broader community informed throughout the transition.
As noted in the joint press statement, the City is in the process of implementing traffic calming and safety measures at locations impacted by the program changes. Several of these improvements will be completed over the summer, with the remaining installations continuing into the early part of the school year. Public communications regarding these updates have been, and will continue to be provided through the City’s website and social media channels.
In order to evaluate and support the ongoing sustainability of the City’s Crossing Guard Program (Program), the School Crossing Guard Subcommittee has developed the following recommended policy goals and objectives to guide the administration and future review of the Program through an internal, staff-driven policy and operational framework that places a priority on improving overall traffic safety and ensuring the Program is administered objectively, sustainably, and equitably. This framework will guide staff in applying consistent criteria, conducting annual evaluations, and making data-informed decisions that maintain program integrity and support long term community safety.
The policy goals and objectives are:
1. Enhance public safety on our City streets through proactive education and the implementation of permanent, year-round, traffic engineering solutions, rather than through the use of short-term resources (e.g., crossing guards) or enforcement whenever possible.
2. Implement an annual review process, led by engineering professionals, and publicly considered and evaluated by the City’s Public Works, Safety and Sustainability Commission (PWSSC).
3. Direct all community feedback and input regarding the Program to the City’s Transportation Engineer and the City Manager’s Office for consideration as part of the annual review process.
4. Monitor and evaluate the crossing guard locations over the course of the year using objective data to ensure value and to identify any locations where adjustments may be warranted.
5. Identify and pursue traffic engineering solutions at crossing guard locations, where possible, to reduce the utilization of short-term resources and to improve traffic safety at all hours of the day.
6. Collaborate with on-site school officials and Redondo Beach Unified School District administrators concerning the appropriate placement of the crossing guards assigned to each of the 10 school-based locations. The Program will maintain one crossing guard at each of these locations.
7. Review each of the eight at-large crossing guard locations to evaluate overall value, benefit, and necessity to the community. Additionally, where traffic calming and safety improvements adequately mitigate or remove the need for a staffed crossing guard, develop and present recommendations accordingly.
8. Require the City’s Transportation Engineer, in coordination with Police Department personnel, to collect and analyze data regarding the Program during the school year, prepare an annual report, and present recommendations to the PWSSC. The annual report and recommendations will include multimodal traffic data, prevailing conditions, and other relevant information for current and proposed crossing guard locations consistent with these policy goals and objectives. The report will also include an evaluation of traffic safety, potential traffic calming measures, and the efficacy and necessity of individual crossing guard assignments, and other metrics to ensure crossing guard locations are consistent with community needs and available resources. Recommendations may also include applicable State and Federal standards and guidelines, such as the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CAMUTCD).
9. Present staff recommendations to the PWSSC at their June or July meeting for review, discussion, and public input. Following deliberation, if the Commission agrees with staff’s recommendations, then no further discussion will occur and the proposed modification(s), if any, will be implemented the following school year. If the Commission disagrees with, or requests a modification to a recommendation of staff, the respective recommendation will be presented to the City Council to make a final determination.
COORDINATION
The City Manager’s Office coordinated preparation of this report with the Public Works and Police Departments and the members of the City Council Subcommittee.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the City’s Crossing Guard Program is included in the FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget and provides resources for the annual deployment of 18 internally staffed crossing guards. The collection of traffic counts and other objective data needed to evaluate the program’s ongoing effectiveness is part of the Police and Public Works Departments annual operating budgets. If additional funding is needed for specific traffic data collection efforts than supplemental funding requests will be presented at the appropriate time.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager