By Andrew Knittle
Norman City Councilman Tom Kovach voiced his concerns regarding the city's traffic calming program during Tuesday's regular council meeting at City Hall, claiming that speed tables are pushed on residents who don't know better.
"Traffic calming doesn't equal speed tables," Kovach said. "Council very specifically said, 'We want there to be other tools in the tool shed.'"
Kovach said city staff holds meetings with neighborhoods requesting traffic calming solutions, but that speed tables are recommended "99 times out of a hundred."
"They literally push it, and it's a big public safety issue," he said.
Kovach said Boulder, Colo., and Austin, Texas, have conducted studies showing that speed tables can slow emergency response times, which have occasionally resulted in lost lives. He also said Wednesday afternoon that some firefighters in Norman have told him "off the record" that emergency responders are changing routes to avoid speed tables.
At Kovach's request, the city is now conducting a traffic study using a speed trailer near Northcliff Avenue and Robinson Street.
Human Rights Award
Mayor Cindy Rosenthal presented the City of Norman Human Rights Award to Health For Friends during Tuesday evening's council meeting.
A nonprofit health clinic serving the uninsured for more than 20 years, Health For Friends, 317 E. Himes St., has a health clinic, a pharmacy and dental office to serve a client base of more than 3,000.
Brian Karnes, the clinic's executive director, said Health For Friends doesn't even require a payment from its clients.
"We tend to the people who have nowhere else to go for their health care needs," Karnes said. "We ask for a donation, but if they don't have it we see them anyway."
Bond language gets first reading
Language for two general obligation bonds totaling $21.25 million was heard during council's meeting Tuesday, with a second reading slated for the Dec. 22 regular city council meeting.
The first proposition will seek $19 million to continue a citywide street maintenance program that has been ongoing since 2005. The second proposition is seeking $2.25 million to replace and update the city's outdated outdoor warning system.
Staff and council are aiming for a March 2, 2010, election to let voters decide on the pair of 5-year general obligation bonds.
Andrew Knittle 366-3540 aknittle@normantranscript.com
