Residents urge immediate school-zone signage and crossing-guard pilot after two deaths near Los Alamos School

Several residents told the council they fear for pedestrian safety on 10th Street near Los Alamos School and urged immediate action, including a volunteer crossing-guard pilot and installation of a visible school-warning sign pending a formal traffic study.

Jess Moreno, a longtime 10th Street resident, recounted repeated requests to the city over decades and appealed for urgent fixes after two people were killed near the school in January. “Is anybody listening now? I doubt it,” Moreno said, recounting near-misses and past requests to council and staff.

Cindy Nunez, who said she is ready to help with a volunteer crossing guard pilot supported by the mayor, asked the council to add a visible school-warning sign on Charles Luxe on the approach from 10th Street. Nunez cited the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Part 7 and Vehicle Code 22358.4 in arguing the sign is enforceable and does not require waiting for the study. “Two lives were lost. Their deaths should not be in vain,” Nunez said.

During later discussion, City Administrator Matt said the city is under contract with a traffic engineering consultant for an on-site study and that police drones were used to capture AM and PM pickup traffic patterns to add data. He also said public works was asked to review school-area speed limits and that staff are coordinating the study.

Councilmembers did not adopt an immediate signage action during the meeting; staff said a safety study is in progress and emphasized that some interim measures (such as additional signage or pilot programs) require coordination and compliance with state standards. The council received the concerns during the public-comment period; no formal motion or ordinance on signage was recorded.