At the June 4 council meeting, all five council members voted to approve the Blue Hills Traffic Improvement Plan, which addresses road congestion and pedestrian safety issues on Goleta and DeSanka avenues. Neighbors and parents expressed the urgency to ease traffic in the area. The plan, which was drafted and finalized by the public safety commission in cooperation with many concerned residents and parents, includes adding several signs prohibiting drivers to stop at specific times and repainting curbs on streets in front and behind the school.

Once the improvements are completed sometime before the start of the next school year, drivers will no longer be able to park on the corner of Knollwood Drive and DeSanka for a stretch of 88 feet. In addition, three signs prohibiting cars to stop between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. will be installed on the residential side of DeSanka Avenue.

On the back end of the school on Goleta Avenue, the existing red curb along the school side will be replaced with a white curb stretching 150 feet. To open space on the front side of Goleta Avenue, a 167-foot-long section of a curb will be painted red.

These improvements would cost the city approximately $2,700 for signs, in addition to $10,000 to hire a crossing guard for the 2003­04 school year. The crossing guard issue was discussed when the Blue Hills plan was first introduced to the council members in December 2002. According to Assistant City Manager Lori Tinfow, a crossing guard was not hired as anticipated due to lack of funding.

Though many said they agreed that the new plan is logical, some voiced opposition to the red curbs on Goleta Avenue.

Marsha Kerns, who is a resident on the street, said that the red curbs would not be consistent with other streets in the neighborhood. She said she is in favor of replacing red curbs with timed white ones.

Another resident, John Bricks, added that the red curbing would "take away valuable parking spaces."

During the meeting, council members said they were skeptical that these improvements would fix the problem and expect to see the same issue brought back to the table in December.

Mayor Nick Streit said that this was "poor planning" compared to what was done at schools like Redwood Middle School, where a third passenger loading and unloading zone was designated at the end of Allendale Avenue. He added that the problem lies within the school's limited parking lot and that the residents' properties should not be compromised.

"We need to protect the character of the neighborhood," he said.

Councilman Norman Kline agreed with Streit and said that the "red curbs destroy the value of the property." He blamed the situation on the school's design and the school board for "not doing their job right."

"This is simply a Band Aid approach," said Councilman Stan Bogosian. "These red curbs can become a long-term burden. We need to continue our efforts in bringing a unified school district to the city."

In addition to reluctantly approving the plan, council members also motioned to continue pressuring the school board to establish an additional long-term parking area.