Walnut City Council candidate Michael West has been taking his objections to the lone red light camera to the street, literally.

West recently took his call to get rid of the camera at Grand Avenue and Amar Road/Temple Avenue to the intersection, staging a one-man protest.  He handed out fliers to passing motorists stopped at the intersection waiting for a green light to turn.

The challenger has sparred with council members in the past over the issue, contending that he feels that camera makes the intersection less safe because of motorists slamming on the breaks to avoid a ticket.  City officials said that accidents have decreased in the two approaches where the cameras are.

CAMPAIGN SIGNS BETWEEN SIDEWALKS AND CURBS CAN STAY

City Attorney Michael Montgomery recently sent a letter to the city clearing up some confusion about the placement of political campaign signs. 

At issue were some signs placed in the rights-of-way between the sidewalks and the roads on residential streets.  Montgomery said in the letter that because of two irregularities in the city’s practice related to the placement of the signs in those parkways, he recommended that they be allowed to stay put this election cycle.

“First, the area between the sidewalk and the curb is privately owned and maintained,” Montgomery wrote in the letter.  “While it is subject to an easement in favor of the City for street and related purposes it is maintained by the landowner.”

The city can ban political signs on public property, but the parkway areas between the sidewalk and the street in residential areas is private property subject to public use, which includes serving as a buffer between pedestrians and vehicles, Montgomery said.

Walnut also has not enforced the prohibition of signs in those areas for many years, if at all, he said.  The policy is ambiguous because information that parkways can also be an easement over private property was not included in the election candidate’s handbook, he said.

Montgomery recommended that the signs be allowed to remain in place this election cycle.  He said after the campaign, he will ask the council to consider making clarifications to the code.

RECEPTION PLANNED FOR MAYOR NANCY TRAGARZ

The Committee to Re-Elect Nancy Renne Tragarz hosting a campaign reception for the incumbent at 5 p.m. Saturday at the home of Larry and Beverly Howard, 20599 Barnard Ave.

To attend the reception, RSVP to Nancy at 909-595-3444 or Larry at 909-595-1549.

The incumbent also has set up a website, www.nancytragarz.com.