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RESOLUTION R-1617-19: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AUTHORIZING AND CONSENTING TO THE REMOVAL OF A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE CONNECTING NORMAN NORTH HIGH SCHOOL AND CRYSTAL HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
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BACKGROUND: The final plat for Crystal Heights 8th Addition was filed of record October 17, 1979. It was determined the Crystal Heights neighborhood did not have a direct access to Longfellow Middle School located to the west of the neighborhood. The developer was notified by City staff of the need for a pedestrian and bikeway easement. The developer/owner donated an easement at the west end of Falcon Court on November 8, 1979. City Council accepted the easement November 20, 1979. The public sidewalk located between Lots 16 and 17, Block 1 of Crystal Heights Eighth Addition was installed by the City in 1980. With that installation a pedestrian structure (bridge) was built across a drainage channel for access to the school property. With the bridge structure the pedestrian access was completed to Longfellow Middle School. There have been several changes to the area since that time. Longfellow Middle School was relocated. In its place, Norman North High School was established in 1997.
DISCUSSION: Dr. Nick Migliorino, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services & Chief Technology Officer with the Norman Public School District, has requested the removal of the pedestrian bridge connecting Norman North High School with the Crystal Heights Neighborhood. There have been major changes in the area since the conversion between a middle school and high school. The area of the pedestrian access has become a location for loitering and misconduct by juveniles. Ms. Jeanne Snider, Assistant City Attorney, has worked for years with the Norman Police Department and Norman Public Schools (NPS) to address these behavior issues.
In 2015, NPS removed the access gate at the bridge to Norman North High School for better security of t...
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