School Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (PATH)

The School Safety Advisory Board, better known as the Pedestrians Avoiding Traffic Hazards (PATH) Committee is a group made up of City officials, school officials, professional safety advocates, and citizens. The board meets four to eight times a year as determined by need to review pedestrian safety issues related to schools. The board establishes the SAFE routes to school for all of the elementary schools in the City of Sioux Falls including Sioux Falls public schools, Harrisburg public schools, Brandon Valley public schools, and private schools. The board recommends traffic control devices such as pavement markings and signs that should be installed or changed to improve safety along the SAFE routes to schools.

Number of Members

15

Special Qualifications

Eight citizens represent the four quadrants of the city as defined by the boundaries of 18th Street and Minnesota Avenue, the city PTA president, and one representative from each of the following: the School District Central Office administration, an elementary school principal, Sioux Falls School Board, the SD Safety Council, South Dakota AAA, Sioux Falls Catholic Schools, the Police Department, and the City Engineering Division's Traffic Engineer.

Residency/Registered Voter Requirement

Must be a resident and registered voter of Sioux Falls.

Summary of Duties

Guide and coordinate all activities associated with the general school safety programs.

Liaison:
Heath Hoftiezer
Principal Traffic Engineer
Public Works/Engineering
City Center, 2nd Floor
231 N Dakota
P.O. Box 7402
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
605-367-8634 

Membership

School Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (PATH) Members

  • Moria Beznoska* - South Dakota Safety Council - Indefinite Term    
  • VACANT - AAA South Dakota - Indefinite Term
  • Nancy Hagen - Elementary School Principals - Indefinite Term
  • Todd Vik - School District Central - Indefinite Term
  • VACANT - SF Catholic School System - Indefinite Term
  • Sgt. Travis Olsen - SF Police Department - Indefinite Term
  • Sgt. Andrew Siebenborn - SF Police Department - Indefinite Term
  • Officer Robert Draeger - SF Police Department
  • Nan Baker - SF School Board - Indefinite Term
  • Heath Hoftiezer - SF Traffic Engineering - Indefinite Term
  • VACANT - SF Traffic Engineering - Indefinite Term
  • Danaca Schettler - SF Traffic Engineering- Indefinite Term
  • Mike Munzke - Harrisburg School District - Indefinite Term
  • VACANT - Citizen - December 2021
  • VACANT - Citizen - December 2021
  • VACANT - Citizen - December 2021

* Member serving until position is filled

 

Duties

Duties of the School Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (PATH):

Duties of City PATH are to guide and coordinate all activities associated with the general school safety programs, including the following:

  • Develop recommended policy on school walk trip safety.
  • Provide periodic review of conditions, programs, and policies; recommend improvements to City and school officials.
  • Coordinate the receiving, reviewing, and resolution of suggestions and complaints about school trip safety.
  • Assist in developing recommended school bus/pedestrian service area boundaries based on the school trip safety situation.
  • Maintain a good public relations program regarding school pedestrian safety.
  • Recommend immediate actions for emergency problems to responsible units of government and monitor followup.
  • Provide input to the decision process for new school location and design.

 

By-laws

By-Laws Sioux Falls School Traffic Safety Advisory Committee

ARTICLE I—NAME

The official name of this committee shall be the City of Sioux Falls School Traffic Safety Advisory Committee and may be referred to as “The PATH (Pedestrians Avoiding Traffic Hazards) Committee” or “PATH.”

ARTICLE II—PURPOSE

The purposes of the PATH Committee shall be:

A. To periodically review all activities connected with the school traffic safety program.
B. To prepare recommendations to the Mayor of Sioux Falls and/or the Sioux Falls School Board on changes or additions to the school traffic safety program.
C. Give other advice to the Mayor of Sioux Falls and the Sioux Falls School Board and Governing Boards of Non-Public Schools in matters relating to school traffic safety.
D. To promote good public relations.

ARTICLE III—MEMBERSHIP

A. The PATH Committee shall be composed of seventeen (17) members including the following:

1. A total of eight (8) residents including one non-public and one public elementary and secondary school representative from each of the four geographic areas of the city according to boundaries established by Minnesota Avenue and 18th Street.
2. Eleven (11) persons representing organizations or offices as follows:

a. City PTA President
b. City Engineering Office—Traffic Section
c. Police Department
d. Sioux Falls School Board
e. School District Central Office Administration
f. South Dakota Safety Council
g. Elementary School Principal
h. AAA South Dakota
i. Sioux Falls Catholic School System
j. Harrisburg School Board
k. Brandon School Board

B. Membership appointments, as indicated in this Article, Section A. 1., are to be made by the Mayor of Sioux Falls with the advice and consent of the Sioux Falls City Council in the month of July in odd-numbered years, or as necessary to fill any vacancy. These members are to be appointed to a four (4) year term, all terms being served are extended to four years.

C. Membership appointments, as indicated in this Article, Section A. 2., are to be reviewed, reaffirmed, or replaced by the Mayor of Sioux Falls with the advice and consent of the Sioux Falls City Council in the month of July every other year beginning in 1985, or as necessary to fill a vacancy. Members in this category are to be appointed for indefinite terms due to their positions with the respective organizations unless replaced within their organizations. Replacement nominations are to be reviewed by the PATH Committee for the purpose of making a recommendation to the Mayor of Sioux Falls for official approvals and appointments. Members in this category may serve on an indefinite, continuing basis subject to the above.

ARTICLE IV—OFFICERS

A. A Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson are to be elected on an annual basis by the voting members of the Sioux Falls School Traffic Safety Committee (PATH). The Secretary shall be the representative from the City Engineering Office—Traffic Section.
B. Duties of the Officers are as follows:

1. Chairperson Preside at all meetings, prepare meeting agendas, schedule special meetings as provided in these by-laws, appoint nominating or special purpose subcommittees.
2. Vice-Chairperson To act in the absence of or incapacity of the Chairperson.
3. Secretary To direct and maintain accurate minutes of committee meetings and correspondence.

ARTICLE V—MEETINGS

A. The PATH Committee shall meet at least quarterly throughout the year. All meetings shall be open to the public. Written notice of all meetings shall be provided to all members and media. Such notice shall indicate the time and place of the meeting and the agenda of business. The annual meeting for the purpose of electing officers shall be the first meeting after the 1st day of July.
B. Meetings may be called or scheduled by the Chairperson or by two (2) members giving notice to the Chairperson requesting a meeting.
C. A quorum of a simple majority of voting members shall be necessary at any meeting for purposes of conducting business of PATH. In the event of vacancy(ies), a simple majority of the existing membership shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VI—AMENDMENTS TO THESE BY-LAWS

The PATH Committee may establish, amend, or revise these by-laws only in accordance with the following procedure:
A. All members shall be provided written copies of the proposed by-laws, changes, or amendments at least fifteen (15) days prior to a meeting at which these are to be considered. Notice of the time and place of such meeting shall be included with the proposed change or amendments.
B. A minimum of 2/3 of the PATH members must approve the change or amendment as presented. Electronic e-mail voting regarding changes or amendments to the by-laws is allowed.

 

History

The School Traffic Advisory Committee in Sioux Falls, better known as PATH (Pedestrians Avoiding Traffic Hazards) Committee was officially established by resolution of the Sioux Falls City Commission on May 11, 1981. Prior to this official action, an ad hoc committee was formed in the Hawthorne-Cathedral Elementary School area to “conduct a Safe Route to School Study and develop a method and/or system to be used at the other local elementary schools in Sioux Falls”.

The Hawthorne-Cathedral ad hoc committee held its first meeting on February 3, 1977. After many meetings, the committee issued a report, which is still being used as the basis for PATH programs throughout the City. Sometime during the 1980-81 school term, a citizens group began meeting regularly to discuss common safety problems and the formal establishment of a citywide PATH Committee.

Resolution 154-81 provided for 15 members, including eight citizens representing the four quadrants of the city as defined by the boundaries of 18th Street and Minnesota Avenue, the city PTA president, and one representative from each of the following: the School District Central Office Administration, an elementary school principal, Sioux Falls School Board, the SD Safety Council, the Police Department, and the City Engineering Divisions Traffic Engineer. In 1983, the City Commission approved a resolution adding a representative of the South Dakota AAA to the list of members. Shortly thereafter Sioux Falls Catholic Schools were also being represented through their own member slot.