Council member West responded to my email.  This is the email I sent to all the council members, his response, and my reply:

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Council member [insert any council member's name here],

I am writing to follow up on the petition I submitted, along with a full list of signers and two supporting lists documenting that more than 2,000 drivers have never paid the cited infraction.

I spoke directly with Mayor Olson to request a response to the petition for myself and the signers. To date, no response has been provided. In light of this silence, I delivered a letter to city hall and am now emailing you to ensure that the matter is acknowledged.

The petition signers and I believe we are entitled to a clear and timely explanation from city leadership. I respectfully request that this issue be addressed at the next council meeting and that a written response be provided.

Respectfully,

Michael Stanzel

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Hello Mike,

As always I do appreciate your diligence and the care you take in making your concerns and voice heard, so thank you for reaching out—it's always a pleasure to hear from you. You know that I truly value the voices of our residents, especially on matters as vital as student safety and government transparency.   

While I share your commitment to accountability and appreciate the thoughtful work you’ve put into your study, I haven't changed my personal position on this matter since the first time I responded to you in July of last year.

As you know, Edgewood faces real traffic challenges (4.2million trips in those school zones last year per EPD) with limited police staffing (via Pierce County Sheriff staffing shortages), and in that context, our school zone safety cameras have proven to be a practical and cost-neutral way to enhance protection for our children. These cameras not only encourage safer driving but also allow our patrol units to focus on higher-traffic corridors during peak hours.

While I understand the frustration that can come with receiving a citation—I’ve been there myself—I believe these measures offer a necessary layer of protection given our current constraints. No inconvenience outweighs the importance of keeping our kids safe.

If you have questions about how citation funds are allocated or want to explore traffic data further, I encourage you to connect with Mayor Dave Olson or Chief Jason Youngman Edgewood PD.

Thanks again for your thoughtful engagement. It’s through conversations like this that we continue to grow stronger as a community.

Warm regards,

John West
Position 5, Edgewood City Council

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Hello John,

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate that you’ve taken the time to respond, but I must be direct: the current school zone camera program has clear flaws that remain unaddressed, and those flaws directly affect both fairness and effectiveness.

Here are the issues that, to date, I’ve not seen Council meaningfully engage with:

1.  Revenue-Driven Concerns – City financial reports show that at Edgemont Junior High alone, there was a $46,000 shortfall last year because the program issued fewer infractions than expected. If the primary goal is safety, a reduction in tickets should be considered a success — not a financial loss.
2. Uncollected Citations – Thousands of citations remain unpaid without consequence. A deterrent that isn’t enforced consistently is neither fair nor effective.
3. Enforcement Timing – Camera activation hours do not consistently align with when children are present, and in half the cases tickets are issued when kids are sitting behind their desks, raising doubts about whether safety—not revenue—is the primary driver.
4.  Placement Justification – Placement decisions appear inconsistent with collision and speed data. The city had to resort to listing accident data on the website which was near the school zones "at all times of day/night" where a camera is located.   If safety is the goal, placement should be based on demonstrated risk, not convenience of installation.
5. Transparency – Residents have asked for detailed breakdowns of citation revenue allocation, and those requests have been deflected or referred to other offices rather than addressed by elected officials directly overseeing the program.

I understand staffing shortages, but this program is not the only solution, and its current execution undermines public trust. The Vermont municipal guidance I’ve referenced is clear: arbitrary enforcement and perceived revenue-motivated measures erode respect for all traffic laws, which can ultimately reduce safety.

Given these points, do you believe it is acceptable for thousands of school zone camera citations to remain unpaid without consistent enforcement, while continuing to issue new ones on unsuspecting drivers?

And why does the City believe it is reasonable to issue a $166 infraction to drivers traveling just 24 or 25 MPH in a school zone, especially when kids are sitting behind their desks?

I will continue pressing for specific answers from the Mayor and Chief, but I also believe Council’s role is not simply to defend existing measures but to ensure they are demonstrably fair, transparent, and effective.

Regards,

Mike Stanzel