WATERLOO - City leaders have sided with concerned parents over the professional consensus of the nation's traffic engineers.

Waterloo City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to install a stop sign on Lambeth Road at the intersection of Cadillac Drive after neighboring property owners signed a petition and lobbied hard for the traffic sign after a child was hit by a car while riding his bicycle.

The city's Traffic Operations Department had recommended a yield sign at the intersection, noting it failed to meet standards for a stop sign under the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Since the roads were not built with federal funding, the City Council was not required to follow the manual despite concerns that veering from national standards could open the city up to liability should there be another accident.

But many neighbors weren't dissuaded.

"I live right on the corner of that intersection and I see every day what happens there," said Stacy Schiefelbein. "Please put a stop sign there to save our kids."

Resident Jerry O'Neil said his son will be all right after being hit by the car at the intersection. But he urged council members to approve the sign so something good could come out of the accident.

Councilman Eric Gunderson pushed for the stop sign, saying it was a "gray area" in the national traffic manuals.

"It's something they want for the protection of their children," he said.

Despite approving the stop sign, some council members did express reservations.

"Having a stop sign there does not negate the fact that there's parental responsibility here," said Councilman Reggie Schmitt. "A dead-end street is not a playground."

Councilman Ron Welper said putting up a traffic sign where it isn't necessary could lead motorists to ignore them, which could prove dangerous if pedestrians are relying on the vehicles stopping.

"I just hope we're not creating a false sense of security here by putting in a stop sign," Welper said.

Welper also feared a rush from neighborhoods seeking signs, noting a number of have been turned down before because they failed to meet the standards.

Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.