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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Minutes October 2010TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION SUBCOMMITEE MEETING Thursday, November 4, 2010 Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way   Summary Minutes   I.                 CALL TO ORDER: 9:02 AM             Members: Tom Burnham (Chair), Steve Ryan, Brent Thompson             Staff: Mike Faught, Jim Olson, Ann Seltzer, Nancy Slocum             Attendees: Julia Sommer   II.               APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of October 7, 2010 were approved as submitted.   III.             PUBLIC FORUM: No one spoke.   IV.            NON ACTION ITEMS A.     Bike Rack Study Session Faught voiced a need for clear direction from the full body of the Commission before he proceeded to garner input from the Arts Commission. He also recommended a discussion on the installation of bike parking on sidewalks versus on-street bike parking. He sited Standing Stone as an example of an on-street bike “corral”; however the recently adopted design standard would fix the problems of blocking the sidewalk, difficulty of vehicles backing up, and bicycles intruding into the street.   Sommer noted that if the City was planning on installing new racks, then they should have a fun design. She thought the Public Arts Commission could help with two or three strategically located sites for additional custom designed racks. She supported on-street bike corrals wherever possible. Ryan and Burnham agreed. Thompson recommended a simple, inexpensive design to free up staff time and save tax payers money.   Ryan suggested that, because of limited staff time and money limitations in immediately installing bike racks downtown, there was enough time to develop a bicycle parking policy.  Faught agreed that there was no money budgeted this year for racks, but the Commission had a budget and could purchase bike racks. Slocum noted that standard U-shaped racks were $75 to $100 per rack. Thompson said that business owners could be approached to help pay for bike racks or corrals.   Faught noted that once artistic racks were installed, they should be considered permanent as either the community or the adjacent business owner would have ownership in them. He also said that the removal of any downtown parking spaces to install on-street bike corrals could be controversial. Burnham said a citywide referendum could be voted upon as was done in San Luis Obispo.   Ann Seltzer, Ashland’s Management Analyst and staff liaison to the Public Arts Commission, stated that if on street bike parking was the goal, then it would fit nicely with the Arts Commission’s goal to incorporate art into everyday functional items. For custom bike racks she suggested three solutions: 1.      Hold a public contest for an original design like was done in New York City. A stipend would have to be paid to the winning artist and there would be a significant cost to manufacture the rack that would then be the new standard for all newly installed racks. 2.      Modeled after Louisville Kentucky, the City could commission a few uniquely designed racks. Again a stipend would need to be paid to the artists and there would be a significant cost to manufacture each rack. 3.      City could buy “off the rack” artsy racks that were premade.   Seltzer said that whichever solution was chosen, the Arts Commission could then look to see how that rack would fit within its environment.   Burnham thought service clubs might be willing to sponsor bike racks. Thompson suggested that bike racks that were required as part of a planning action (on private property) could have latitude on design; perhaps a choice of several designs.   Sommer suggested that as a start, she would be willing to approach the owner of the Outdoor Store on Third Street and ask if he would support a bike corral near his store. This location was identified on the adopted “Central Business District Bicycle Parking Summary” list. Subcommittee agreed and Faught volunteered to accompany her. The adopted bike corral could be modified to occupy one parking space rather than the usual two spaces.   Ryan summarized the discussion thus far for inclusion in a draft bike parking policy. 1.      The priority was to install on street bike parking wherever possible; 2.      Identify 2-3 downtown locations for multiple bike parking artistic structures; a.      Locations to be chosen with input from the Public Arts Commission 3.      Identify “off the rack” design racks; a.      Sommer volunteered to work with Staff researching options and costs b.      Options would be narrowed to a list and adopted by the Arts Commission 4.      Prioritize and install sidewalk bike racks as outlined in the Commission-adopted Central Business District Bicycle Parking Summary (as budget allows); 5.      Identify a list of racks for use in private development a.      Chosen with input from the Arts Commission b.      Chosen with input from the Planning Commission 6.      Explore artistic/funding opportunities (eg sponsorship of a bike rack through a business or as a memorial);       a.  Assisted by the Arts Commission   Subcommittee asked Staff to draft the policy. The Subcommittee would review the plan, then present it to both the Transportation Commission and Public Arts Commission for adoption.   III.       ADJOURN: 10:08 am   Respectfully submitted by: Nancy Slocum, Accounting Clerk I