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Home My WebLink About2008-06-19 Bicycle & Pedestrian_MIN Bicycle & Pedestrian Commission th June 19 , 2008 Regular Minutes Roll Call: Chair David Young, Vice Chair Julia Sommer, Secretary Jim Olney , Steve Ryan, Tom Burnham (absent) Council Liaison: Kate Jackson and David Chapman Staff: Rachel Teige, Parks Department Recreation Superintendent Steve McLennan, Police Officer Derek Severson, Associate Planner RVTD liaisons: Paige Townsend, RVTD Senior Planner (absent) High school liaison: Vacant SOU liaison: Eve Woods Call to Order Chair Young called the meeting to order at 5:16 p.m. th Approval of Minutes – May 15, 2008 The minutes were approved as presented. Introductions City Councilor Kate Jackson, the new City Council liaison to the Commission was introduced. Jenna Stanke, Jackson County’s new Special Projects Coordinator, was also introduced. It was noted that Stanke replaces Karen Smith, and is staffing the County’s Bicycle Advisory Committee. Stanke explained that she was formerly with the Rogue Valley Council of Governments and worked extensively on the extension of the Greenway from Central Point to Grants Pass. Stanke briefly discussed the Bicycle Advisory Committee, her work on the Greenway to extend the trail along the Rogue River, the status of the Barnett Road crossing, and her hope to work more closely with the Commission in the future. Public Forum Dr. Gary McGraw/423 Lit Way discussed his recent accident on the Greenway and noted his concern with the use of bollards as a way to restrict motor vehicle access. He emphasized that he wanted to bring awareness to this topic as a risk management issue, and added that it is even more of a concern for night commuters due to lack of lighting on the bikepath. He noted that in Chico, California, an experienced rider hit a bollard and is now paralyzed. He added that he hopes this will be considered in future Greenway work, including that associated with Verde Village. He urged the Commission to consider a safer bollard design, other means to restrict motor vehicle access, and better signage. He suggested that bollard could be removed and signage could have the same effect. Stanke suggested considering some form of rumble strip in advance of the bollards. 2008-0619 Bike & Ped minutes Page 1 of 3 Subcommittee & Liaison Reports Woods discussed her efforts tabling at the University’s Raider Day, where she spoke to more than 100 students about bicycle and pedestrian safety. She noted that the Traffic Safety Commission staff had generously provided great brochures to assist with this effort, and she discussed the Ad Hoc Siskiyou Safety Committee. She indicated that she was working to have an orientation program on campus safety. Severson provided a staff update on the Ad Hoc Siskiyou Safety Commission, the Transit Open House, and the Wheeldon Memorial. Sommer discussed the effectiveness of the rumble strips on Siskiyou Boulevard and suggested that more might be useful. Ryan discussed pedestrian behavior and the need to increase bus service to address evenings and weekends. Severson noted that Egon Dubois of the BTA had made a request that the Commission express its support to the Parks Foundation to reimburse “Kidical Mass” printing costs. It was explained that the Kidical Mass event is an extension of the bicycle safety education program in local schools that gives children and their parents and opportunity to ride together in traffic, and that Dubois has been paying the printing cost for promotional materials out of his own pocket since the event began in April. After consideration, members expressed their support for reimbursing this expense out of Bike Swap bicycle safety education funds through the Parks Foundation. Ryan discussed Car Free Day planning, noting that the planning at this stage included a two week-long bike commute challenge, with an Oak Street event and street closure from 4:00 to 7:00 on Monday and street café by Standing Stone. He noted that there would be live music, and that the event planning was moving ahead. Severson noted that the City Administrator had approved the recommendation that the City be the sponsor for this event, and that Ryan’s role was as Commission liaison. Severson added that the event planning would not be a regular agenda item, but that Ryan could provide updates as liaison or bring requests back to the Commission as needed. Rachel Teige, Parks Department Recreation Superintendent and Tracy Harding, Bike Swap Coordinator, gave a debriefing of this year’s Bike Swap event. Teige noted that Harding had coordinated this year’s event, and noted that the event was the most successful in the four years that the Parks Department has been involved, with 207 pieces of equipment sold and sales of approximately $18,000. Attendance was up by more than 100, there were twice as many vendors, and 75 volunteers. This generated roughly $3,100 to the Bike Swap fund for bicycle safety education, and Teige noted that with carryover the fund balance was approximately $11,000. Severson noted that there would be a request for payment coming shortly from the BTA for this year’s bicycle safety education classes which would significantly reduce that balance. Teige stated that they will be ordering more lights, helmets and pedometers as all sold well at the event. It was noted that there may be a minimum charge per bike next year as there were a lot of lower quality bikes sold this year, and the event may be shortened by one hour. Teige and Harding discussed the promotion, noting that a new staff person in Parks and the Coordinator position helped with outreach efforts. It was noted that the Safety Chicken had been on hand for the event, as at Earth Day. Harding explained that left-over bikes went to Goodwill, 2008-0619 Bike & Ped minutes Page 2 of 3 the Ashland Community Bike Program, Migrant HeadStart, or were sold as scrap metal depending on their type and condition. Teige concluded with a recommendation that at least $2,000 be retained in the Bike Swap fund to cover the coordinator salary, promotion, and the cost of helmets, lights and pedometers. Transportation Commission Members discussed the possible creation of a Transportation Commission, noting that the details of the transition from two Commissions (Bicycle & Pedestrian and Traffic Safety) to one (Transportation) needed to be clearly addressed. Chapman emphasized the need to clearly address transit as a priority, and suggested that the Commission’s relationship to the Planning Commission and planning process needed to be clear. He also suggested formalizing a liaison relationship with the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Severson explained that it was staff’s intent to have the Commission involved in the planning process at the pre-application level – this would provide advanced notice of actions which the Commission might have concerns with and provide opportunity to comment while not tying up each meeting with land use hearings. Jackson noted that the 120-day rule, which requires a final decision from the city within 120-days of the submission of a complete land use application, drives the planning process and dictates the timeframe allowed for commission participation in decisions. She added that after considering this, the Housing Commission recently determined that the pre-application process was the most appropriate place to be involved in the process. Members expressed unanimous support for the creation of a Transportation Commission, noting the importance to maintain support for the established bicycle safety education program and partnership with the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA). New Business None. Agenda Items for Next Month Members noted the need to further discuss bollards on the Greenway. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. 2008-0619 Bike & Ped minutes Page 3 of 3