Bicycle / Trails Advisory Committee

Bicycle/Trails Advisory Committee (BTAC) Meeting Minutes June 27, 2022 LifeStyles Center, 800 Battlefield Blvd N. 5:00 PM VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Rogard Ross Vice Chair Don Burke Aaron Bull Whitney Katchmark Kimberly Parker Timothy Stephens Tina Bodnar Greg Curl Ed Fogarty STAFF/OTHERS PRESENT: Kevin Finn, Planning Department Mark Woodward, Planning Department Lucy Stoll, Planning Department Ana Elezovic, Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Elliot Caldwell, East Coast Greenway Alliance Joshua Johnson, City Attorney’s Office Tom Lilley, Citizen Fred Casioppo, Citizen Patrick Brown, Citizen _______________________________________________________________________________ Chair R. Ross called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM INTRODUCTIONS: Committee members and staff introduced themselves. MINUTES: Approval of May 23, 2022 meeting minutes; Motion to approve minutes made by W. Katchmark and seconded by G. Curl, all members present voting yes. NEW BUSINESS/DISCUSSION: a. Discussion with City Attorney J. Johnson provided an overview on his role and on his modifications made to the proposed bylaws. R. Ross and D. Burk asked about communication over emails to which J. Johnson stated that email conversations should be reserved for information gathering and other uses that cannot be construed as a meeting. R. Ross said he would provide J. Johnson a document on a Virginia Supreme Court ruling on open meeting 1  requirements and the use of emails. b. Public Works Update The Public Works representatives were not in attendance but provided their updates through email, which were read by R. Ross. An update was provided on the Commonwealth Trial, of which two sections were approved in the FY23 VDOT Six Year Plan. The region, lead by the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization, will apply for funding for a Safe Streets and Roads for All grant. There are also grant opportunities through Connecting Communities and the Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System that Chesapeake will explore. c. Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Update A. Elezovic updated the Committee on the placement of horse signs and the resolution of the sand and overpass issue as Oak Grove Lake Park. There was also an update and shared videos of median flowering plantings. d. Planning Update M. Woodward introduced the Williams Tract, its history and possible future development. The project will include the expansion of utilities along Route 17 and BTAC was particularly interested in leveraging the site’s development to extend the Great Dismal Swamp Trail to North Carolina. L. Stoll provided an update on the Trails and Connectivity Plan which is slated to begin solicitations for a consultant in the Fall. e. East Coast Greenway R. Ross invited E. Caldwell to discuss the East Coast Greenway and the extension of Great Dismal Swamp Trail into North Carolina. The East Coast Greenway has a two- year grant through the Virginia Outdoor Foundation with the intention of a high-level feasibility study on the extension. A. Burr asked about the placement of signs along the Greenway to which E. Caldwell stated that it is a work in progress to have VDOT allow Greenway signs along roadways. R. Ross discussed possible engagement strategies with local organizations and E. Caldwell stated that a great deal of their engagement will include having groups provided support documentation. f. Tabling Feedback/Tourism Map R. Ross discussed his thoughts on the tabling event at the Kayak-Xpedition event on 6/11/2022 where the biggest take away was residents had concerns with connectivity between trails and lack of knowledge where trails were located. A. Elezovic will work with group to develop some information on locations of trails. g. Route Suggestions Several Committee members discussed the best route connection between the Great Dismal Swamp Trail and the Veterans Bridge as well as the best way to connect Berkely and the Veterans Bridge, determining it to be Cedar Road. R. Ross also discussed the possibility of providing City Council with a wish list of possible bike paths and trail connections. h. Upcoming Events R. Ross stated that on August 6th, the Chesapeake Criterium Bike Race and the Virginia Senior State Championship will ride at the Chesapeake Municipal Center. The next day on Sunday, August 7, the Teeuwen Memorial Time Trial and Virginia Age-Graded State Championship will ride the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail starting from Deep Creek Park. 2  i. Heron Chronicle (CEIC/PRT Newsletter) R. Ross posed to the Committee of writing an article in the Heron Chronicle that focuses on bikes and trails, the Committee agreed and requested that R. Ross pursue this further. j. Committee Membership/Recruiting R. Ross discussed absent members and filling vacant positions. K. Finn suggested that the Committee provide recommendations to City Council when new members are being considered for appointment. k. Monthly Optional Group Outing D. Burke suggested a ride starting at Oak Grove Lake Park on Saturday. l. Bylaws The Committee decided to consider the adoption of the bylaws at their next meeting in September. OPEN FORUM: K. Parker discussed how she has limited connection access to a trail network where she lives and would like to see that improved. D. Burke provided an update on Tilden Avenue as a possible bird watching area but due to the accumulation of trash and access issues, it was placed on hold NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will take place on September 26, 2022. ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned by R. Ross at 6:27 PM MEETING MINUTES APPROVED: ___9/26/2022__________ 3