Bicycle / Trails Advisory Committee

Bicycle / Trails Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes March 27, 2023 1224 Progressive Drive 5:00 PM VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice Chair Don Burke, Andy Booden, Steve Froncillo, and Tim Stephens STAFF PRESENT: Ana Elezovic, Parks, Recreation, and Tourism; Michael Barber, Parks, Recreation and Tourism; Kevin Finn, Planning; Tracy Jones-Schoenfeld, Public Works OTHERS PRESENT: Ric Sutton, citizen; Paul Atkinson, citizen; Catherine Diaz, citizen; Michael Flint, citizen; Terrill Garner, citizen; Tom Lilley, citizen; and Mike Hoffman, citizen. Staff updates submitted prior to the meeting via email: Parks, Recreation, and Tourism (Ana Elezovic): • Indian River Park planning o Moving this to "agenda item" status. Mr. Barber will be joining us for the next meeting and will be sharing information about the future of the park. o The Friends of Indian River are hosting a cleanup at this site for the Great American Clean Up on 3/25 if anyone is interested in joining. • Heritage Park planning - I've reached out to Wilbur Hogge who has been the project lead for Heritage Park. He has shared that "We are currently in the process of scheduling a meeting with the project consultant for them to provide a status of the project. The meeting will be in early April, the exact date has not yet been set." • Newton Neck planning - Newton Neck is open to the public. Signage has been installed. We are holding off on installing the bridges for now. I have met with Ethan Hoar, the CBPA planner and he has shared that they would not require a permit for the bridges, however we are not in the clear with VMRC permits. I am meeting with Claire Gorman on Friday to see if a permit will be needed for the installation of the necessary bridges. Newton Neck will also be another site for the Great American Clean Saturday (3/25) starting at 10 am. My division will be co-leading this site. Please considering joining us in clearing trash from the site and mulching the entrance. • Events: o Horse Appreciation Day is Sunday (3/26) from 10 am - 4 pm. Please spread the word! o When Don, Rogard, and I met on Friday we drafted a Bike Month proclamation.  o Bike Fest is May 7th and we're looking to be in good shape! The event will start at 1 pm and go until 4 pm with giveaways, food trucks, and music planned! Rogard has contacted a number of organizations to table at the event. If you know of additional groups who may be interested, please reach out to them or let Rogard/Don know! o the Historical Ride of South Norfolk is May 20th and will start at 10 am. The route has been identified and Police has agreed to join us depending on Jubilee scheduling. Rogard has reached out with Libraries to see if they are interested in tabling. • And the RFP for the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Master Plan update was submitted to Purchasing late on Friday evening (3/17) so stayed tuned for more information as we embark on that exciting process! Planning (Kevin Finn): • Trails and Open Space Connectivity Plan - The Selection Committee completed interviewing potential consultants to develop the Plan. I will update everyone on our selection once it can be made public. • Industrial Waterfront Area Plan - There will be a community engagement activity held during the week of April 17th, but an exact date has not been determined. Once the details have been ironed out, I will update the group. Public Works (Tracy M. Jones-Schoenfeld): • Reconnecting Communities Grant: o City was not successful but has requested a debrief with FHWA to see how we can be more competitive in the future. ▪ City of Norfolk received the only RCP grant in Hampton Roads. ▪ The FY23 NOFO for the next round of the RCP Grant Program is pending, and City plans to reapply • Also, a new "Neighborhood Access and Equity grant program" program will open for applications at that time. The City has not yet determined if we will be applying with that program. Vice Chair D. Burke called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM. INTRODUCTIONS: Committee members and staff introduced themselves. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (February) A motion was made to approve the meeting minutes. All members present voted to approve the minutes. NEW BUSINESS/DISCUSSION: 1. HEARING OF CITIZENS AND INTRODUCTIONS Citizens, staff, and commissioners provided introductions. 2. REPORTS Parks, Recreation and Tourism - M. Barber provided an update on recent events and the future strategies to improve utilization of Indian River Park. Potential options could include anything from closing the park and reforesting to removing unauthorized obstacles and working with citizens to introduce desired and authorized obstacles. M. Barber suggested BTAC should assist in an advisory role with identifying obstacles for removal, replacement, vegetation restoration, and future park development. - A. Elezovic shared that Horse Appreciation Day on March 26th had over 20 horses and their riders coming out to the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail. - A. Elezovic shared the names of groups that the City and BTAC committee members had reached out to for Bike Month programming, including potential local organizations who could table at events and food truck vendors for Bike Fest on May 7th. Public Works - T. Jones-Schoenfeld shared that she would report back on the project status for the Poindexter Street connectivity project which would connect Poindexter Street to Elizabeth River Park and the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge. Planning - K. Finn shared that a Industrial Waterfront Area Plan there would be a community input meeting on April 20th. The event is to occur at the Portlock Galleries. - K. Finn also shared that the selection committee had arrived at a decision for potential consultants to develop the Trails and Open Space Connectivity Plan and this information would be coming shortly. Trail Prioritization Project - A discussion took place regarding the trail prioritization project. Staff proposed restructuring to a prioritized list that includes categories such as sidewalk connectivity, bike trails, funded projects which may need additional support, as well as unfunded projects, and additional projects which need to be brought to City leadership’s attention for future CIP projects. 3. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 6:36 PM The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 24, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at Parks, Recreation and Tourism Office at 1224 Progressive Drive.