Bicycle / Trails Advisory Committee

Bicycle/Trails Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes July 24, 2023 5:00 p.m. This meeting of the Bicycle/Trails Advisory Committee Meeting was held July 26, 2023, at the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Administrative Office, 1224 Progressive Drive. Chair Ross called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. ROLL CALL Ms. Abaka-Williams took attendance; 6 voting members were present; 4 members were absent. The committee attendance reflected a quorum. Introduction of three new members Alex Breshears, Michael S. Flint, Barry R. Sutton. Members Present: Donald R. Burke, Steve Froncillo, Dawn Kennedy, Rogard Ross, Timothy L. Stephens, Barry R. Sutton Members Absent: Andy Booden, Alex Breshears, Michael S. Flint, Whitney S. Katchmark City Staff Present: Ana Elezovic (PRT), Kevin P. Finn (Planning), Tracey Jones-Schoenfeld (Public Works), Carrie Abaka-Williams (PRT) ANNOUNCEMENTS R. Ross informed the committee of three surveys available for committee members to participate in. Surveys • HRTPO Regional Road Safety Study - https://live.metroquestsurvey.com/?u=js0q0d o Map Safety Concerns o Prioritize Strategies • HRTPO Long Range Transportation Plan - https://live.metroquestsurvey.com/?u=32ez o What factors are driving change? o What are your transportation choices? • Greenbrier Area Plan Community Survey 2.0 (survey closes 7/31) - https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/3100/Greenbrier-Area-Plan o Streets and Civic Amenities – Which roadway configurations, spaces for people to walk & bike, vegetation, and tree canopy do you prefer o Housing • Shopping and Working If you are on Facebook, please Follow/Like “Chesapeake Bikes & Trails Committee-BTAC” at https://www.facebook.com/multiusetrailschesapeake MINUTES: A motion was made by R. Ross and seconded by B. Sutton to table the minutes until changes could be made. The June meeting minutes will be tabled until the September meeting. Going forward C. Abaka-Williams will submit draft minutes to Committee Secretary D. Kennedy. HEARING OF CITIZENS: None STAFF UPDATES: a. Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT) - Ana Elezovic Indian River Park Trail Subcommittee Still looking for a representative for a remote-control car representative. T. Stephens offered to reach out to remote-controlled car Facebook groups. A. Elezovic requested that her email be used as point of contact. Heritage Park No update b. Public Works - Tracy Jones-Schoenfeld Prior to the meeting, Troy Eisenberger, Public Works, provided a list of projects that were pre-submitted for Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) funding. Below is the list of projects that was submitted. Public Works is bringing on a consultant to help develop the final packages. Portal opens back up August 15th, and final submissions are due October 1. The major remaining items are: refine estimate, update schedule, and update sketches and graphics. There will need to be some public involvement (working with VDOT on what this will be). Hopefully there will be site visits with VDOT/City staff to review conditions in the field. 2 T. Jones-Schoenfeld noted the concern that Deep Creek Multi-Use Path Extension from Deep Creek Park to Deep Creek Bridge has an estimated cost of $4.5 Million and will likely exceed TAP cost guidelines. The Newton Neck Park Connection project was removed from consideration by Public Works because VDOT had questions about the logical terminus for the Newton Neck Park project and mentioned wanting to see a full connection to the park. This is certainly something that can be looked at but was removed for consideration at this time. The two main additions from the last BTAC meeting are: • Cedar Road sidewalk (Wal-Mart to Cedar Lakes). This is a second section of sidewalk to try and add sidewalk connectivity along Cedar. • Indian River Middle School Sidewalk Connections - This provides connections from the Middle School to the Community Center (ultimately connecting to the library). This project was recommended by the Chesapeake Police Department. c. Planning - Kevin Finn Trails and Connectivity Plan (TConn) • We will most likely confirm our community engagement plan and project scope next week for TConn. Staff have been reviewing the Plan Review and initial data for what Alta calls their "Green Print Inventory". That information will be shared when it is available. • A steering committee is being created. This group will be a more technical group made up of local and regional stakeholder groups with an emphasis on implementation. • Public meetings will be held sometime in mid-September, next January, and next April. We also hope to have an online survey and interactive map ready for late summer. • BTAC will also be engaged separately as a key stakeholder in a virtual interview session. We can discuss the best way to go about doing that. Greenbrier Area Study - Additional in-person community input opportunities will be held in the early fall. There is a new preference survey on the City's website: https://www.menti.com/alqut2915wv3/0 Industrial Waterfront Plan - The Plan will conclude in October, and there will be a community engagement event to present the findings. More information to come. REPORTS: None 3 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: a. Nomination and election of New Secretary. • D. Kennedy was nominated as Secretary by the committee. • S. Froncillo made a motion to approve the nomination. B. Sutton seconded the motion. Committee unanimously approved. b. Indian River Subcommittee • See Staff Report above. c. Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) • See Staff Report above. • S. Froncillo suggested that the Great Bridge Sidewalk extension, which has been proposed to connect Oscar Smith High School to Riverwalk Parkway, should also include a sidewalk to the southeast to Preservation Reach. T. Jones-Schoenfeld says she will take this request back to Public Works to consider for the final submission. • d. Event Planning Saturday, August 5 – Criterium - City Hall, 8 am to 4 pm • Sanctioned Bike races around City Hall roadways • PRT staff requested that BTAC volunteer with youth activities such as bike decoration and make your own license plate. Kid activities are all day. • Kid’s Race at 12:55 pm. BTAC asked to help with organizing heats and make sure the bikes are safe to participate in. • Tabling opportunity and to interact with the public by volunteering to take pictures so families that participate can have memories from the event. • R. Ross and D. Kennedy volunteered to work at this event. Sunday, August 6 – Teeuwen Memorial Time Trial - Deep Creek Park, 8:30 am • Timed bike rides along Dismal Swamp Canal Trail • BTAC will not table because of Criterium the previous day. Saturday September 23 - Bike Your Park • T. Lilly will organize a bike ride at Dismal Swamp Canal Trail. • A. Elezovic will plan a PRT event at Western Branch Trail, starting at a neighborhood playground and ending at a different neighborhood playground (total of 6 miles). • Indian River Park- R. Ross to reach out to committee member A. Booden to see if EVMA may be interested in sponsoring an event. Saturday, October 28 – Halloween Bike Event at City Hall • Need a good event name. • Costumed and Decorated Bicycle Parade around Judge Eileen Olds Courtyard Park. 4  • Judging of Costumes, Prizes by Age Category. • B. Sutton suggested horse riders might be interested in this event. He would ask around to see if horse riders would like to participate. He said this would be a great opportunity for the community to see horses. • A. Elezovic will bring this up to the PRT staff and discuss this opportunity with the PRT director, M. Barber, and follow up with B. Sutton. NEW BUSINESS: Process for Inputs on 2024-2025 Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) Budget • R. Ross asked how best the Committee can provide input on next year’s CIP Budget. He would like to know what PRT, Public Works, and Planning are focusing on asking for in the upcoming budget so the group could come up with ideas. • A. Elezovic suggested giving PRT a wish list of items or improvements BTAC would like to see in the parks. She would be available to discuss further if these items would be feasible. • K. Finn suggested that BTAC come up with implementation strategies for the idea suggestions to the Planning Department. He suggested that BTAC create a prioritized list from the ideas. • R. Ross would like five ideas on project priorities from each committee member before the next meeting. He can compile the list and bring it to the next meeting for discussion. HEARING OF BOARD MEMBERS: None ADJOURNMENT: R. Ross made a motion to adjourn. B. Sutton and D. Kennedy seconded. The motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 6:28 p.m. NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be on Monday, September 25th 2023, at the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Administrative Office, 1224 Progressive Drive Chesapeake, VA. 23320 at 5:00 pm. Minutes submitted by Carrie Abaka-Williams 5