Council Study Session

MINUTES OF THE GILBERT TOWN COUNCIL IN SPECIAL MEETING FOR A STUDY SESSION, JANUARY 22, 2019 AT 5:30 PM, MUNICIPAL CENTER, ROOM 300, 50 E CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, GILBERT, ARIZONA COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Jenn Daniels, Vice Mayor Eddie Cook, Councilmembers Scott Anderson, Brigette Peterson, Jordan Ray, Jared Taylor, and Aimee Yentes COUNCIL ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Town Manager Patrick Banger, Town Clerk Lisa Maxwell, Town Attorney Christopher Payne, Intergovernmental Relations Assistant Amy Arguilez, Public Works Director Jessica Marlow, Intergovernmental Relations Director Rene Guillen, Planner Nichole McCarty, and Community Engagement Coordinator Melissa Cannon CALL TO ORDER OF SPECIAL MEETING Mayor Daniels called the meeting to order at 5:37 p.m. 1. Discussion on Micro-Mobility Intergovernmental Relations Assistant Arguilez noted the increase in the number and types of these devices over the past year. There are concerns about safety and designated areas for pick-up. Some municipalities have set up or made changes to lane on their streets. Other municipalities have set up pilot programs with companies producing the devices while others have banned the devices. The Town needs to look at the infrastructure to see how this will work in Gilbert. Intergovernmental Relations Assistant Arguilez gave an overview of this new category of vehicles. It includes autonomous vehicles, e-scooters and e-bikes which can be booked through a phone. Riders are being connected to other modes of transportation with the purpose of moving people. The vehicles are environmentally friendly and the intent is to ease traffic congestion and parking in urban areas. Not all of these vehicles are shared, some are owned and used by one person. There are concerns about safety on sidewalks. One thing to consider would be corridors for micro-mobility which could include sidewalks, streets or blended solutions. It could be different in dense areas such as the Heritage District and San Tan Village. Public Works Director Marlow discussed sidewalks and trip hazard. Currently the Town has a reactive maintenance program for sidewalks. There are 2,200 miles of sidewalks and 500 reported trip hazards per year in Gilbert. An average of $300,000 a year is spent on repairs. Currently Public Works responds to complaints within 24 hours and the 1 problem is fixed within six 6 days. The impact of using sidewalks for these devices and the ability to maintain the current level of service is unknown. Intergovernmental Relations Director Guillen noted there are docked and dockless bikes in cities across the Valley. In Gilbert Bird has brought in motorized scooters. There is a point of contact in the company for questions or concerns. Town staff is working to address issues as they develop. Entering those issues in the 311 app will help with tracking. Other companies with scooters in the area. At the State level both Bird and Lime are exploring state legislation. They would like to add the definition of scooters to e-bikes. Cities will still be able to regulate the use of these devices in their local Right of Way. The League of Cities and Towns is working with key cities on the legislation. Planner McCarty reviewed what is currently happening at various municipalities in the Valley. Changes are evolving daily. Today, Peoria has the most details and they have a pilot program. Community Engagement Coordinator Cannon said the Town conducted a poll from January 3 through 13, 2019. The demographics and data are available on Alex, Town’s open data portal, for anyone interested in seeing the data. Vice Mayor Cook said he got pulled over by a Police Officer ten years ago for riding his Razor scooter on the sidewalk. He said he loves innovation but he does not like how the scooters were introduced into Gilbert. He does not believe the Town’s infrastructure is not ready for these devices. Councilmember Cook said he knows of two families with members injured on scooters. Freedom of choice is important but there can be unintended consequences. He would like for the companies to share the costs of infrastructure. Councilmember Anderson said a friend of his grandson came to his door on an electric scooter his dad got for him. He believes there needs to be more discussion about this topic and he agrees the infrastructure is not ready. He is concerned that the Town may be creating a liability when parents renting the scooters for their 10 year old children. Councilmember Peterson said she has seen dramatic changes in last twelve months. She is interested in learning how are people using the scooters and why. She believes the majority is not using them for transportation but for fun. The Bird App says a person must be 18 years old or older to operate a scooter but younger children are riding them. Councilmember Peterson said she does not view Waymo or Uber the same way as they did not ask the Town to make special concessions for them. The scooter companies are asking for concessions. She said she is not happy the scooters are blocking the corners where the Town spent money making them accessible for the handicapped. She noted at one time there were 61 scooters in Heritage District at one time and that is too many. Gilbert Fire Department personnel answer the calls for people who are injured. She is not sure how the scooters fit into Gilbert. 2 Councilmember Taylor said there needs to be regulation to promote the scooters and to make them safe. He said residents want the Town to be tech-forward. Bird is a business and it needs to be treated fairly like any other business. He would like for the Town to get data from Bird. He would also like input from the Police Department since they will be enforcing the law. Councilmember Ray said his son loves these scooters. What is most important to him is safety and seeing the Town is reimbursed for infrastructure costs. He would like to find a way to keep police from having to deal with scooters and having them focused on more important issues. An impound company could pick up the scooters and the rental company could deal with them. Councilmember Yentes said she talked with friends in downtown and the responses she received mirrored the poll data. She sees the potential for a lot of hazards using the scooters. She said she would be interested in seeing how the ordinances in other area cities pan out. Mayor Daniels said she loves the idea the Town is changing and she is excited about the options. Her son bought a scooter with his own money. What she does not like is the way the program was rolled out. The Town likes to work with people. They invite companies to meet to see how they can work as partners. Mayor Daniels said she does not like some of the ordinances in other cities because she does not think they are enforceable. The Town needs to look at infrastructure changes and develop a 20+ year plan of needs to change. There are large setbacks and right-of-way available to the Town that is not available in other cities. There was discussion about forming a subcommittee to look into this issue. Mayor Daniels said she would prefer to work more closely with staff first. There are a lot of pieces to the issue to consider. Town Manager Banger said he is open to staff putting together a draft for Request for Proposal (RFP) to work with a particular company. The Town could have a pilot program with defined parameters that could be used to map out how to bring value of these devices to our community. Mayor Daniels said she was in favor of that. There was discussion about what area to include in a pilot program. Town Manager Banger said he will come back to Council with parameters for a pilot program. 2. 2019 Bike Gilbert Plan This item will be discussed at the February 7, 2019 Regular meeting. Mayor Daniels adjourned the meeting at 6:29 p.m. 3  ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________________ Jenn Daniels, Mayor Lisa Maxwell, MMC, Town Clerk CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the special meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Gilbert held on the 22nd day of January, 2019. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this ____ day of ____________________. ___________________________________ Lisa Maxwell, MMC, Town Clerk 4