Council Study Session

MINUTES OF THE GILBERT TOWN COUNCIL IN SPECIAL MEETING FOR A STUDY SESSION, TUESDAY, JUNE 01, 2021, AT 5:15 P.M., ROOM 300, 50 EAST CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, GILBERT, ARIZONA COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Brigette Peterson, Vice Mayor Yung Koprowski, Councilmembers Scott Anderson, Laurin Hendrix, Scott September, Kathy Tilque, and Aimee Yentes COUNCIL ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Town Manager Patrick Banger, Town Clerk Chaveli Herrera, Town Attorney Chris Payne, and Transportation Planning Manager Chris Bridges CALL TO ORDER OF SPECIAL MEETING Mayor Peterson called the meeting to order at 5:29 p.m. AGENDA ITEM 1. Discussion on Micro Mobility Update Transportation Planning Manager Bridges defined micromobility and noted the intent of the pilot program was to enable private companies to provide a new service, learn about the technology and business model, assess safety risks, and identify changes needed based on data and performance. He provided information on the program’s history and a timeline which included evaluating data, operations, and conformance, noting Bird was currently the only vendor in the pilot program. He discussed operating provisions, ridership locations, data on ridership in terms of trips and miles, complaints and safety, and average daily rides. Councilmember September asked if the speeds were geographically bound, to which Manager Bridges affirmed. Manager Bridges noted key takeaway points and provided information on community comparisons and prevailing similarities and differences, adding that Gilbert required sidewalk usage for scooters over bike lanes. Councilmember September asked if there was data on ages of users; Transportation Planning Manager Bridges said there was a survey. Councilmember September spoke in support of the program and of scooters as a mode of transportation. Transportation Planning Manager Bridges noted the options were to extend the pilot program to gather more data, eliminate the pilot status and update the program and code language on a more permanent basis, or end the program if determined that the data and performance did not warrant continuing. He said the discussion was to gain direction from the Council in preparation of potential Council action in August or September of 2021. Mayor Peterson noted the monthly payment to the Town by Bird; Manager Bridges stated the Town received ten cents per ride. Councilmember September asked about the impact of people riding Bird scooters for extensive miles, asking if it meant less cars and bicycles were on the road and that there was net gain for the community. Manager Bridges said he hoped the Bird rider survey would answer those questions, noting he had just received the results before the meeting but it appeared the Bird users in the survey indicated they would have walked instead and potentially have driven also. Councilmember Tilque stated the pilot program should be extended, noting a potential shift may occur with summer approaching and the need to control them longer. She recommended another six months and to reassess after that time. She agreed with riding on sidewalks, not in bike lanes, and limiting the number Vice Mayor Koprowski stated the biggest change could be in people purchasing the devices instead of renting them. She suggested data and research regarding how to regulate personal devices and enforcement like maximum speed limits, asking how that would tie into the bigger micromobility picture of both shared and personally-purchased equipment. Councilmember Tilque asked about electronic bikes. Vice Mayor Koprowski noted e-bikes would not fall into that specific program but would be considered micromobility, adding that Gilbert did not have an e-bike ordinance. Town Manager Banger stated the Town was working on that type of ordinances but then e-bikes seem to disappear from the area. Mayor Peterson noted people may still purchase e-bikes, but it was noted that there were currently bike laws that would apply. Mayor Peterson spoke in agreement of Councilmember Tilque’s suggestion of keep the pilot program going, noting the COVID-19 pandemic did not allow a true sense of the program and data. Manager Bridges stated true data started coming in around January 2021, and he recommended a full year to assess. Councilmember Yentes discussed usage, if scooters were used more from bus stops or in the downtown area, and how tracking data was used. Town Manager Banger discussed an interest in knowing about ownership and a voluntary option for owners to “opt-in” to allowing the Town to track data. There was discussion on how a type of registration could be accomplished. Mayor Peterson said the Town had access to a dashboard to see where scooters and devices were. There was discussion on monitoring the movement of bikes. Vice Mayor Koprowski discussed ridership demand and development and ways to increase active transportation in the Heritage District and Paseo Trail. She discussed prior resurfacing and restriping work on Gilbert Road between Warner and Elliot and asked if it were possible to revisit that area looking for low-cost improvements to allow for scooter and other mobility. Transportation Planning Manager Bridges discussed decisions regarding sidewalks or bike lanes and ridership locations. Councilmember Anderson asked once the pilot program was done was it expected that Bird would be the only vendor. Manager Bridges stated he did anticipate other providers and discussed other concerns and how parameters could change. Councilmember September asked if other cities had programs or only pilot programs. Manager Bridges stated Phoenix had been using a program for a while and said Tempe’s program was strict, adding staff would have to go back and look but most cities had newer programs. Councilmember September said there was value into checking to see what others had done. Mayor Peterson discussed when Bird scooters first came into Gilbert without permission and how the relationship with Bird began. Councilmember September asked if the pilot program limited the number of scooters. Manager Bridges stated no, it currently did not limit the number. There was discussion on the market for scooters leveling off, and the consensus was to continue the pilot program until the end of 2021 and to revisit the topic in January 2022. Vice Mayor Koprowski noted the need for research and pictures of both the pilot program and overall micromobility. ADJOURN Mayor Peterson adjourned the meeting at 6:04 p.m. ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________________ Brigette Peterson, Mayor Chaveli Herrera, MMC, Town Clerk CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Study Session of the Town Council of the Town of Gilbert held on the 1st day of June, 2021. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this __________ day of _______________, 2021. ___________________________________ Chaveli Herrera, MMC, Town Clerk