Bicycle Advisory Committee

CITY OF HENDERSON BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES September 18, 2014 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Richard Wimmer called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m., in the Council Chambers Conference Room, 240 Water Street, Henderson, Nevada. II. CONFIRMATION OF POSTING AND ROLL CALL Mr. Scott Jarvis, Project Engineer III, confirmed the meeting had been posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law by posting the agenda three working days prior to the meeting at City Hall, Multigenerational Center, Whitney Ranch Recreational Center, and Fire Station No. 86. Present: Chairman Richard Wimmer Ron Floth Dawn Nielsen Scott Seegmiller Absent: Steve Raucher Paul Schmitt (excused) Staff: Brent Gunson, Assistant City Attorney II Scott Jarvis, Project Engineer III Tedie Jackson, Council and Commission Services Reporter Guest: Robert Croke Mike Hair, Aspen Creek Cycling (arrived at 5:02 p.m.) III. PUBLIC COMMENT No comments were presented by the public. IV. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA (Motion) Mr. Floth introduced a motion to accept the agenda as presented. The vote favoring approval was unanimous. Chairman Wimmer declared the motion carried. Bicycle Advisory Committee Page 2 of 5 September 18, 2014 – Minutes V. NEW BUSINESS 1 MINUTES AUGUST 21, 2014 PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND RECREATION Approve minutes of August 21, 2014. (Motion) Mr. Seegmiller introduced a motion to approve the minutes of August 21, 2014, as presented. The vote favoring approval was unanimous. Chairman Wimmer declared the motion carried. 2 COMMITTEE MEMEBER AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND RECREATION Committee Member and Public Discussion of Ideas or Questions on Items that MIght Improve the City's Bicycling Culture. Chairman Wimmer reported that John Cahill, Clark County Public Administrator, sent an email through Facebook noting a concern that cyclists are not activating flashing warning lights at Pacific Avenue or Greenway Road. Mr. Cahill suggested that the Committee do an outreach campaign to encourage riders to activate flashing warning lights when crossing streets. He also questioned whether the lights could be automated. Scott Jarvis, Project Engineer III, agreed that the curve in Greenway Road causes a visibility concern. From an engineering perspective, he noted that an additional button on the right side of the trail would be beneficial. He commented that it is very costly to move the button to the other side of the road. The latest technology is a sensor, but the City does not have funding to install these. Suggestions were made to paint the road or install signage to read “Crossing Approaching,” “Slow Down,” or “Caution: Blind Spot for Motorists.” Educational opportunities to address this concern will be placed on the next meeting agenda for discussion. The following items were discussed:  A private ride “Get Outdoors Nevada Day” will be held in North Las Vegas this year;  Viva Bike Vegas Ride was held on September 13, 2014  A work stand and pump will be placed at the Equestrian trailhead;  Four full-size billboards and 13 half-size billboards will be placed around the valley by NDOT promoting 3 Foot Law awareness;  Future agenda item to discuss Ride for Reading event in Henderson in Bicycle Advisory Committee Page 3 of 5 September 18, 2014 – Minutes May 2015. Responding to a question by Mr. Seegmiller as to whether Henderson will sponsor a long, century ride, Mr. Jarvis explained that there are no plans at this time. Henderson’s philosophy is to target middle distance and beginning riders. 3 STAFF REPORT PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND RECREATION Staff update on City Sponsored Initiatives and requests from the Bicycle Advisory Committee. Scott Jarvis, Project Engineer III, updated the Committee on the following items: Four-way stop on Paradise Hills Drive and Dawson Avenue has been removed. As part of college area master plan, the Nevada State College expansion will need an additional access point to the south. Concepts have been identified to reduce the number of lanes on Paradise Hills Drive and possibly increase the width for cyclists and install a trail adjacent to the road. River Mountain Loop Trail paving project is ahead of schedule and should be completed in early October. Safe Routes to School Partnership is hosting a Traffic Skills 101 course on September 26 and 27, 2014. Three spots are open for this training if anyone is interested. Several Henderson schools are participating in Walk and Bike to School Day on October 8, 2014. Miller Middle School has been identified as the media site for this event. Bicyclists are invited to ride with students from the Henderson Multigenerational Facility to Miller Middle School at approximately 6:45 a.m. Safe Routes to School full-day workshop is also scheduled for October 8, 2014, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at McDoniel Elementary School. This educational event will be included in the recertification application. Committee members were encouraged to attend this workshop if possible. Mr. Jarvis delivered full-sized maps of our bicycle system to all the bike shops in Henderson. REI would like to be more active in community outreach efforts and is interested in becoming a bicycle-friendly business. Nevada State College and Las Vegas Athletic Clubs are possible contacts to become a bicycle-friendly business. A priority for the Committee is to strengthen relationships with Henderson bike shops. Bicycle Advisory Committee Page 4 of 5 September 18, 2014 – Minutes 4 STAFF REPORT PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND RECREATION Reviewing League of American Bicyclists Recommendations and assigning tasks to members to perform. Mr. Jarvis reported that staff is researching different models for a bicycle count program to determine an accurate number of people who commute by bike. Staff will conduct a local bike count and collect data to be highlighted in the recertification application. Volunteers will be needed to help count riders at various intersections. Regarding data from the U.S. Census on safety measures of fatalities involving bicycles, Mr. Jarvis noted that this could be a mathematical error in our favor. He will provide an update at a future meeting. 5 DISCUSSION ON COMMITTEE GOALS AND ASSIGNMENTS PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND RECREATION Discussion on Committee Goals and Assignments. Chairman Wimmer proposed that the Committee members continue work on the following goals: 1) Provide additional safe and secure bike parking for transportation. Strategies to be developed at the next meeting. 2) Promote and recruit additional businesses. Committee members to report on their efforts. 3) Develop and implement strategies for kids to ride bikes to schools. He also suggested that members report on their individual efforts of working with businesses at the next meeting. Specific assignments will be discussed at the next meeting. Representatives of bike shops and interested members of the community could also be solicited to help work on these goals. Mr. Jarvis will send out an email to all board members to let them know of the assignments for next month. He will also include a link to the League of American Bicyclist’s web page so members can access information. Bicycle Advisory Committee Page 5 of 5 September 18, 2014 – Minutes 6 DISCUSSION REGARDING BICYCLE ADVOCACY GROUPS PUBLIC WORKS, PARKS AND RECREATION Discussion of existing advocacy groups and discussion on partnering with and/or stimulating the creation of a new one. Scott Jarvis, Project Engineer III, commented that it would be beneficial to get a specific Henderson advocacy group to include in the recertification application. A suggestion was made to form a coalition with representatives from bike shop presidents/owners; cycling clubs; PTAs; schools; City staff representative; and a Bicycle Advisory Committee representative. May possibly be easier to get this coalition started with a smaller group of people. A recommendation was made to spread word of this concept through social media, bike shops, and schools. This issue will be discussed further at the next meeting. VI. CHAIRMAN\MEMBER COMMENTS Mr. Jarvis reported that the League of American Bicyclists 2015 National Bike Summit is scheduled for March 10-12, 2015, in Washington D.C. He encouraged Committee members to attend. VII. SET NEXT MEETING The next meeting was scheduled for October 16, 2014, at 4:00 p.m. VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT Mike Hair, representing Aspen Creek Cycling, distributed and briefly reviewed a handout entitled “Customer Comments on Henderson Trails, Aspen Creek Cycling, dated August –September 2014.” IX. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to be discussed, Chairman Wimmer adjourned the meeting at 5:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ___________________________ Tedie Jackson, Council and Commission Services Reporter