Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Contact: Michelle Swanson 360.753.8575 Committee Wednesday, June 25, 2014 6:15 PM Council Chambers 1. CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Clark Gilman called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. 1.A ROLL CALL Present: 8 - Co-Chair Clark Gilman, Committee Member David Coppley, Committee Member Joe Ford, Committee Member Kris Fransen, Committee Member Joel Hansen, Committee Member Christina Lock, Committee Member Scott Morgan, and Committee Member Aaron Pritchard Excused: 3 - Co-Chair Anne Fritzel, Committee Member Greg Wahl, and Committee Member Brittany Yunker Others Present Councilmember Julie Hankins Olympia Planning Commission Liaison Jerry Parker Public Works Transportation Director Mark Russell Public Works Transportation Senior Progam Specialist Michelle Swanson Public Works Transportation Progam Assistant Heather Reed 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Co-Chair Clark Gilman proposed reordering the agenda to discuss Item 6B, 2014 Neighborhood Pathways Preliminary Applications Review, ahead of 6A, Subcommittee Roles and Expectations. Committee Member Ford moved, seconded by Committee Member Fransen, to approve the amended agenda. The motion carried unanimously. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3a. 14-0638 Approval of May 28, 2014 BPAC Meeting Minutes Committee Member Morgan moved, seconded by Committee Member Coppley, to approve the minutes. The minutes passed by unanimous vote. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT City of Olympia Page 1 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes June 25, 2014 Committee Thad Curtz, 113 17th Avenue, SE, spoke in support of long-term planning efforts focused on creating a bicycle grid to create an easy-to-use, well-connected network that reduces potential barriers and encourages non-riders. Jack Horton, Woodland Trail Greenway Association, spoke about the history and development of the Woodland Trail and shared that a recent feasibility study on the next phase of the trail, which would connect the Eastside Street trailhead to Tumwater Historical Park, had recently been completed. He also spoke in favor of "The Link" Neighborhood Pathway proposal. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ms. Swanson had the following announcements: 1. As discussed at the May 28th meeting, Ms. Swanson verified that it is appropriate to share citizen correspondence to BPAC via the meeting packet. Also, additional hand-outs and materials will be provided with the meeting packet whenever feasible, as members requested. 2. Ms. Swanson passed around a signature form to committee members and asked those who attended the mandatory training on the Open Public Meetings Act to sign the form. To be in compliance, all committee members must have attended or viewed a recording of the training and certified that they have done so before September 30, 2014. Michelle forwarded a link to a recording of the training to members prior to this meeting. 3. Ms. Swanson passed on a referral from Council. Olympia has been identified as a "silver" city by the League of American Bicyclists. Council would like the group to research what would qualify Olympia as a "gold" city. This will be addressed either in the 2015-2016 Work Plan or sooner, as time allows. 4. Ms. Swanson advised the committee that Public Works Transportation is applying for a WSDOT "City Safety Grant" for two pedestrian crossing improvements on Pacific Avenue, one at Lansdale and another at Devoe. The project is to install pedestrian-activated flashing beacons, crosswalks, pedestrian crossing signs, "Stop Here for Pedestrians" signs with associated stop bars, and ADA curb access ramps. The total preliminary cost estimate of the project is $165,000. The grant request is for $150,000 and the City will provide a 10% match of $15,000. 5. The first Neighborhood Pathways connection is being constructed on Woodard Avenue. 6. Ms. Swanson shared that the Downtown Bicycle Parking map has been posted to the website. The map provides bike parking locations, the number of available spaces and whether the parking is covered. 5a. 14-0643 Burgoon Email re McDonald's Restaurant/Cooper Point and Black City of Olympia Page 2 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes June 25, 2014 Committee Lake The report was received. 6. BUSINESS ITEMS 6a. 14-0640 2014 Neighborhood Pathways Preliminary Applications Review Ms. Swanson provided a brief overview of the Neighborhood Pathways Program and summarized the four preliminary applications received. The projects are: 1. Staircase Pathway, 7th Avenue & Jefferson Staircase Pathway 2. "The Link" Downtown Trail Pathway 3. Decatur Street Pathway 4. Moore to O'Farrell Pathway Representatives from three projects attended the meeting and answered the committee's questions about proposals. Members of the committee expressed concern that "The Link" may be beyond the scope of the Neighborhood Pathways program and requested a sketched-out design as part of the full proposal. Members also expressed concern that the Staircase Pathway may not solve a transportation problem, as there are other short routes pedestrians may take to get to surrounding destinations. The committee recommended that the full proposal include a plan to research how often the stairs are used and that it describe the transportation problem the pathway is expected to solve. The committee also expressed concern about some of the activities included in the preliminary application for the Staircase Pathway, as they are likely incompatible with an active rail line. Co-Chair Clark also asked Ms. Swanson to draft a memo to the applicants of the Staircase and Link proposals with the above information. The committee voted unanimously to invite all four neighborhood associations to submit full proposals for their projects, due August 31, 2014. The report was received. 6b. 14-0639 Subcommittee Roles and Expectations As a follow-up to last month's meeting on potential bike corridors, Co-Chair Clark Gilman suggested the group create a subcommittee to ride the routes and a subcommittee chair to collect the data. Co-Chair Gilman appointed Aaron Pritchard as Subcommittee chair and asked for volunteers. Committee members Joe Ford, David Coppley, Kris Fransen, and Christina Lock volunteered. Subcommittee members will utilize potential bike corridor maps Ms. Swanson distributed, ride the routes, gather data, and bring suggestions back to the full committee for consideration. City of Olympia Page 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes June 25, 2014 Committee The discussion was completed. 6c. 14-0641 Bicycle Corridors Network Planning Subcommittee members will utilize the maps Ms. Swanson distributed, ride the routes, gather the data and bring ideas back to the full Committee for consideration. The discussion was completed. 8. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned. City of Olympia Page 4