Complete Streets Advisory Board

City of Saratoga Springs JACLYN HAKES, CHAIR LOU SCHNEIDER, VICE CHAIR COMPLETE STREETS ADVISORY BOARD MARK BENAQUISTA 474 Broadway THERESA CAPOZZOLA Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 KEN GREY _____________________ STEPHAN GODLEWSKI Telephone 518-587-3550 Fax 518-587-1688 CHARLIE SAMUELS Complete  Streets  Advisory  Board  (CSAB)  Meeting  Minutes   April  15,  2013   Music  Hall—5:00  PM       Attendees   Board  Members:  Mark  Benaquista,  Steve  Godlewski,  Charlie  Samuels,  Lou  Schneider,  Jackie  Hakes,  Ken   Grey   Staff  and  Others:  Kate  Maynard,  Stephanie  Seidmon,  Shauna  Sutton   Absent:  Theresa  Capozzola   Public  Comment  Period   • Bikeatoga  and  MassBike  member  wants  to  know  more  about  CSAB  for  her  Massachusetts  town   who’s  looking  to  adopt  a  policy   • Jim  Zack:  Keep  up  the  good  work.    Also,  how  can  we  enforce  laws  ensuring  that  cars  are  not   driving  in  bike  lanes  and  that  left-­‐hand  turning  is  safer  for  cars  and  bikes?     1.      Approve  meeting  minutes  from  March  7,  2013   • Lou  makes  a  motion  to  accept  the  minutes  as  written.   o Ken  seconds.   o All  in  favor,  none  opposed.    Motion  carries.                 2.  Announcements:   • Name  Change  to  Complete  Streets  Advisory  Board  (CSAB)  Approved.   o Lou  and  Kate  also  presented  the  Newsletter  and  provided  updates  to  City  Council   • Updates  to  City  Council,  Planning  Board,  and  Zoning  Board  of  Appeals     3.      Draft  Complete  Streets  Checklist   • Received  feedback  from  City  departments  and  land-­‐use  boards.     o Letter  from  Chris  Mathiessen,  Public  Safety.    Supports  the  checklist  and  our  efforts.   o Planning  Board    Question  raised  from  Planning  Board  about  legal  concerns  regarding  the  Policy    Question  about  how  to  incorporate  the  checklist  into  the  process    Positive  feedback  in  general   o Zoning  Board    Checklist  is  not  something  they’d  be  seeing/addressing    They’re  appreciative  that  we  included  them  and  asked  for  their  input    Some  comments:    • Seemed  lengthy   • Questions  about  existing  conditions  vs.  proposed  conditions  and  lack  of   familiarity  with  terminology   o Add  “see  page  two  for  examples”  on  the  front  page   • If  there’s  something  that  doesn’t  apply,  we  should  note  that  applicants   should  proceed  to  the  next  question   • Any  other  comments  on  the  checklist?   o Still  want  to  add  the  hyperlinks   o Lou  motions  to  finalize  the  checklist    Mark  seconds  the  motion.    All  in  favor,  none  opposed.    Checklist  finalized!       4.      Other  Business,  News,  and  Updates   • Safe  Routes  to  School  Project   o Geyser  Road  Elementary  School  improvements  moving  forward  with  the  grant   received.    Implementation  of  a  push-­‐button  crosswalk,  overall  connectivity  around  the   school  and  nearby  park.    Milton  project  and  Geyser  Road  Trail  connectivity—is  there  an  opportunity  to   ensure  a  smooth  transition?   o Meeting  with  DOT  last  week,  complex  process  with  funding   o Expected  completion:  2014   o Opportunities  to  get  involved  with  the  project  through  education  before,  after,  and   throughout  the  construction  process.    Bike  Rodeo  volunteer  opportunity,  and  an   opportunity  for  CSAB  to  spearhead  some  of  the  education  programs.   o Great  starting  point  to  begin  a  working  relationship  with  the  school  district,   opportunities  to  bring  SRTS  to  other  schools   • Bike  Month  Volunteer  Opportunities   o May  is  Bike  Month!   o Reached  out  to  Skidmore    May  3rd  critical  mass  event   o May  7th  council  meeting  about  Green  Belt  Trail  planning    Lead  by  Alta  Design    SUNY  Albany  students    Jeff  Olsen  will  be  at  council  meeting  to  discuss  progress  so  far     o May  17th    Bike  to  Work  and  School  Day   • Kickoff  breakfast  at  6:30am  at  the  Arts  Center   • Potluck  at  5pm  at  Spa  City  Cycle  Works   o May  19th  Team  Billy’s  Bike  Ride     5.  Private  Development  Project  Updates   • Update  from  April  24th  planning  board  meeting     6.  Next  Steps   • Sandy  Misiewicz,  Capital  District  Transportation  Committee  to  come  in  June   • May  2nd  last  meeting   o Vote  for  a  new  chair   • Jackie  will  be  resigning  from  the  CSAB  today   o MJ  Engineering  awarded  the  contract  to  do  the  City’s  Comprehensive  Plan,  Theresa   Capozzola  appointed  to  the  Comprehensive  Plan  Committee   2  • Charlie  volunteers  to  call  the  Adirondack  Rural  Health  Network  to  discuss  what  happened  the   day  of  the  workshop   • Has  there  been  any  feedback  as  to  what  our  suggestions  were  about  the  Ballston  Ave  Project?   o Letter  was  to  Tim  Wales,  City  Engineer.    How  can  we  inquire  about  the  feedback  from   Ballston  Ave?   o Shauna  Sutton  put  together  a  meeting  about  this  project;  she  would  be  glad  to  put  us   on  the  agenda  so  that  this  question  can  be  answered     Public  Comment  Period   • Lack  of  sidewalks,  bike  accommodations  at  Weibel  Ave.   o Provide  your  comments  to  the  Planning  Board   o As  the  city  identifies  its  maintenance  schedule  and  projects,  can  they  do  some  of  these   smaller  Complete  Streets  projects?   o Sidewalks  along  60  Weibel  Ave,  as  well  as  width  to  accommodate  bicyclists;  motor   behavior  will  change  as  the  area  continues  to  develop   • Tom  Denny:   o Will  the  checklist  be  applied  at  the  next  Planning  Board  meeting?   o Follow-­‐up  with  Tony  to  see  if  the  checklist  needs  to  be  adopted  by  the  City  Council   o Keep  up  the  good  work   3