Complete Streets Advisory Board

SARATOGA SPRINGS COMPLETE STREETS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 12TH, 2023 - 5:00 P.M. ATTENDEES: CHAIR KEN GREY, TED OROSZ, SUZANNE JAGODA, MIKE KING, JEN NATYZAK, LYNN KEATING, LINDLEY HICKOX STAFF: JEN DUNN, MICHAEL DUTRE ABSENT: NONE MEETING MINUTES ARE NOT A WORD-FOR-WORD TRANSCRIPT. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. I. Public Hearing: John Iacoponi of Maple Dell advocated for 25 mph speed limits in that neighborhood. Mr. Iacoponi understands it is difficult to alter state routes but hopes that Complete Streets can help. Chris Mathiesen, Mayoral Candidate offered his support of 25 mph speed limits to promote public safety. He thanked Complete Streets for their service to the community. Chair Grey thanked Mr. Iacoponi and Mr. Mathiesen for visiting and offering their input. He recommended that Mr. Iacoponi get his neighbors together and write a petition as well as attend city council meetings to increase awareness. II. Approval of Minutes Chair Grey didn’t have meeting minutes to approve or review. Michael Dutre will resend his draft of the previous meeting’s minutes. III. New Complete Streets Members Lindley Hickox and Lynn Keating have been officially appointed to Complete Streets. IV. Capital Budget: $500,000 Update Jen Dunn will present Complete Street’s priority projects to be funded within City Hall. V. 25 mph Speed Limit Mike King and Ted Orosz worked on language for City Council, “It is a goal of the Complete Streets Advisory Board that all streets under city jurisdiction have a speed limit of 25 mph. At this time, the Board recommends to the council that the speed limit for all streets under city jurisdiction in the inner tax district to be reduced to 25 mph.” 1  Ted Orosz seconded the motion to approve Mike King’s language for City Council. VOTE: CHAIR KEN GREY, TED OROSZ, SUZANNE JAGODA, MIKE KING, JEN NATYZAK, LYNN KEATING, LINDLEY HICKOX, IN FAVOR. MOTION PASSES: 7-0 Ted Orosz continued that an engineer must approve the speed change. Suzanne Jagoda offered that this may be the first phase and the second phase would assess roadways in outer districts. VI. Union Ave Status - JMT Union Ave Technical Memo Mike King paraphrased JMT’s two options. The lower cost quick-build is striping and paint. The higher cost is a full road diet. Jen Natyzak asked that the board consider if green paint would be at conflict zones only. Ted Orosz seconded the motion to move forward with striping and paint. VOTE: CHAIR KEN GREY, TED OROSZ, SUZANNE JAGODA, MIKE KING, JEN NATYZAK, LYNN KEATING, LINDLEY HICKOX, IN FAVOR. MOTION PASSES: 7-0 VII. NYS DOT – Henning to East nearly Complete Ted Orosz pointed out that the grates run parallel to bicycle tires making it dangerous to ride. He asked that the City work with DOT to resolve. VIII. Exit 14 to Crescent Ave/Saratoga Lake Ted Orosz explained riding to the lake is better than it was previously, however DOT will only place signage in locations they are comfortable encouraging cyclists not the Northway Exit. IX. East Ave to Congress Park Chair Grey said that DOT is more communicative with the City than years past. It is Complete Street’s recommendation that the City stripe a bike lane following the DOT bike lanes. X. Crosswalk: Regent and Court Chair Grey and Ted Orosz agreed that Regent and Court should have been a part of the original study of this corridor. Crosswalks, signal timing and median location will have to be assessed. The City should have a zero tolerance for unsafe pedestrian infrastructure. XI. Grand Ave Jen Dunn said a RFP was released for preliminary design, construction and construction inspection for Grand Ave multimodal improvements. Suzanne Jagoda added the new stop signs have helped slow down traffic on Grand Ave which is a good start. XII. Crossing to Pitney Meadows for YMCA and High School 2  Jen Dunn updated the group that Missing Links is waiting on a pedestrian signal bracket that is delayed due to supply chain issues. She is working within the city to see if a crosswalk is viable to serve Pitney Meadows, YMCA and the High School before the project is closed out. XIII. Liberty Project Jen Dunn outlined Complete Streets and the planning office are advocating for sidewalks along developments so residents can safely navigate without a car. Mike King reminded the project got tax breaks for being workforce housing and the UDO dictates they must build sidewalks so there should be no debate. XIV. Regatta View Jen Dunn provided the developer is working with the City’s senior planner to possibly be reimbursed for recreation fees to offset the cost for them to build a path. XV. Proposed Housing and Joint Grant Plans? Jen Dunn highlighted Wilton and Milton have housing projects that would influence traffic in the City. It is crucial that the City and Complete Streets work with neighboring municipalities. XVI. Priority Projects for the CRTC TIP and 2024 Grant Planning Jen Dunn asked the group to contemplate projects for an upcoming TIP application. Since the city doesn’t have a large budget, we will increasingly rely on federal and state funding. Ted Orosz applauded our Metropolitan Planning Organization as one of the best in the state and it’s crucial that we have a large project ready for them. XVII. Website and Communications Jen Dunn will follow up as Jessie House, City Communications Coordinator is meeting internally on a possible Complete Streets social media campaign. XVIII. Adjourn 3