Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting

Meeting Minutes Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) Date: Tuesday, December 17, 2013 Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: City Council Chambers, City of Urbana, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, IL Members Present: Brandon Bowersox-Johnson, Karie Brown-Tess, Cynthia Hoyle, Staff Present: Brad Bennett, Jeff Engstrom, Rebecca Nathanson, Craig Shonkwiler Members Absent: Audrey Ishii, Amelia Neptune, Nadine Schmitz 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM Bowersox-Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and roll call was taken verbally. There was a quorum present. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Bennett moved to approve the agenda; Brown-Tess seconded, and the agenda was approved. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING Fletcher-Washington noted that Audrey Ishii had been recorded as absent from the October 15, 2013 meeting; she was actually present. With that correction, Bennett moved to approve the minutes; Hoyle seconded, and the minutes were approved. 4. PUBLIC INPUT There was no public input. 5. OLD BUSINESS a) Update and Pictures of SRTS Project and Main Street Bike Lanes – Brad Bennett Bennett reported that, aside from some landscape restoration, the Main Street bike lanes project is substantially complete. He presented photographs of the bike lanes. Bennett also reported that the remaining school bike racks for the SRTS project would be installed the following week. He presented photographs of completed portions of the project. Hoyle inquired about snow removal from bike lanes; Shonkwiler reported that when snowfall accumulation is less than two inches, Urbana Public Works crews spread a salt mixture that requires motor vehicle traffic to help melt the snow, so there will be significantly less melting in the bike lanes. He said that with greater amounts of snowfall, the roads with bike lanes are typically plowed from curb to curb. Bowersox-Johnson inquired about the timing of the pedestrian crosswalk signal on Main Street. Shonkwiler reported that the signal timing was still being adjusted. b) Bike Lanes on Race Street from California Avenue to Elm Street – Craig Shonkwiler Shonkwiler distributed information on the Race Street Resurfacing Project, which will include the installation of bike lanes. That information, which includes a summary of his presentation, is attached.  Shonkwiler also presented a drawing of the proposed infrastructure. Discussion ensued regarding safe use of bike lanes, installation of easily understood lane markings and signage, and methods of notifying the public about current and future bike lane installation. c) Bike Lanes on Broadway Avenue from Illinois Street to Washington Street – Craig Shonkwiler Shonkwiler distributed information on the Broadway Avenue Resurfacing Project, which could include the installation of bike lanes. That information, which includes a summary of his presentation, is attached. Shonkwiler also presented a drawing of the proposed infrastructure. Shonkwiler noted that if City Council does not approve the removal of on-street parking, which is necessary in order to install bike lanes, then the new infrastructure would include sharrows and bike route signs instead. Bowersox- Johnson asked that BPAC members be notified when the issue comes before City Council. 6. NEW BUSINESS a) BPAC Appointments Bowersox-Johnson announced that Craig Shonkwiler would be replacing Brad Bennett as the BPAC staff member. He also announced that, due to new employment, Amelia Neptune can no longer serve as the representative for the University of Illinois. He said that she may be able to remain on the Commission in a different capacity, but that the Commission would be seeking a new UIUC representative. 7. ANNOUNCEMENTS • Hoyle announced that the C-U SRTS Project had received a grant to initiate a snow removal campaign. She said yard signs, postcards, and fliers, and billboards have been designed in order to promote snow removal from sidewalks. Materials may be obtained by visiting the SRTS website. • Bowersox-Johnson announced that City Alderman Bill Brown had notified him that the new draft of City goals would include a goal to continue with the Urbana Bicycle Master Plan update, and to attain the next level as a Bicycle Friendly Community. Hoyle suggested that the City also look into becoming a Pedestrian Friendly Community. • Bennett announced that the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission had received a grant to survey all sidewalks and ramps in Champaign and Urbana, which would help City staff to evaluate the condition of pavement, as well as ADA compliance. • Bennett introduced Jeff Engstrom and Rebecca Nathanson, who have assumed Rebecca Bird’s duties in the Community Development Department. • Hoyle announced that an SRTS plan is being developed for Prairie School. • Engstrom announced that the Urbana Park District is developing a Trail Master Plan and would be holding a public input meeting in January. He said more details would be available on their website. 8. FUTURE TOPICS There were no future topics to discuss. 9. ADJOURNMENT Bowersox-Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:03 p.m. *** Femi Fletcher-Washington, Recording Secretary