Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting

BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING APPROVED July 17, 2018 Meeting Minutes Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2018 Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: City Council Chambers, 400 South Vine Street, Urbana, IL Members Present: Bill Brown (Chair), Leonardo Covis, Cynthia Hoyle Audrey Ishii, Susan Jones, Jeff Marino, Craig Shonkwiler, Nancy Westcott and Staff Present: Kevin Garcia Members Absent: Kara Dudek, Lily Wilcock Members Late Arrival: Annie Adams Others Present: None 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL, AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM Bill Brown called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll call was taken. A quorum of members was present. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Craig Shonkwiler added update to verbal walk signals under unfinished business. Cynthia Hoyle asked to revisit the topic of parking and bike infrastructure to unfinished business. Nancy Westcott moved to approve the agenda as amended; Susan Jones seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved by voice vote. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes from the April 17, 2018 meeting were presented for approval as amended. Cynthia Hoyle moved to approve the minutes; Susan Jones seconded the motion; and the motion was unanimously approved by voice vote. 4. PUBLIC INPUT There was no public input. 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Rectangular Flashing Beacons – Craig Shonkwiler Craig Shonkwiler updated the Commission on the Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RFB) that had been on a moratorium due to a patent issue which the City had been notified by the Illinois Department of Transportation. He added that the RFB’s were currently being used at Vine Street and Windsor Road near Meadowbrook Park and a set by Grainger Engineering Library on Springfield Avenue. Page 1  BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING APPROVED July 17, 2018 b. Dismount Zone Markings – Craig Shonkwiler Craig Shonkwiler updated the Commission on the addition of the dismount zone markings within the City. Shonkwiler asked for feedback from the Commission from the perspective as a bicyclist entering the downtown. The dismount zone markings would be at the following locations:  Main Street between Broadway Avenue and Race Street  Goodwin Avenue at University Avenue (near Durst Cycle and Fitness) Craig Shonkwiler presented various visual options A-Q to the Committee. He added that multiple colors would not be used for the City’s discount zone marking. The Committee discussed the following likes of the options A-Q shown:  Cynthia Hoyle liked E and G. She liked the phrase “Dismount Zone” and the circle around the picture.  Leonardo Covis added that he would like signage to be clear and to tell people what to do rather than what not to do. He liked D, E, F and G.  Susan Jones preferred the dismount zone wording.  Audrey Ishii liked “Walk Your Wheels”.  The Commission agreed that they liked the background color.  Bill Brown liked a combination of “Dismount Zone with Walk Your Wheels”.  Annie Adams showed images related to “Walk Your Wheels” that included pleasant representation of zone markings. The Committee discussed the following dislikes:  Cynthia Hoyle stated that “No Bikes” was confusing and lends to the idea that bicycles are not even allowed on the sidewalk.  Susan Jones stated that “Walk Your Wheels” would be confusing to foreign students. Further discussion regarding the markings included Annie Adams suggestion of spray chalk tests. Craig Shonkwiler stated that the two locations would already be representative of test zones and spray chalk tests would not be needed. He added that they would do a design test on paper and place it at those locations to get input from the community. Annie Adams asked about signage on Goodwin Avenue and University Avenue because there was no notification of a bike path. She suggested painting the streets with that notification. The Commission reiterated that they would not like to see negative connotation phrases or implication. Page 2  BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING APPROVED July 17, 2018 Jeff Marino moved to direct staff to implement a trial period with a dismount zone “walk your wheels” emblem at selection locations downtown and to get feedback from businesses and public. Susan Jones seconded. The motion was unanimously approved by voice vote. Craig Shonkwiler abstained. c. Verbal Walk Signals – Craig Shonkwiler Craig Shonkwiler gave an update regarding the audible push buttons at Vine Street/University Avenue and Main Street/Vine Street and Vine Street/Illinois Street. Signal technicians were sent out and found that they were not functioning properly. They had been adjusted and were working properly. d. Parking and Bike Infrastructure/Campus Bike Paths – Cynthia Hoyle Cynthia Hoyle asked about construction vehicles on the MCORE (Multimodal Corridor Enhancement Project) project parking in the bicycle lanes on Green Street. She stated that the streets are open and forces cyclists out in the open road. She also asked for clarification on whether that the bicycle lanes were built for vehicle load. She stated she was worried it would cause damage. Craig Shonkwiler stated that he would look into the concerns, but reiterated that it was an active construction zone between Wright Street and Lincoln Avenue on Green Street. He added that the symbols were not installed and that he was not concerned about the parking of vehicles on the lanes because they were able to handle minor vehicle load. He agreed that he would not want larger trucks on those lanes. Shonkwiler explained that even though the area was open and usable, to note that construction was not complete and there are signs that indicate same. NEW BUSINESS a. What’s in your Square? Visioning Exercise – Kevin Garcia Kevin Garcia of Community Development conducted the What’s in Your Square? Visioning Exercise. He stated that the What’s in your Square initiative was kicked off by Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin recently and the outreach process was being run by City staff. The goal was to re-envision and reenergize the nine block area surrounding and including Lincoln Square to better connect the downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods. Kevin Garcia gave a background of the study area which included city owned parking lots, Lincoln Square mall and the Landmark Hotel where he showed an aerial view. The exercise was done and included the following topics: 1. A Great Place 2. The Square Cloud and 3. Mapping Your Square. The Commission was split into 2 groups with Kevin Garcia facilitating one group and Jeff Marino facilitating the other group. Kevin Garcia started that exercise with a visualization exercise about a great place that they have traveled or been to. The Commission shared their thoughts and asked to write down some words about the mall. Garcia stated that they would create a word cloud from the exercises. The Commission then split into two groups. The two groups presented the following ideas: Group 1: Indoor/Outdoor Market; Water feature; Multi-use path; Amphitheater/Outdoor movies; Keeping Lincoln Square Mall and adding upper use residence; Climbing Wall; Café seating; Native plantings throughout sight; Creating a theme; Crosswalks Page 3  BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING APPROVED July 17, 2018 Group 2: Ferris Wheel; Build up skyline; LED lighted Dome; Hilly walking path; Ice Rink; Park in southwest corner with a fountain or water fall feature; Road diet on Illinois connected with a bike/pedestrian bridge; Amphitheater; zip line; bike path; glass front on mall 6. ANNOUCEMENTS  Boston Vision Zero Handout – Kevin Garcia  May 16 – Rid of Silence 7 p.m. at I-Hotel  May 19 – Playing It Safe Bike Rodeo and Helmet Sale  May 23 – UPD Community Sunset Ride Event  May 23 – Weaver Park Public Input  June 9 - ALS Ride for Ray rideforray.com  ITEP Grants – Forest preserve funding  Painting of Light Poles  Bicycle Friendly Businesses 7. FUTURE TOPICS a. RPC – Final Report b. St. Joseph Speed Limit Reduction c. Shutting down streets for Pedestrian events 8. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m. *** Respectfully submitted, Leslie P Cross Substitute Recording Secretary Page 4