Pedestrian & Bicycle Path Advisory Committee

PO Box 158 • Whitefish, MT 59937 • (406) 863-2400 • Fax (406) 863-2419 Bike/Ped Meeting Notes Monday, May 1, 2023, 8:30 a.m. Whitefish City Hall Council Chambers Conference Room Committee Members City Staff Antonia Malchik - Present Dana Smith – Absent Mary Behrendt – Present Maria Butts - Present John Repke – Present (by phone) Carla Belski – Absent Doug Reed - Present Karin Hilding - Present Jim DeHerrera - Absent Craig Workman – Present Luke Moses – Present Giuseppe Caltabiano – Present Riley Polumbus - Present Agenda Items A. Meeting Called to Order B. Approval of Monday, May 1, 2023, Agenda Motion by Caltabiano, seconded by Reed. Passed unanimously. C. Approval of April 10, 2023, Minutes Motion by Moses, seconded by Caltabiano. Passed unanimously. D. New Business Caltabiano questioned what comprises new business. Butts responded new business items are those that have not been discussed on a previous agenda. Once they are discussed they are moved to Old Business on subsequent agendas. E. Old Business a. Riverbend Condo Updates – Craig Workman stated that staff is still working with TD&H on a contract agreement for engineering services for the Riverbend Trail Project and hoping to have something in place this week. This will allow TD&H to begin working with the condominium owners on access to the property to complete the survey necessary to proceed with the design. If the property owners are not willing to grant access to the property to complete the survey, there are statutory means to complete the work. b. Malmquist Easement – Craig Workman stated that staff has informed the Flathead Conservation District that City Council directed staff to enter into a contract with TD&H to design the Riverbend Trail. Staff is optimistic this will show the City’s intent to build the trail connection between Malmquist and HWY 93, thus inspiring them to consider the Malmquist application. c. Viaduct Improvements – Craig Workman stated that staff is working with WGM Group on design options for jersey barriers that will provide more aesthetic appeal than the existing barriers. Caltabiano stated there is a precast concrete company in the Flathead Valley that  could possibly produce them. d. Safe Routes to School – Karin Hilding stated she is meeting with Dave Means at the Whitefish School District to discuss various safety improvements around the schools. Projects will include improvements on Fir Ave. to provide a drop-off location as well as sidewalk construction on E. 6th Street between Park and Pine. Malchik stated she would like to see a 4-way stop at 4th and Kalispell. e. Paths needing FWP approval – Craig The 6/5/2023 Bike/Ped meeting will be dedicated to this topic. Hilding stated the desire of FWP is to have a set of guidelines that could be used for review and approval of the remaining segments of the Whitefish River Trail. Behrendt recommended we produce an agenda and list of goals/outcomes for the meeting. f. Ongoing Project List – Karin Hilding distributed the updated project list that merged the list she presented at the last meeting with the list that Repke completed. Repke stated the priority rankings he indicated on his sheet were merely placeholders and do not necessarily represent the project ranking completed by the full committee. Committee members agreed to review the list for discussion at the July meeting. g. Bike and Walk to Work Day – Carla Bike/Walk to Work Day will be on 5/24/2023 at 4 pm. The event will take place at Railway & Central. Stations will be set up at Blackstar Brewery and McKenzie River Pizza. F. Parks and Recreation Comments None G. Public Works Comments Hilding stated there is a supervisor position available at the Flathead Conservation District and urged those interested to apply. H. Public Comment (This time is set aside for the public to comment on items that are either on the agenda or on items not on the agenda. City officials do not respond during these comments but may respond or follow-up later on the agenda or at another time. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Path Advisory Committee Chair has the option of limiting such communications to three minutes depending on the number of citizens who want to comment and the length of the meeting agenda.) Phelps stated that he attended the Resort Tax Monitoring Committee last month at the request of the co-chairs of the Bike/Ped Committee and requested the Resort Tax Committee commit funds to complete the Riverbend Trail Project. Dana Smith indicated to Phelps that loan proceeds could be a possible funding source for the project once there is a design approved by all the parties. Dr. Chris ??? stated the committee should also focus some efforts on fine tuning the trails that have already been constructed in order to improve safety and maintenance issues. This sparked considerable conversation among committee members about bike parking, stroller parking, walking audits, school safety observations, google maps, and other topics. Greg Gunderson stated there are several areas where bike paths meet streets where gravel has accumulated, creating an unsafe condition. He also mentioned there is an unsafe condition by the blind curve by the train trestle and a yellow caution sign is warranted.  I. Committee Comments Caltabiano stated he recently hiked the Holbrook Trail and was impressed by the views. Officers for the Bike/Ped committee will be elected in June. Plan for an extra ½ hour at the next meeting due to FWP conversations J. Next Regular Meeting – Monday, June 5, 2023 K. Adjourn Committee Members City Staff Antonia Malchik – Co-Chair Dana Smith –City Manager Mary Behrendt – Co-Chair Maria Butts - Parks and Recreation Director John Repke – Vice Chair Carla Belski – Community Services Coordinator Doug Reed - Resort Tax Committee Karin Hilding - Public Works Engineer Jim DeHerrera - Park Board Craig Workman – Public Works Director Luke Moses – High School Representative Giuseppe Caltabiano – City Council Representative Riley Polumbus CC: Bruce Boody, Greg Gunderson, Karen Nicoletti, Whitefish Legacy Partners, Ron Brunk, Jennie Bradford, Patty Zanto