Pedestrian & Bicycle Path Advisory Committee

Pedestrian and Bicycle Path Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, February 5, 2024 Committee present: Mary Behrendt, John Repke, Rile Polumbus, Doug Reed, Jim DeHerrera, Giuseppe Caltabiano. Absent: Antonia Malchik, Baily Kallal. Staff present: Maria Butts, Craig Workman, Carla Belski, Karin Hilding, Kevin Fitzgerald. Public present: Nathan Tuebner, Lyndsay Schott, Bruce Boody, Casey Malmquist, Elsa Ericksen, Mike Fitzgerald, Julie Tickle, Reich Spitz A. Meeting Called to Order at 8:33 a.m. B. Approval of Monday, February 5, 2024, Agenda Giuseppe moved, John second C. Approval of Monday, January 8, 2024, Minutes John moved, Jim second D. New Business: none E. Old Business: a. Riverbend/Miles Avenue Project 124 Permit (Craig) Craig shared an update from Doug Peppmeier from TD & H much of the geotechnical work has been done and should be followed up by the end of February. Engineering plans will be next. The target date to submit the 124 permit application is April which will include the engineering. John asked if there will be an opportunity for public comment. Craig said that FWP does not require public comment. John expressed that the city needs to explain where the easement is on the property. Craig stated that it will be in the application. G. asked what are the next steps that this committee needs to take. Craig answered that there is theoretically no other action the committee needs to take. Casey mentioned that there is another committee called Safe Trails Whitefish committee that has been established to communicate and engage the community with this project. Bruce asked if the city could host an open house or public information meeting to inform the public of the permit application. Craig said he would find out what level of public input FWP will permit. b. Viaduct Improvements (Craig) The city is working with WGM Group and MDT to improve the viaduct for the shared use path by moving the jersey barriers. This requires a structural analysis that will be done by HDR. The goal is to do the work in fall 2024. The project includes improved lighting, landscaping, and improving the trail on the southwest side of the viaduct and returning the block of Railway Avenue to a two-way street. c. Safe Routes to School/SS4A Action Plan (Karin) SS4A grant- the city has been talking to the consultant RPA, Karin said they have some changes and have a meeting later today to discuss. There is a task force looking at safe routes that includes the police department, a group of parents, and residents in the area. This will look at overall traffic flow around the schools. Karin mentioned that there was not a traffic study done when the schools were improved. Maria asked to be in the loop as Memorial Park plans can be coordinated with the plans. Karin mentioned that the SS4A grant can help fund a demonstration  project. Tactical urbanism - an impermanent project to show the public the potential of a possible improvement project. d. Ongoing Project List (Karin) Karin included a list of the top projects that are on the city’s list. She included notes to go with each item. She does not have a cost estimate for any of the projects. Several committee members expressed they appreciated the narrative. John mentioned that it might be good to push for 124 permits, Karin said the downside to that is then the city has to pay for the path. Karin said that if anyone desires other items to be added to let her know. e. Whitefish Yards (95 Karrow) Update (Craig) The city needs a perpetual easement to part of the land owned by BNSF to start placing the bridge (the bridge is built). The city is waiting to hear from BNSF. f. Recommendation to add Design and Maintenance Guidelines for Shared Use Paths in Riparian Areas to the Engineering Standards – Karin Karin said that she has the changes and needs to reformat the document to be able to send to the committee. g. Pedestrian and Bicycle Staff Position (Karin) Karin handed out hard copies of the job description. The item will be discussed at the next meeting. Jim asked that the item be moved to the top of the agenda. F. Parks and Recreation Comments: none G. Public Works Comments: none H. Public Comment: Lyndsay Schott commented that walking to school is getting dangerous. She said there used to be a sign that showed speed along Baker. She asked about adding other measures to slow down traffic such as dips. As we think about what we are doing around town and planning safe routes, she asked about how many parents are driving their kids to school. She has talked to Dave Means. Karin said that Lyndsay brought up a lot of good points and said that she would like to add Lyndsay to the task force for SS4A. She also asked about lowering speed limits. Karin said that MDT would be part of the task force as well. Julie Tickle from DREAM was very encouraged that the Riverbend Project is still on the list but also discouraged that it is still not moving forward. She voiced that it would be good to have other groups look at the permit application before it is submitted. I. Committee Comments: none. J. Next Regular Meeting – Monday, March 4, 2024 K. Adjourned at 9:40 a.m. Future Project List – We did not include cost estimates since those included in the Connect Whitefish Plan are very low. Those estimates need to be updated. The projects listed below would be 10 feet wide shared use paths. • Whitefish River Trail - Snowy Mountain (formerly Dalen Property) – Dedicated as parkland in 2022. What is blocking progress? Funding and adjacent to Les Schwab section. Construction of the Snowy Mountain subdivision will start this spring or summer. • Whitefish River Trail - Les Schwab – What is blocking progress? No progress on easement. No one has reached out to Les Schwab in a few years. • Whitefish River Trail - Goguen Property (Old Hospital) – Michael and his consultants are in planning process for the property. They are supportive of the path. They agreed to have it signed to encourage use of the informal trail. Length = 1,561 ft • Whitefish River Trail – Walgreens & Duck Inn – Length in Connect WF plan (858 + 474 = 1,332 ft) What is blocking progress? The Duck Inn property is for sale. We were close to an easement agreement with the current owners. The path would be located very close to their building. • Lamb Lane to City Shop – Overall path planning is required for this area. It was not included in the Connect Whitefish plan since it is outside city limits. There are subdivisions with trails being proposed in this area.