Pedestrian & Bicycle Path Advisory Committee

Pedestrian and Bicycle Path Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, April 8, 2024 Committee present: Mary Behrendt, John Repke, Riley Polumbus, Doug Reed, Jim DeHerrera, Antonia Malchik, Baily Kallal. Absent: Giuseppe Caltabiano. Staff present: Craig Workman, Carla Belski, Karin Hilding, Kevin Fitzgerald. Absent: Maria Butts. Public present: Dick Allison, Kay Allison, Chris Schustrom, Bruce Boody, Rhonda Fitzgerald, Mike Fitzgerald, Casey Malmquist, Rachel Schmidt (Safe Trails Whitefish), Julie Tickle (DREAM Adaptive Recreation). Agenda Items: A. Meeting Called to Order at 8:33 a.m. B. Approval of Monday, April 8, 2024, Agenda John moved Jim second C. Approval of Monday, March 4, 2024, Minutes Nia moved Jim second D. New Business - none E. Old Business: a. Pedestrian and Bicycle Staff Position: Mary contacted Missoula, Bozeman and Billings regarding this position, how it is structured, paid for, etc. They also considered the persons in those positions and their backgrounds. Karin mentioned that Missoula’s position comes from federal funding and Whitefish would not be able to receive the same type of funding. The other positions are city employees of various departments. Jim asked if the city could apply for other grants to help pay. Craig mentioned likely however this would not be guaranteed. Doug mentioned due to the recent news that city employees need to be paid more, it may be challenging to create a new position. John asked if the resort tax could be used to pay for the position. Doug said that would require a vote. Karin mentioned that the person employed in Bozeman was hired as a transportation engineer. Riley agreed with Karin that the city often discusses the need for a transportation committee, or a board to focus on transportation and instead of a position for just the bicycle path, it should be for all transportation. There was discussion of the position being partially funded by resort tax. Several members of the public spoke up in support that transportation is a priority for the city and the master plans. John suggested that the committee put down bullet points about what they think this position should be about. b. Viaduct Improvements: The city received comments back from MDT in the middle of March to allow the city to go out for bids to get it built this fall. Member of the public (Chris-Garden Wall Inn/downtown Christmas decorations) asked about renderings for the project Craig said he would send them to Chris. Another member of the public (Rhonda-Heart of Whitefish/Garden Wall Inn) asked about what amenities were included  with the improvements. Rhonda said it is important to include the decorative improvements on the approach to the viaduct and reminded the committee that there are funds in the Heart of Whitefish’s budget to help in funding the decorative elements. c. Safe Routes to School/SS4A Action Plan: Not much to report. Karin said they have a list of people they think would be good for the task force. She mentioned that there will be information at a June 4, 2024 Connect Whitefish event and the consultant for the Safe Streets will be there for public input. Mary asked if there is a time limit for the grant and Karin said it’s about a year and a half. There’s motivation to finish this because then we can apply for the implementation grant which would provide more money. d. Ongoing Project List: Karin provided a map that shows the trail along the river. Also, there is a list of the projects printed at the end of this agenda. Craig mentioned that he reached out to Les Schwab and the Duck Inn. He heard back from Les Schwab, there is a new contact at Les Schwab and the Duck Inn is for sale and did not return his call. e. Whitefish Yards (95 Karrow) Update: Still waiting for BNSF and DNRC to come up with an agreement in order to construct the bridge. Craig said that they will work on a strategy to… change the language to… John mentioned that this may need some public comment to help move the project because DNRC should represent the public. f. Riverbend/Miles Avenue Path Project: Craig said TD&H has completed its preliminary analysis and will be meeting with them later this week to finalize the design to submit it for the 124 permit. It will go to council for consideration on May 6. Mary asked if the design will be available online prior to the meeting. Craig said it will be in the packet for the city council prior to their meeting. F. Parks and Recreation Comments: Carla wanted to let the committee know that the members of the committee whose terms are up need to send a letter to Jennie Bradford. G. Public Works Comments: Karin said they are looking at a the federal ATIIP grant program. This program is for funding bike/ped network or spine trails. Karin mentioned meeting recently with Heidi Van Everen, of WF Legacy Partners. That group would like the city to lead an ATIIP grant application for a Columbia Falls to Whitefish trail connection. Unfortunately, there is no adopted trails plan showing this connection Rachel (Safe Trails Whitefish) spoke to a program supporting community connectivity. H. Public Comment: Rachel Schmidt (Safe Trails Whitefish) has a website for Safe Trails Whitefish and supports this committee's efforts. Rhonda mentioned the adopted city of Whitefish bike ped trail plan and could we just use that rather than looking outside the city. Julie Tickle (DREAM Adaptive Recreation) wanted to extend their gratitude for the committee’s efforts on the trail project. She asked for a timeline for the Riverbend/Miles path project. Craig said FY 2026. I. Committee Comments: none. J. Next Regular Meeting – Monday, May 6, 2024 K. Meeting Adjourned at 9:43 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