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Home My WebLink About09-18-2008 BAC minutes MINUTES Regular Meeting of the SAN LUIS OBISPO BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Council Hearing Room, City Hall 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo September 18, 2008 Thursday 7 p.m. MISSION: The purpose of the Bicycle Advisory Committee is to provide oversight and policy direction on matters related to bicycle transportation in San Luis Obispo and its relationship to bicycling outside the City. ROLL CALL: Trevor Keith (Chair), Tom Nuckols (Vice Chair), Jean Anderson, Matt Colonell, Tim Gillham, Glen Matteson, and Kristina Seley. Committee member Keith was absent. Staff: Peggy Mandeville, Principal Transportation Planner; Kevin Christian, Bicycle Program Assistant; Janet Miller, Minutes Clerk. PUBLIC COMMENT: Adam Fukushima, San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition Executive Director, first pointed out the State has a bill, AB1358 – “Complete Streets Act”, currently on the Governor’s desk. Second, he pointed out that the new authorization of SAFETEA-LU (Federal funding) should be addressed soon. MINUTES: July 17th, 2008 Action: CM (Committee Member) Glen Matteson moved, seconded by CM Jean Anderson to approve the minutes as amended. The motion passed unanimously with 2 notes to amend; item #5 “has been completed”, and “the new Bob Jones trail head at Prado Road”. 2 ACTION ITEMS: 1. Advisory Body Goal Recommendations / Budget Process Planner Mandeville presented a powerpoint presentation on the City’s budget process and recommended that the BAC should formulate preliminary goals and forward them to the Finance Department. Possible goals for FY 2009-11 were reviewed, along with their relationship to the City’s adopted “Major City Goals” and their relationship to Measure Y priorities. Planner Mandeville led Committee Members through a prioritization process (#1-6 priorities) with the following results to be forwarded to the Finance Department: #1 Railroad Safety Trail: (CM priority placement votes – 111,22,3) #2 Continuation of Bike Education: (CM priority placement votes – 333,5555) #3 Bikeway improvements: (CM priority placement votes – 6666,11) #4 New Bike Blvd. Project: (CM priority placement votes – 3,55,66) The following two items were also considered and ranked: • Bill Roalman Bicycle Boulevard: (CM priority placement votes – 1,2222,3) • Bike Program Assistant: (CM priority placement votes – 444444) These two items are in the budget for this fiscal year. They would have ranked number 2 and 3 respectively but were separated out for the following reasons: The Bill Roalman Bicycle Boulevard is currently scheduled to have traffic diverters and other improvements added. If funding for the continuation of this project is withdrawn in upcoming Council meetings, the BAC may reprioritize it as a recommended City Goal at their next meeting. CM Matteson stated that it was his number 1 priority. CM Colonell also stated that completion of the Bill Roalman Bicycle Boulevard was a high priority. Concerning the Bike Program Assistant position, Planner Mandeville was requested to provide the BAC with an update at the next meeting on the continuation of this position. Because this position is responsible for preparing grant applications, the Committee expressed a strong desire for the position to be maintained. In other discussion related to the setting and ranking of recommended goal priorities, Vice Chair Nuckols suggested targeting project priorities in “Pavement Area 3” and “Pavement Area 4”, which are on the pavement management schedule for 2010 and 2011. He also suggested that the Broad Street Bicycle Boulevard (Broad Street area north of Highway 101), excluding the Hwy. 101 bridge area, be considered. CM Colonell concurred that the BAC should consider additional Bicycle Boulevards as possible goal recommendations. The Cerro Romauldo Bicycle Boulevard was also discussed due to it’s proximity to two elementary school campuses. Grant funding from the “Safe Routes to School” program was mentioned as possible funding for this project. 3 DISCUSSION ITEMS: 2. Committee Member Items • Authorized Shared Use Path Users (Colonell) In an email to staff, CM. Colonell asked what vehicles are legally allowed on the Railroad Safety Trail. For the 9/18 meeting he provided an image of a code sign from a Monterey Recreation Trail. Staff provided a partial listing of the California Vehicle Code and local ordinances pertaining to path use (passed around during meeting). Staff Mandeville and Christian responded to questions concerning use and the related codes, concluding that the easiest way to determine legal use under the current codes is that vehicles requiring license plates are prohibited from using the Railroad trail. Further discussion questioned if anything should be done, and/or what should be done, and when. It was determined a Subcommittee on motorized bicycles on bikeways should be developed to research potential action. CM Seley and CM Colonell volunteered to work on this project contacting staff as required. On motion of CM Matteson, seconded by CM Nuckols, the motion carried 6:0. CM Colonell suggested a review of the Railroad Safety Trail maintenance in regard to safety issues (“urban camping discouragement”). Location noted as near Boulevard del Campo. Vice Chair Nuckols noted that there is a link on the San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition website to the various Railroad Safety Trail projects. • Committee Leadership/Replacement (Nuckols) Vice Chair Nuckols expressed his interest in finding ways to recruit new committee members to replace the members leaving in the next few months. After discussion, staff was directed to investigate the policy of keeping a list of past applicants and to look there for possible candidates. Planner Mandeville stated that she would follow up with obtaining an official resignation letter from Chair Keith to allow the recruitment process to begin as soon as possible. Vice Chair Nuckols will draft a letter to be used for recruitment. Passing out recruitment flyers at the Bike Valet during farmers market was also suggested. 4 Agenda Item # 3: Staff Items • Bicycle Boulevards - Measures of Success update, deferred “Action Item” (Attachment 4), presented by Staff Christian. A ranking system developed by ALTA planning for Portland OR was presented. Discussion determined that staff focus on the creation of a simple evaluation tool. The item will be continued to an upcoming meeting as a Bicycle Boulevard Report Card. • Bill Roalman Bicycle Blvd update - Nothing new to report at this time. City Council to consider funding for final phase at a future Council meeting tentatively scheduled for October 21. • Bob Jones City to Sea bike path update - A temporary fix for the cracks that have developed in the new section of the Bob Jones trail has been implemented. Its effectiveness is being considered as well as possible long term solutions. • Railroad Safety Trail update - Phase 4 under construction • Bicycle Rodeo update September 27 - Committee members reminded. CM Anderson volunteered to help staff the Parent Education / Helmet Fit booth. • 2008 Paving Projects update. Two drain inlets on California at Monterey and one at San Luis Drive have been replaced, eliminating surface grates in the Class II bike lane. The “pork chop” island at the intersection of California and Marsh has been reduced in size to allow more room for bicyclists. • 2009 – 2010 Pavement Management review - Review has been completed by staff Christian and will be submitted to Engineering. Suggested recommendations were summarized: Approx. 14 drain grates in need of cross straps, 2 grates in need of replacement, three curb ramps to be installed, and one street to be re- striped to move the bike lane from the right side of a right turn only lane. • Shared Lane Marking update (Attachment 5) - The plans have been submitted for review and are expected back within one week. Adam Fukushima of the San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition stated that he is interested in seeing this project completed and looking at future locations of shared lane markings. • Bike Counts 2008 Bike Counts (tentative dates, Oct. 7-8) - Committee Members Anderson, Colonell and Matteson all indicated that they might be available to assist. • BTA Grant Application - 2008 grant awards have not been announced yet, awaiting State Budget. • Tentative agenda items for next meeting: o 2008 Bike Counts (tentative dates, Oct. 7-8) o 2007 Traffic Safety Report o Election of new officers o Bicycle Boulevards – Measures of Success o City Goals CM member Matteson motioned, and was seconded by CM Anderson to adjourn. Vote was unanimous. The meeting ADJOURNED at 9:34 p.m. to the regularly scheduled meeting date of November 20, 2008.