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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-20-2008 BAC minutesMINUTES Regular Meeting of the SAN LUIS OBISPO BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Council Hearing Room, City Hall 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo November 20, 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: Tom Nuckols (Acting Chair), Jean Anderson, Matt Colonell, Tim Gillham, Glen Matteson, and Kristina Seley. There is one vacancy on the committee. Staff Members: Peggy Mandeville, Kevin Christian, recording minutes Janet Miller SWEARING IN: Event was postponed, no swearing in at this meeting. RECOGNITION: BAC service recognition for Trevor Keith and Tom Nuckols. PUBLIC COMMENT: None MINUTES: September 18th, 2008 Action: CM Anderson moved, seconded by CM Colonell to approve the minutes as amended. The motion passed unanimously. PRESENTATION ITEMS: Agenda Item #1: 2008 Bi-Annual Bike Count Report Bryan Wheeler, an intern in the Transportation Division, gave a presentation which included both a bicycle count history and methodology. A map of this year’s bike count station locations by count volume was shown. There are three new stations to give a more accurate picture of bicycle use patterns, and to reflect changes in the City bikeway network. Unique factors, or roadway condition changes from the 2006 count were mentioned: Cal Poly enrollment is up, Cal Poly stadium expansion completion with California Blvd open underneath, Railroad Safety Trail on Cal Poly campus open, Via Carta closed to vehicle traffic and Poly Canyon Village Phase I open, Cal Trans work being done on Hwy. 227 & Hwy. 1, with some “Bicycle Detour” signs erected on Hwy. 227, Bill Roalman Bicycle Boulevard improvements (three stop signs turned), and a bicycle channel was installed eastbound on Foothill at Santa Rosa. Trends in bicycle volume were discussed. Counts were conducted over two days at 27 locations for a period of 2 hours (3:45 pm – 5:45 pm). Students aided in count process. The total count for 2008 was 3375, showing a 44% increase in volume. Three locations saw a 100% increase. Gas prices versus bicycle counts were compared with higher gas prices showing a positive effect on counts. Cal Poly remains a major center for bicycle ridership. For 2008, helmet and sidewalk riding data by location began being collected. The final 2008 Bicycle Count Report will be available in early December. CM Colonell suggested a flow chart of movement as an addition in the future reports. Public Input: Adam Fukushima, San Luis Obispo, thanked staff for presentation. ACTION ITEMS: Agenda Item #2: Election of Officers Acting Chair Nuckols discussed attending interviews for new committee members. He felt that the candidates interviewed were qualified for replacing Trevor’s position and therefore should be considered for appointment, regardless of the upcoming City Council changes. He plans on writing Audrey (City Clerk) concerning this subject. Ms. Anderson will term out in March and Mr. Nuckols has announced his resignation to take effect at the end of this meeting. CM Gillham nominated CM Matteson as Chair. The motion was seconded by CM Colonell and passed unanimously. CM Gillham nominated CM Seley as Vice Chair. The motion was seconded by CM Matteson and passed unanimously. Agenda Item #3: FY 2009-2011 Advisory Body Goals, Final Recommendations Staff presented the draft goals to the Committee and requested direction on any revisions. Staff discussed the Railroad Safety Trail, bicycling safety education, continuing the maintenance and safety of bicycling and pedestrian facilities, the creation of a new bicycle boulevard, and staffing for implementing bicycle improvements. An update on Council’s goal setting efforts at the Oct. 21st City Council meeting was given, and an update of the Bill Roalman Bicycle Boulevard project was provided. Public Input: Gary Havas, San Luis Obispo, discussed the Bill Roalman project supporting staff reports and meetings attended. Helene Finger, San Luis Obispo, encouraged the Bob Jones Trail project from LOVR to the Octagon Barn as a goal. She referenced the attendance of Parks and Recreation meeting and indicated they may have funding ideas. She would like to see connection/linkage of the trail to the planned County section. Frank Owen, San Luis Obispo, expressed disappointment that it (Bob Jones) is not a priority in the BAC draft goals and would like to see it added to BAC final goals. CM. Matteson asked staff to address the engineering challenges involved. Staff referenced the Los Osos Valley Road interchange project in relation to the Bob Jones Trail. Planner Mandeville sketched the area discussed for public and committee reference. She noted that the LOVR interchange project design will not preclude a Bob Jones Trail connection. Brian Stark, director of the Land Conservancy, spoke supporting the Bob Jones Trail project. Mr. Stark would like to see this issue addressed in a BAC goal statement. He suggested a goal to include planning for determining specific County trail linkage options. The goal needs to be in place for future funding and for creating a connection sooner than later. CM Matteson requested further clarification from Mr. Stark on the (County) trail starting point from the Octagon barn, environmental concerns, and the CalTrans storage yard off Buckley. Adam Fukushima, San Luis Obispo Bicycle Coalition, indicated support of the Bob Jones Trail. He would like to see the Railroad Safety Trail as the highest priority which would be a transportation corridor. He would also like to see the Bicycle Program Assistant position funded and supported. Jonn Dinzio, Los Osos, would like to have the committee consider a city wide bicycle impact economic analysis as a goal. He suggested that the BAC might want to familiarize themselves with a recent report on the impact of bicycling, posted on the Rails to Trails web site: http://www.railstotrails.org/resources/documents/whatwedo/atfa/ATFA_20081020.pdf He discussed the concept that with full knowledge of the economic impact of bicycling in the City, that more funding for projects might become available. CM Colonell suggested considering that the Bob Jones Trail and Railroad Safety be tied together. He supported Planner Mandeville on LOVR discussion. CM Matteson would like to see separate goals as one trail is predominantly commuter and the other is predominantly a recreation trail. CM Matteson made motion which was seconded by CM Seley to revise goal #1 to read, “Continue construction of the Railroad safety Trail”. The motion passed. CM Matteson suggested adding as the #2 goal, planning for the Bob Jones Trail route, including connection and alignment with the County section to be determined, and plan for construction in conjunction with the LOVR interchange project. Direction was given to staff to develop and complete a plan of design that would be associated with the LOVR interchange and include a grade separated crossing at LOVR, address Octagon Barn to LOVR route selection and construction, and investigate Parks and Recreation funding knowledge as well as Prop 1E for funding. Staff suggested the BAC consider eliminating the new bicycle boulevard goal with the addition of the Bob Jones Trail goal. CM Matteson suggested that the Bicycle Boulevard goal wording be modified to replace the word “Create”, with the word, “Identify”. He also suggested striking “pavement management program funds” and “general funds” from the possible funding list. CM Anderson noted she would like to see the position of the Bicycle Program Assistant moved to third priority. Acting Chair Nuckols asked that it be stated in the preamble to the goals, that all goals are important to maintaining a “bicycle friendly community” designation. A motion was made by Acting Chair Nuckols, seconded by CM Matteson, which ranks the Railroad Safety Trail as first priority, Bicycle Safety as second, Bob Jones as third, Maintenance and Safety of facilities fourth, the Bicycle Program Assistant position is fifth, a new Bicycle Blvd. as sixth, and noting that all goals address the “Bicycle Friendly Community” status of the City. The motion passed unanimously. Agenda Item #4: Bicycle Boulevard Report Card Acting Chair Nuckols agreed that the “Report Card” tool worked well, but he noted that project implementation timing was a major factor in the Bill Roalman Bicycle Boulevard project. Staff replied that this was a tool for measurement at a specific point in time, and that implementation timing might be irrelevant for some users. It was suggested that the “Implementation timing” note be moved to the top. A motion was made by CM Colonell and seconded by CM Matteson to accept the staff recommendation to include the report card as a standard evaluation tool for bicycle boulevards in the next update of the Bicycle Transportation Plan. DISCUSSION ITEMS: Agenda Item #5: Committee Member Items A certificate of appreciation was presented to Trevor Keith for service on the BAC, and as Chair, on behalf of committee. A certificate of appreciation was presented to Chair Nuckols in recognition of his work on the committee. Authorized Shared Use Path Users (sub-committee report): CM Colonell handed out a “Shared Use Path – Use By Devices With Motors” which he developed with CM. Seley. Regulations established by 12 cities and the California Vehicle Code along with CA State Parks ordinances, were compared and contrasted. CM Colonell made the suggestion that this is a good time to think about which devices would be allowed on paths. He suggested a middle ground consisting of 15mph and not using gasoline powered devices on paths. The distinction between electric and gas devices should be made. Staff asked if any cities were following a similar recommendation. CM. Colonell referenced Palo Alto. Chair Nuckols asked if the subcommittee recommendation could be implemented by one ordinance. CM Seley replied that she had spoken with Palo Alto but was unsure if one ordinance would cover all devices. She noted that Palo Alto relied on the California Vehicle Code. CM. Anderson stated there are local codes in place for coasters, rollerblades, and skateboards on sidewalks, but that she does not see them enforced currently. She wondered if there would be enforcement should a new subcommittee ordinance addressing “Devices With Motors” be created, and suggested both education and enforcement need to be addressed. Staff suggested public education/public service announcements be used to address CM Anderson’s concern. Chair Nuckols made a request for the subcommittee to draft an ordinance. The subcommittee agreed. Staff thanked the subcommittee and staff Christian offered assistance to the subcommittee drafting the ordinance. Unmet Transit/Bikeway Needs”: CM Gillham reported that The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments is beginning their annual compilation of “Unmet Transit/Bikeway Needs” from the public. Comments on unmet needs can be emailed to: tgillham@slocog.org or unmet_needs@slocog.org. Additionally, a public hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4. All requests should be submitted prior to Feb. 11, 2009. Agenda Item # 6: Staff Items • 2009/10 Bicycle Transportation Account grant application cycle – The City currently has three BTA grant projects in process. Due to both staff time and financial commitments involved with these applications, it was decided to pass on the 2009/10 BTA grant cycle. • 2008/09 Bicycle Transportation Account grant approval – It was announced in late September that The City was awarded a grant, in the amount of $890,000, for construction of the Railroad Safety Trail section spanning from the AMTRAK station to Marsh St. • Bill Roalman Bicycle Blvd. update – At the Oct. 21 City Council meeting, Council approved moving forward with the Bill Roalman Bicycle Boulevard project. Two diverters will be installed on Morro (at Buchon and at Leff) to limit through motor vehicle traffic on Morro, while allowing bicyclists to pass freely. Additionally, sidewalk bulb-outs will be installed at the Pismo street intersection, and new pavement or slurry coat will be laid down as necessary for pavement integrity. • Shared Lane Marking update – Construction plans have been approved. The project is expected to go out to bid mid-December and installation is expected by the end of Jan. 2009. The delay is to allow for completion of the Buena Vista / Monterey St. intersection improvements. • Los Osos Valley Road Interchange update – At the Oct. 21 City Council meeting, Council approved a plan that now shows a connection from the current termination of the Bob Jones trail to Los Osos Valley Road. Accommodation in the plan has been made for a potential grade separated crossing. • Bicycle Rodeo update – Planned review of post Rodeo discussion with the Police Dept. has been deferred to the next meeting, as the review has not been conducted. • Tentative agenda items for next meeting: • 2007 Traffic Safety Report CM Nuckols motioned, and was seconded by CM Anderson to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:38pm.