City of Lawrence

Lawrence – Douglas County Bicycle Advisory Committee

November 15, 2011 Minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Chris Burger, Jay Bialek, Lisa Hallberg, Rhonda Houser, Chad Foster, Tom Jerome

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Gerard Arantowicz, Neil Taylor

STAFF PRESENT:

Todd Girdler, Jessica Mortinger, Steve Lashley

PUBLIC PRESENT:

Dickie Heckler, Andy White, Matthew Schwabauer

 

1.   Call Meeting to Order and Assurance of Quorum.

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. A quorum was present.

 

2.   Approval of the October 18, 2011 Meeting Minutes

A motion to approve the minutes from the October 18th meeting was moved by Chris Burger seconded by Lisa Hallberg and passed unanimously.

 

  1. Discussion Item: 2011 Bicycle and Pedestrian Counting Program: Jessica Mortinger presented the BAC members with the first draft of the 2011 counts and the 2009/2010 count summary. She noted a few revisions she would make and send it out to the group before posting in online and submitting it to the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project.

 

  1. Discussion/Action Item: Public Works Design Projects for Input and Feedback: Steve Lashley presented the remaining 2012 Street Maintenance Program and solicited input and feedback about project facilities from the BAC. Jessica Mortinger informed the BAC and Steve that Shoeb Uddin had discussed the following projects at the previous meeting: the KLINK 6th Street mill/overlay, the Wakarusa reconstruction from Oread to Research Parkway, 9th Street turn lane addition between Kentucky and Tennessee, and the Iowa street sidewalk construction and connecting gaps. Mr. Lashley indicated he was here to explain the work that was being done on the rest of the projects and to collect requests for bicycle facility improvements where the bikeway system map calls for them. Mr. Foster asked to have clarified when was the appropriate time for the BAC to report deficiencies affecting bicyclists. Mr. Lashley indicated that deficiencies could be reported anytime by emailing staff.  Mr. Burger indicated a desire to get ahead of the maintenance program so the BAC could recommend projects and areas where bicycle facilities or maintenance work affecting bicyclists could be requested. Mr. Girdler asked if the BAC should have an agenda item on a July agenda next year to recommend areas of improvements and if that would be a more appropriate time in the process for the  the public works staff to hear bicycling concerns during the development of the following year’s maintenance schedule. Mr. Lashley agreed it would be ahead of the development of the street maintenance program. Ms. Mortinger said that she provided the 2012 street maintenance program to the BAC with their agenda packet within a week of receiving the email from Mr. Lashley. The BAC members agreed this was timely. Mr. Lashley explained all the projects and answered questions about specific project details. The BAC members asked staff to produce a map overlapping the street maintenance program locations and the bicycle systems map so they could explore all the possibilities for improving bikeways as part of the planned resurfacing and restriping work. Staff agreed to produce the map. The BAC looked over the projects. Mr. Foster asked if there was a local/state standard that considered the direction of storm grates on projects to prevent them from being problematic to bicyclists, particularly considering the 23rd Street bridge work that would be occurring in 2012. Stating the 2nd Street Bridge has ones that are an example of poorly designed grates. Mr. Lashley said that KDOT was overseeing construction of that project and they could be contacted regarding that issue. Mr. Foster asked if the pothole reporting could be used for bicycle lane related problems. Mr. Lashley indicated that the online pothole form could be used, the streets division could be called or city public works staff could be emailed. 

 

The BAC members reviewed the street projects. One apparent work item, Monterey Way between 6th and Bob Billings would require restriping. The Bikeway System Map shows future bike lanes in this corridor. A motion was made by Mr. Foster to recommend that the Monterey Way work (which includes restriping) from 6th Street to Bob Billings Parkway include bike lane markings where the right-of-way permits. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Hallberg and passed unanimously.  The BAC appointed a subcommittee to explore the remaining options for opportunities and present them to be approved at the next BAC meeting. The next meeting will be convened soon in order to ensure the recommendations are received in time for public works to act on them.

 

  1. Discussion Item: T-2030 Chapter 8 - Bicycle System Plan Review: Jessica Mortinger handed out current copies of BAC member comments to the draft chapter. She indicated this completed the first round of comments from the BAC to MPO staff. The staff will continue to update and develop the chapter as they work on the MTP drafts. Mr. Foster provided his written comments on this MTP chapter draft. The BAC will have at least one or two more opportunities to comment on the bicycle chapter. Ms. Mortinger thanked the subcommittee for their work on the chapter and compiling comments.

 

  1. Discussion Item: Bike Month Survey Results and BAC Logo: Lisa Hallberg informed the BAC that she had nothing new to present on these items.

 

  1. Other Business:

Riverfront Connector: Ms. Mortinger informed the BAC that there are too many remaining unknowns for Lawrence to be able to submit the project for CDBG funding now. Planning, Public Works and City Manager’s Staff believes we should use the coming year to understand all of the rail, pathway engineering, and cost issues related to this proposed bikeway and develop this connector  project so that the City can review it in next year’s round of possible recommended CDBG projects. BAC members agreed a stronger project would be better. They would follow up to have this project addressed in the year to come. Ms. Mortinger thanked Ms. Houser on her work on getting the application prepared.

 

Membership: Ms. Mortinger indicated that she had received a letter of resignation from Mr. Gary Calton and that Mr. Gerard Arantowicz and Mr. Neil Taylor have been sent a letter notifying them that their non-attendance was violating the BAC bylaws. Staff will work to have new members solicited from the City of Lawrence and Baldwin to fill these three positions.

 

  1. Public Comments: Matthew Schwabauer asked what construction was occurring that adds bicycle facility capacity within Lawrence. Mrs. Hallberg indicated that the first part of the meeting was a discussion of how bicycle facility improvement could be incorporated into the street maintenance program. Mr. Burger indicated that after the meeting he would be happy to go over each of the projects that Shoeb Uddin had presented at the last meeting.

 

  1. Adjournment of Meeting: A motion was made by Mr. Burger to cancel the December 20th, 2011 meeting, seconded by Mr. Foster and passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m.