City of Lawrence
Lawrence – Douglas County Bicycle Advisory Committee
December 14, 2015 Minutes
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MEMBERS PRESENT:
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Bill Anderson, Justin Eddings, Lisa Hallberg, David Hamby, Rod Hernandez, Jim MacMurray, Erin Paden |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
Dan Ashley, Jacki Becker |
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STAFF PRESENT: |
Jessica Mortinger, David Cronin, Ashley Myers, Carol Fittell, Stephen Mason |
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PUBLIC PRESENT: |
Charlie Bryan, John Thornburg, Steve Hitchcock |
Charlie Bryan from the Bike/Ped Issues Taskforce provided a copy of the draft recommended Taskforce recommendations based on their investigation of existing advisory board structures. He also provided a handout of committees/boards/commissions and their involvement in bicycle and pedestrian issues. The Taskforce subcommittee looked at what makes a committee effective for the business of the city. After reviewing the structure and effectiveness of the city’s committees, as well as doing a peer review of other communities, the task force recommends consolidating the Traffic Safety Commission (TSC) and the Bicycle Advisory Committee. The new structure would also include pedestrians. Mr. Bryan noted that the new name should reflect pedestrians, bikes, and other forms of transportation.
Charlie Bryan noted that as part of the subcommittee’s work they had met with City Commissioners to ask them about their perception of effective City Advisory Committees and Commissions. The BAC didn’t come up as an effective committee and many Commissioners didn’t know what the BAC’s role was in the decision making process. For this reason, the subcommittee felt that bicyclist could have a stronger voice in a new commission with more authority.
Discussion ensued about what the two boards do and how they could be consolidated. Mr. Bryan said the Traffic Safety Commission won’t absorb the BAC, instead it will be consolidated. Concern was discussed regarding potentially reducing bicycle and pedestrian voices, as they would be mixed in with traffic concerns. Also, this new committee wouldn’t represent the entire MPO region, including the County and other cities besides Lawrence. Justin Eddings asked how the other Cities and the County were planned to be engaged in bicycle planning and advisory in the future. Mr. Bryan said that is something the MPO would have to figure out, the task force directive was to figure out how to optimize the City’s committees, not the MPO’s/County’s. Jessica Mortinger noted that the MPO Technical Advisory Committee should be aware of potentially having the BAC be reconstituted as a different committee. It will be added to their January agenda. If left without a city/county bicycle advisory committee, the TAC and MPO staff would have to determine how to best engage a countywide voice for its planning purposes. Jessica Mortinger noted that there will be a need to address the current role BAC serves and determine if a new structure doesn’t address those roles; who should be doing that work.
David Hamby indicated he had served two terms previously on the TSC and that many of the items are required to go to the City Commission following a TSC recommendation. This is very different than the work and role of the Bicycle Advisory Committee where the commission sees the annual bike month proclamation, the street maintenance and/or CIP recommendations, but doesn’t forward all their work for formal commission decision making. There was concern from the members that without mode specific advisory group the bicycling voice of the group and their work at things like helmet fairs and bike/ped counts would be diminished. Charlie Bryan indicated that both the TSC and BAC had flawed processes. For example: TSC currently does not have a proactive role and only responds to request, they also lack appointments and or identified representation for all modes of traffic.
It was mentioned that in the peer review of other communities’ committees, the communities that have a separate bike/ped committee also employ a bike/ped coordinator. Adequate staffing was discussed as needed to address the charge and responsibilities of all committees. BAC members noted that there has been additional education, encouragement, enforcement, engineering activities in the past they have wanted to do, however they have been limited by funding and/or staff time.
Justin Eddings asked if a joint Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee had been considered. Charlie Bryan indicated it had been considered early in the process however based on the efficiency and authority, it was determined a better approach in Lawrence would be to create a holistic approach to transportation.
David Cronin indicated that from a staff perspective there are challenges working within the current structure particularly when multiple conflicting recommendations are made about design choices. A new body could make it clear that they weigh all the modes and make a decision; they could also help prioritize projects for spending. Mr. Cronin also acknowledged that the type of body that might do that type of work might also not do all the current roles that BAC serves and it could be perceived as a loss of advocacy.
Charlie Bryan said the next steps for the task force include releasing the draft report for public comment in January. Then the document will be presented to the City Commission in February. The City Commission will have to decide how they want to move forward. Jessica Mortinger noted that the BAC members can attend the City Commission meeting and use the public release of the recommendations as an opportunity to comment further on the advisory committee recommendations.
4. Discussion/Action Item: 2016 Annual Work Plan (attached)
Jessica Mortinger suggested deferring this item until next meeting and asked BAC members to provide comments and edits via email if there were any prior to the January BAC meeting. Members agreed.
Carol Fittell announced this will be her last meeting, as she is moving to Kansas City and pursuing employment as a rock climbing instructor.
6. Public Comments
There were none.
7. Adjournment of Meeting and Announcement of Next Meeting
The meeting was adjourned at 6:28 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for January 11, 2015 from 5-6:30pm.