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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-05-2020 Fairhope Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee Meeting MinutesFairhope Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee Meeting Minutes Date : November 5, 2020 In attendance : Chris Riley, Co-Chairperson, Bill Hall, Co -Chairperson/Secretary, Gary Gover, Robert Brown, Council Liaison , Guests: Michelle Melton, BCTB Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 4:03 PM . Review/Approve Meeting Minutes: The October 2020 meeting minutes were reviewed and approved. Bicycle Friendly & Safe Community Application: Due to the amount of research work and staff time required to complete the application, the committee agreed that a realistic goal would be to apply by the August 5, 2021 deadline. This will give ample time to ensure the application contains all the required elements. It might also allow the committee to explore upgrades that would help the city score higher on the evaluation. Pedestrian & Bicycle Committee website updates: Bill presented the final version of the updated website content . The final version was approved. Bill will forward it to Jessica Walker and she will get it to the City Website Manager. City Sponsored All Committee Workshop: No update at this time on status of the workshop. Fels Ave to Pier Ave Sidewalk Expansion Project: Robert said the expansion of the sidewalk had been approved in concept by the City Council and that Richard Johnson would develop the formal plan for the changes . Due to the physical design of the existing sidewalk, the committee agreed that a barrier type system might be appropriate depending upon the existing traffic lane width . The Committee Needs Three Additional Members: Gary presented Michelle Melton's application to the committee . The committee unanimously approved Michelle's appointment to the committee . Bill will send a request to Lisa for inclusion of the appointment on the next City Council agenda. P&B Committee Plan to Work with Public Works on Paving and Sidewalk Projects: A discussion of how to get the Committee involved in paving and sidewalk projects at an early stage was held . Chris will contact Richard Johnson to determine how this can be accomplished . Additionally, a list of specific items that need improvement (i.e. installation of ADA access ramps on crosswalks, pedestrian crossings, signage, signals, and safety, and proposed bicycle rack locations is found in the "Wish List" file on the Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee Google drive. Incorporating the wish list items into proposed projects would enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety and accessibility throughout Fairhope. Next phase of recently approved bike racks: No update on this item. Re-installation of De La Mare racks at East/West locations: The Racks on the West end of De La Mare have not been re-installed. This will be forwarded to Richard . NPS Survey update: No update on this item. Wayfinding Signage update: On hold pending discussion with New Mayor. "Open Forum" discussion of any topics not on the agenda: Inviting Mayor Sherry Sullivan to the December 1, 2020 meeting: Chris will invite Mayor Sullivan to the next meeting to introduce her to the committee. We ask that all members attend. Additionally, we would like to develop a consolidated list of questions/concerns that we, as a committee, have and to ask her to support our future projects . One project will be the Bicycle Friendly Community application completion . The application will require city staff time . Bill will estimate how much staff time will be required so that when we meet with the Mayor we can get her approval to use city staff hours . Also, we will ask her about the city's budget for P&B Projects. 2020/2021 Street Paving/Striping Projects: Gary noted that he has determined that many of the streets on the Paving/Striping Projects list do not have stop lines or crosswalks. Gary will share with Robert and it will be an item on the Mayor Discussion Topics List. Lack of Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) between City and other agencies concerning maintaining, marking, and cleaning the Eastern Shore Trail (EST): Gary said he was not able to locate any MOUs between the City and other agencies/organizations to ensure that the EST is maintained. Michelle said she will contact Joey Nunnally, County Engineer with Baldwin County to see if there is an MOU concerning the maintenance of the EST. Kirkman Lane/Liberty Street intersection grade: Gary said that Kirkman Lane has an extremely steep grade where it intersects Liberty Street. Since Kirkman Lane is on the list to be paved this year or next, is there any requirement that the grade be made ADA accessible? The committee will ask Richard if there is a "Grandfather" clause in ADA for such steep grades where they were at this grade prior to the implementation of ADA. Fairhope's Complete Streets Resolution/Policies: Bill was not able to locate any documentation concerning the implementation of the Complete Streets Resolution in 2009. Bill will contact Richard Johnson for this information. Next Meeting: Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at 4pm . Meeting adjourned at 4:54 PM . Questions for Mayor Sullivan: 1. The Dyas Triangle Project will offer green space for outdoor activities including walking, running, bicycling as well as outdoor educational activities; i.e. plant, tree, and animal identificatio n, et c. In June of last year, Katie Bolton, P&B Committee Member presented an option for the study of the feasibility of build ing a mountain bicycle trail on the property. The International Mountain Bike Association offers Mountain Bicycle Trail study services. The Committee would like your support of the Dyas Triangle Project as green space and the development of a mountain bicycle trail on the property. 2. Earlier this year the Fairhope Environmental Adv isory Board (FEAB) submitted a draft resolution for the way forward with respect to the development of the Dyas Triangle property. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee will review the draft resolution and identify areas where our mission will support the resolution . Are you aware of the FEAB's resolution? Will you support the resolution? 3. The Committee has received complaints about vehicles being parked on the Eastern Shore Trail and blocking the trail where it passes through the City's jurisdiction. Will mayor have police department start issuing tickets to any cars parked on the Eastern Shore trail such they block bike and pedestrian access? 4. Following up with the previous question, it has been noted that city vehicles have also blocked the trail. Will you instruct all departments with access to city vehicles to refrain from having their employees or subcontractors park blocking the Eastern Shore trail unless it is an imminent safety issue? 5 . What Pedestrian and Bicycle project would you, as Mayor, like the Committee to address to make Fairhope more pedestrian/bicycle friendly? 6. Handicapped parking is very limited downtown . Are there any plans to add handicapped parking in the CBD? 7 . Our Committee has worked with Public Works to identify the best location of bicycle racks throughout downtown . In the past funding was included in the budget to purchase bicycle racks. Will you continue to support bicycle rack additions to the budget? 8 . The Pedestrian & Bicycle Committee is partnering with Eastern Shore Trailblazers to apply for designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community, a cert ificatio n by The League of American Bicyclists. Will you support the Committee "Bicycle Friendly Fairhope" upcoming project with the resources needed for the city perspective to complete the needed work? The application asks questions that require answers from Public Works and Deve lopment employees. 9. The Working Waterfront project has been renewed with a Citizen Input period . How long is the "Citizen Input" open, how is that captured, and in what format will the information be shared with the public?