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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Board - Minutes - 05/17/2023 TRANSPORTATION BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR May 17, 2023, 6:00 p.m. In Person at the Streets Department, with Virtual Option Via Zoom 5 /1 7 /202 3 – MINUTES Page 1 FOR REFERENCE: Chair: Cari Brown Vice Chair: Council Liaison: Ed Peyronnin Emily Francis Staff Liaison: Aaron Iverson 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Brown called the meeting to order at 6:0 0 PM. 2. ROLL CALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Cari Brown, Chair Ed Peyronnin, Vice Chair James Burtis Nathalie Rachline Stephanie Blochowiak Jess Dyrdahl BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT : Rob Owens Jerry Gavaldon Indy Hart CITY STAFF PRESENT: Darren Moritz Phil Martinez Steve Varnell James Reed PUBLIC PRESENT: None 3. AGENDA REVIEW Iverson stated there were no changes to the published agenda. 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – APRIL 2023 Rachline made a motion, seconded by Blochowiak to approve the April 2023 Transportation Board minutes as written . The motion was adopted unanimously . 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS TRANSPORTATION BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 5 /1 7 /2023 – MINUTES Page 2 None. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Streets Department Presentation and Facility Tour – Streets Staff Darren Moritz, Streets Department, stated the Streets annual budget is ab out $28 million with $18 million of that being dedicated to the Street Maintenance Program (SMP) which aims to extend the life of the city’s roadways. Phil Martinez, Street Maintenance Program Project Manager, noted roadways are the biggest asset of a city and he discussed the role of the SMP which includes street resurfacing, street reconstruction, sidewalk maintenance , pothole filling, asphalt patching, street sweeping, traffic control , and snow removal, among many others. Moritz discussed the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) and noted roads that are in good condition cost less to maintain. He discussed the funding sources for Streets, including the quarter-cent street maintenance tax and the general fund. Additionally, specific projects have been funded from reserves. He discussed the data collection vehicle that is hired to take images of roadways every four years. Vice Chair Peyronnin asked if roundabouts are less expensive to maintain than signalized in tersections. Moritz replied roundabouts move traffic more efficiently; however, repairs are complex and, if made of concrete, are very expensive. He also commented on the way Fort Collins developed and the lack of available right -of-way in developed areas for roundabouts. Rachline commented on the positive impact of roundabouts on pollution and on the role Streets can have in facilitating the climate issue. Vice Chair Peyronnin asked if something could be changed to make roundabouts the default intersection style in future developments. Moritz replied that is a good question for Engineering. (**Secretary’s Note: Board members took a tour of the Streets facility and equipment at this point in the meeting.) Moritz commented on the skills required by the Streets team to operate the equipment, including the rehabilitation and patching crew, traffic control crew, sweeping crew, graffiti abatement team, and crushing facility group. Steve commented on the recycling of asphalt, concrete, dirt, and toilets. He stated over 84,000 tons of material was diverted from the landfill in 2022 and Fort Collins had the best industrial recycling rate in Colorado in 2022. Moritz commented on the street sweeping program and noted 3,034,000 pounds of debris was collected in 2022. Rachline commented on debris in the bike lane s on Shields. Moritz stated arterials are swept twice per month and the high volume of TRANSPORTATION BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 5 /1 7 /2023 – MINUTES Page 3 traffic on Shields makes that roadway particularly difficult. Rachline stated it is not safe to walk or ride a bike in many areas because of debris and the measure of satisfaction should be with residents, not in pounds of debris collected , and more out- of-the-box thinking needs to be utilized. Moritz noted the community and Council have been supportive of adding sweeping operations and sand has been eliminated from snow removal work. Burtis noted there are plans for protected bike lanes on a number of arterials in the Active Modes Plan and asked if there are plans for maintenance of those bike lanes. Moritz replied he recently demoed a vacuum sweeper on Mulberry and Streets will be putting in a BFO offer for a sweeper for the protected bike lanes and commented on the collaboration between Streets and FC Moves. Moritz discussed the graffiti abatement program noting it relies on reports from the public and the response time is less than one day. Moritz discussed the snow an d ice removal program. They discussed the technology utilized in snow removal to help improve efficiency and reduce costs. He discussed the in -house salt brine program as well. Vice Chair Peyronnin asked if Streets also plows the paved trails. Steve replied they pave the Mason Trail but the Parks Department plows the others. Chair Brown noted several Board Members have expressed concern about debris in bike lanes. Burtis asked about prioritizing high -comfort bike lanes for snow removal. Moritz replied new drivers are trained to address bike ways . Steve commented on difficulty with on -street parked cars pushing plowed snow back into the bike ways. Steve also commented on the possibility of utilizing salt brine on bike ways to help prevent hard packing prior to plowing. Chair Brown asked why on -street parking during snow events is allowed. Moritz replied emergency plow routes used to exist; however, Council removed those in the early 2000’s. He acknowledged the plow routes would make snow remova l much easier. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Iverson read Dyrdahl’s report regarding the Planning and Zoning Commission’s work session during which a basketball gym development, Land Use Code updates and outreach opportunities, and Board and Commission ethics were discussed. Additionally, she stated she was accepted as a recipient of the City’s E -bike program. Blochowiak reported Council will be considering 1041 regulations on second reading on May 16th . She stated those regulations would likely appl y to the Mulberry and I-25 TRANSPORTATION BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 5 /1 7 /2023 – MINUTES Page 4 interchange. Burtis commended the maintenance work of the Streets Department. Chair Brown concurred with Burtis and reported on a community health survey from 2019 related to the number of people who reported sending or reading text messages while driving. Vice Chair Peyronnin reported on an upcoming bike trip on the Empire State Bike Trail through New York. Rachline asked how quick next steps will be implemented based on the recommendations provided by the group from the Netherlands and requested follow -up from staff. Additionally, she stated she will be working from France and will miss the next two meetings. 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. Bicycle Advisory Committee Report Iverson reported the BAC has been discussing bike parks and has pu t together a letter which will be forwarded to the Board on the topic. b. City Council 6-Month Calendar Review Iverson noted Council will be discussing sustainable revenue , E-device parking updates, the East Mulberry Corridor Plan , and the Transportation Capital Project Prioritization Study at upcoming work sessions and regular meetings. c. Staff Liaison Report Iverson noted Owens will no longer be able to attend both the Planning and Zoning and BAC meetings. 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m. by unanimous consent.