Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBicycle Advisory Committee - Minutes - 06/26/2023 BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING –REGULAR June 26, 2023 6:00 p.m. In Person, South of Downtown Transit Center, 250 N. Mason St., Fort Collins, CO 6 /2 6 /2023 – MINUTES Page 1 FOR REFERENCE: Chair: Dave Dixon Vice-Chair: Jordan Williams Staff Liaison: Cortney Geary 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Dixon called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM. 2. ROLL CALL (INTRODUCTIONS) BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Lauren Nagle Dave Dixon, Chair, Bike Fort Collins Jordan Williams, Vice Chair, At Large Member Rob Owens, Transportation Board Elisabeth Cairnes, At Large Member Marcia Richards, Parks and Recreation Board Todd Dangerfield, Downtown Development Authority David Hansen, Colorado State University Whitney Allison, At Large Member Greg Boiarsky, Air Quality Advisory Board ABSENT: Ed Peyronnin, Colorado State University Campus Bicycle Advisory Committee Kevin Krause, Natural Resources Advisory Board Bruce Henderson, Senior Advisory Board Jonathan Crozier, Poudre School District Tim Anderson, Fort Collins Bike Co-op Scott Mason, Land Conservation and Stewardship Board PUBLIC PRESENT: Bruce Gammonley, SPIN Operations BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 6 /2 6 /2023 – MINUTES Page 2 3. AGENDA REVIEW Chair Dixon stated there were no changes to the published agenda. 4. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION a. Email correspondence related to vehicles parking in bike lanes Geary stated she sent an email to members expressing concern about vehicles parking in bike lanes. Vice Chair Williams suggested putting Sargent Avrech in contact with the individual. Cairnes asked if there is posted signage that directs vehicles not to park in bicycle lanes. Members discussed some examples and Geary noted there are various combinations of striping and signage not every bike lane has the red curb and no parking signs. Vice Chair Williams stated it would be good to know if there is a City policy related to signage. Hansen stated it is likely complaint-based and it is unlikely the City’s sign shop wants to begin implementing signage around the entire city. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – MAY 2023 Owens made a motion, seconded by Boiarsky, to approve the minutes of the May 2023 meeting as written. The motion was adopted unanimously. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Active Modes/BAC Ordinance Update – Lauren Nagle, FC Moves Geary noted comments from Kevin Krause and Bruce Henderson were received prior to the meeting. Lauren Nagle, FC Moves, stated this will be an informal discussion of these topics and the Ad Hoc Council Committee on Boards and Commissions will be discussing the item further at its July 19th meeting. Geary noted the Committee will have the opportunity at its July meeting to get more feedback from members before proposing changes to the Committee structure to Council. Nagle requested input on transitioning the Bicycle Advisory Committee to an Active Modes Advisory Committee. Chair Dixon stated that change could be as simple as a name change; however, this could also be an opportunity to provide feedback if members feel as though this Committee should no longer be reporting through the Transportation Board. Geary stated there could be an option for the Committee to remain a Committee, but have a direct pipeline to Council and not have to go through the Transportation Board. Allison commented that changing to an Active Modes Committee would require BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 6 /2 6 /2023 – MINUTES Page 3 having representatives for other modes, such as scooters, skateboards, and others. Nagle noted the Active Modes Plan does recommend the formation of an Active Modes Advisory Committee, whether newly formed or transitioned from the BAC. Chair Dixon and other members stated they would like to get the opinion of the Transportation Board. Owens noted this topic was briefly mentioned at the last Transportation Board meeting, but it was not fully discussed. Geary noted one of the Transportation Board members questioned if the Transportation Board would become only focused on motorized/sedentary modes if the BAC or Active Modes Committee became a Board. Boiarksy noted there were concerns raised earlier about the BAC name getting too far away from biking. Chair Dixon stated Krause voiced that concern in his comments as well. Boiarsky expressed concern that as the purview becomes broader, the focus becomes weaker. He questioned what would not fall under the active modes umbrella other than motorized vehicles. Geary replied active modes are defined as human-powered or small electric-powered vehicles. Chair Dixon noted another question would be related to the formation of an Active Modes Advisory Committee, per the Active Modes Plan recommendation, and possible overlap with the BAC should it remain bicycle focused. Owens stated he does not see the point have having two Committees particularly given the shared infrastructure. He stated he does not believe changing the name to Active Modes diminishes anything about bicycling. Vice Chair Williams and Chair Dixon concurred. Chair Dixon noted bicycling is the most used active mode; therefore, the make-up of the Committee could be skewed appropriately. Richards supported the name change but stated there will need to be some educational component letting people know what ‘active modes’ means. Hansen asked if there are other Committees that operate similarly to the BAC in the City organization. Geary replied she believes the only other Committee is related to City benefits and she will follow up. Vice Chair Williams stated he would advocate for the diversity and make-up of the Committee to remain. Chair Dixon stated he cannot think of a specific instance in which the Committee desired a direct link to Council. Geary stated it can be challenging from a staff perspective to funnel items through the Transportation Board given timing issues. BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 6 /2 6 /2023 – MINUTES Page 4 Vice Chair Williams commented on elevating active modes to the point where budgetarily and otherwise, they are in the same consideration with other means of transportation or other public policies and programs; therefore, elevating the Committee to a direct report to Council could assist with that. Chair Dixon concurred but questioned what the Transportation Board would become and how the two entities would stay in sync given the necessary interactions between all transportation modes. Geary suggested this body could remain a Committee, but still report directly to Council and the Transportation Board would still holistically consider all transportation though it wouldn’t have to approve all Committee actions. Chair Dixon commended that suggestion, particularly given the timeline issues that were discussed. Geary noted adding representatives from various other modes, including walking, scooters, skateboards, people with disabilities, youth, and others, could lead to the Committee quickly becoming quite large. Vice Chair Williams suggested being intentional with the at-large members will be important and also noted many members will be users of multiple active modes. Hansen noted he and Peyronnin are both from CSU and it may make more sense to cut that down to one member. Nagle requested input on the possibility of the Committee becoming a Board. Vice Chair Williams replied he would prefer to hold onto the unique make-up of the Committee to help keep the synergy across the represented Boards. Geary noted a Board could be limited to fewer members and asked if that would be a negative factor. Chair Dixon replied that would be difficult, particularly given the additions that may be necessary for an Active Modes Committee. Geary noted an individual cannot serve on two Boards at a time so that would preclude membership from pulling from other Boards if the Committee were elevated. Owens questioned whether elevation to a Board would be an advantage. Boiarsky replied one advantage is the presence of a dedicated Council liaison. Chair Dixon asked how regularly liaisons attend meetings and whether they are supposed to attend regularly. Owens replied they do not regularly attend. Geary noted staff liaisons have recently been told not to expect Council liaisons to attend every meeting. Chair Dixon asked if Councilmember Gutowsky is the BAC liaison by default since she is the Transportation Board liaison. Geary replied the BAC does not have a liaison, but has invited the Transportation Board liaison to a meeting in the past. BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 6 /2 6 /2023 – MINUTES Page 5 ** Secretary’s note: Mayor Pro Tem Emily Francis is the Council Liaison to the Transportation Board.** Hansen stated it would be helpful to know what advantages or disadvantages exist for staff with a shift to a Board. Geary stated she would prefer to have one Committee rather than multiple. Chair Dixon noted all active modes do share the same infrastructure. Nagle noted skateboards are technically not allowed on the street and bike lane, they must be on the sidewalk. Chair Dixon stated there seems to be a consensus on shifting from Bicycle to Active Modes. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Bike Tour of Selected Recent and Upcoming Projects Geary stated the ride will be about 7 miles and will include passing the Linden convertible street, riding on the Remington Bikeway, a discussion of the upcoming Laurel Street improvements, riding on the Pitkin Street advisory bike lanes, and a stop in the trial garden. Bruce Gammonley, SPIN Operations, discussed the features of the SPIN bikes being used by some of the members for the tour. Nagle discussed the safety plan for the ride and noted the Colorado safety stop is difficult to execute as a group. (**Secretary’s Note: The group left for their bike tour at this point in the meeting.) 8. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM by unanimous consent.