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HomeMy WebLinkAboutActive Modes Advisory Board - MINUTES - 07/15/2024 ACTIVE MODES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING –REGULAR July 15, 2024 6:00 p.m. Online via Zoom or In Person at 281 North College 7 /1 5 /202 4 – MINUTES Page 1 FOR REFERENCE: 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Henderson called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. 2. ROLL CALL Bruce Henderson, Chair Kevin Krause, Vice Chair (arrived late) Tim Han Jared Hanson Wallace Jacobson Kat Steele Kristina Vrouwenvelder (arrived late) CITY STAFF PRESENT: Dave Kemp Ginny Sawyer Cortney Geary ABSENT: Cameron Phillips Destiny Dominguez PUBLIC PRESENT: Ed Peyronnin (Transportation Board) 3. AGENDA REVIEW Chair Henderson outlined the published agenda. 4. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION None. ACTIVE MODES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 7 /1 5 /202 4 – MINUTES Page 2 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – JUNE 2024 Han made a motion, seconded by Steele, to approve the minutes of the June 2024 meeting. The motion was adopted unanimously. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Work Plan Approval Chair Henderson stated a few changes were made to the Work Plan that was originally provided by the Bicycle Advisory Committee. Han made a motion, seconded by Steele, to approve the 2024 Work Plan as presented. The motion was adopted unanimously. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Strategic Trails Plan (Dave Kemp) Dave “DK” Kemp, Senior Parks and Recreation Planner, discussed the goals of the Strategic Trails Plan noting its scope has been broadened since the 2013 Trails Plan. He provided an overview of the three phases of the Plan, noting the first phase of community engagement has just been completed, proposed connections and policies are ongoing, and the draft plan and recommendations will be forthcoming late this year or early next year. Kemp commented on the connection of the Trails Plan with the City’s 15-minute city goals and Our Climate Future and detailed the community engagement process which included a community working group and an interactive map and questionnaire. He commented on the importance of the on-street and off-street systems working together and discussed various constraints to trail connections, including topography, floodplains, wetlands, major roadways, and railroads. Kemp outlined the next steps which include seeking input on the new interactive map which shows the new proposed trail connections and a new questionnaire that is being developed with FC Moves. Kemp discussed the existing soft surface bike facilities and stated Council has asked staff to request the appropriation of funds to conduct a bike park feasibility study. Additionally, he noted the Strategic Trails Plan will also provide the opportunity to help identify areas along the trail system for new soft surface features. Kemp discussed trail funding, which includes about $2 million annually from conservation trust funds, partnerships with FC Moves and other City departments, and the Community Capital Improvement Program. Steele asked how the upcoming questionnaire is planned to be distributed. ACTIVE MODES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 7 /1 5 /202 4 – MINUTES Page 3 Kemp replied the questionnaire will be available through the City’s webpage and will also go out through a multitude of channels via the City’s Communications Department. Additionally, stakeholder organizations, CSU, and Larimer County will also be asked to help get the word out. Han commented on the importance of small bike parks. He asked if there is a list of amenities or facilities that are desired within a 15-minute city. Kemp replied the land uses are desired to be places individuals want to go and spend time. He stated there is an opportunity for Fort Collins to reimagine many of its activity centers to incorporate those uses and there are interdepartmental conversations happening about the best way to stimulate land use and business growth to support and attract those uses. Han commented on the importance of changing the way parking is considered as well. Vrouwenvelder commented on the Land Use Code and its parking requirements. Geary noted phase two of the Land Use Code updates have started and bike parking has been flagged as a need to be considered. Jacobson asked about trails level of service measurements and how they are assessed. Kemp replied trails level of service has typically been thought of as trail milage access per 100,000 people; however, it is now being considered in terms of connectivity to the trails by areas of the city with priority being placed on connecting to schools and underrepresented neighborhoods. Chair Henderson asked if connectivity to businesses is also considered a priority. Kemp replied connectivity to activity centers and major employers are priorities. Steele asked if the feasibility study for a bike park at the Huges Stadium site is in conjunction with any other feasibility studies. Kemp replied the Hughes discussion is more universal around potential future uses and the bike park feasibility study is planned to occur concurrently but will look at multiple sites, not solely Hughes. Vrouwenvelder asked if there is a possibility some of the Hughes site could serve as a connector between the Spring Creek Trail and points further north. Kemp replied that is a possibility. Ginny Sawyer, Senior Policy and Project Manager, noted there are additional advantages to having connectivity in that area with the West Elizabeth transit hub going in. Hanson asked if there is an educational component to the Strategic Trails Plan in terms of trail etiquette, mapping, and future possibilities. Kemp replied education and outreach will be a major part of the output of the Plan, particularly as related to safety. Han commented on seeing more permanent signage on trails in other ACTIVE MODES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 7 /1 5 /202 4 – MINUTES Page 4 communities related to usage rules and courtesy expectations. Kemp replied signage is tricky for various reasons and staff is seeking more innovative and creative ways to communicate. Vrouwenvelder stated trails should be made safe for all users and streets can be utilized for riders wanting to go more quickly. Kemp commented on the importance of making streets safer as well. Vice Chair Krause questioned what becomes the definition of a trail and a side path when bringing together multiple plans in terms of making people aware of the end experience. Kemp replied people are ultimately looking for physical separation between vulnerable users and motor vehicles to help improve safety and that can be done in a manner that is more aesthetically pleasing. Kemp commended Vice Chair Krause’s idea related to cascading loops. Vice Chair Krause commented on the number of things a bike park could be and stated the feasibility study should include a wide variety of possibilities. b. Funding Mechanisms and Processes (Ginny Sawyer, Cortney Geary) Ginny Sawyer, Senior Policy and Project Manager, clarified the goal is for this Council to make a determination on the Hughes Stadium site plan; therefore, the bike park feasibility study will occur concurrently with those efforts and will focus on potential parcels of land, connectivity, and potential bike park uses rather than specific bike facilities. Sawyer provided information on the overall City organization chart and summarized the budget process and Strategic Plan update process. Additionally, she outlined the various sources of governmental revenue and discussed the seven outcome areas that are utilized for the budget process. Sawyer also discussed the City’s history of dedicated capital taxes, specifically noting the upcoming street maintenance tax renewal will be sought for twenty years rather than ten. Sawyer outlined the work that has been done for the upcoming tax renewal package for 2025, including items related to the Vision Zero Plan and both pedestrian and bicycle projects to help fulfill the Active Modes Plan in the transportation and engineering piece of the package. Krause expressed concern about the broad appeal of terms such as ‘active modes’ and ‘vision zero’ and suggested ballot language should be written with that in mind. Chair Henderson asked if there is a standard way input from Boards and Commissions is sought around these types of tax packages. Sawyer replied that has varied in the past but noted input as to plans that are relied upon to create ACTIVE MODES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 7 /1 5 /202 4 – MINUTES Page 5 the tax packages is the primary way in which Boards and Commissions weigh in; however, Boards and Commissions will be asked to weigh in late this year or early next year. Geary provided information on federal, state, and private grants that are available for active modes and transportation and outlined the role of the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO) in distributing grant funding. Geary outlined specific grants and the Fort Collins projects that are funded by some of them. Steele asked if the City has a grant manager. Geary replied Carrie Ishmael is the City’s grant manager and Transfort also has its own grant manager. Vice Chair Krause asked if there is any data related to grant funding of projects over the decades rather than project by project. Sawyer replied Ishmael provides a quarterly and annual report as to what has been applied for and received. Han asked about the Power Trail crossing at Harmony. Geary replied that will be a grade-separated crossing in the form of an underpass. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. Transportation Board Report Chair Henderson noted the Transportation Board will be including an Active Modes Advisory Board member as a non-voting participant moving forward. He also commented on the importance of the Active Modes Advisory Board receiving presentations and information on Transfort. Ed Peyronnin, Transportation Board, commented on the importance of reliability for Transfort and other transit. Steele asked if anything is being done to address the Transfort driver shortage. Peyronnin replied in the affirmative. Geary noted Transfort has hired a new onboarding person as well. b. Staff Liaison Report Geary reported on two upcoming opportunities to provide input to partner agencies: the State’s update to its Active Transportation Plan and Larimer on the Move. Additionally, she mentioned the upcoming asphalt art project at Canyon/Magnolia/Sherwood which is seeking volunteers, and commented on some Bike to Work Day statistics, the September 15th Open Streets call for vendors, Safe Routes to School statistics, and the Safe Routes to School National Conference to be held in Fort Collins October 22nd – 24th. ACTIVE MODES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 7 /1 5 /202 4 – MINUTES Page 6 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:05 p.m.