Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutActive Modes Advisory Board - MINUTES - 11/18/2024 ACTIVE MODES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING –REGULAR November 18, 2024 6:00 p.m. Online via Zoom or In Person at 281 North College 11/18 /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 Tim Han Jared Hanson Wallace Jacobson Cameron Phillips Kat Steele CITY STAFF PRESENT: Lauren Nagle Rachel Ruhlen ABSENT: Kevin Krause, Vice Chair Kristina Vrouwenvelder PUBLIC PRESENT: None 3. AGENDA REVIEW Chair Henderson outlined the published agenda. 4. COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION None. ACTIVE MODES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 11/18 /202 4 – MINUTES Page 2 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – OCTOBER 2024 Hanson made a motion, seconded by Jacobson, to approve the minutes of the October 2024 meeting. The motion was adopted unanimously. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. 2025 Work Plan – Bruce Henderson Members discussed some proposed wording changes, including one related to meeting with other Boards as appropriate, changing ‘concerns’ to ‘opinions’ related to public input, eliminating ‘alternative transportation,’ and changing ‘citizens’ to ‘residents,’ among others. Steele made a motion, seconded by Jacobson to approve the 2025 Work Plan as amended. The motion was adopted unanimously. Chair Henderson asked if there is a timeline for publishing of Work Plans. Nagle replied staff liaisons upload those documents themselves, and each does so on their own schedule, though Davina Lau in the City Clerk’s Office will let liaisons know if they are late on posting. b. Draft Memo on Parking Minimums – Kevin Krause Chair Henderson stated this memo was based largely on a template from YIMBY urging the evaluation of parking minimums across Fort Collins and referencing the state’s decision to do away with parking minimums. He noted that, in general, most communities favor local control of parking minimums. Additionally, he noted providing parking is expensive and those costs generally get passed through to home buyers or renters. Chair Henderson commented on other benefits of eliminating parking minimums, including advancing the 15-minute city concept and having parking taking up less land area. Additionally, he noted Longmont recently adopted a change to eliminate parking minimums. Hanson questioned what controls would be in place to keep people from abusing the fact that there would be no parking minimums in terms of constructing buildings with no parking and forcing the parking into area neighborhoods. Nagle clarified the memo is only suggesting an examination of the topic and stated the Transportation Board is also considering the memo at their meeting this month. Members discussed possible wording changes to the memo. Steele questioned whether the memo should include information regarding who brought the idea before the Board. Nagle replied that is not necessary. ACTIVE MODES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 11/18 /202 4 – MINUTES Page 3 Nagle reviewed the suggested changes. Hanson made a motion, seconded by Jaconson, to approve the Parking Minimums memo as amended. The motion was adopted unanimously. Chair Henderson noted other members of the Board are able to help write memos in addition to himself and Vice Chair Krause. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Shared Micromobility and City Code – Rachel Ruhlen Rachel Ruhlen, FC Moves, discussed the history of shared micromobility in Fort Collins and noted Fort Collins has a desire for only a single provider; therefore, it has opted to enter into a contract with a single provider and not to give permits to other operators. However, there is a new company called Levy that sells scooters to individuals who can then use the Levy app to rent out their scooters. Ruhlen stated she has been working with the City Attorney’s Office to update Code language related to shared micromobility and operators which would require operators to have a permit, enter into a contract with the City, and that the City can limit the number of contracts. Ruhlen requested a recommendation on the concept that the City should require operators to obtain a permit and enter into a contract with the City. Chair Henderson asked why there is a requirement for both a permit and a contract. Ruhlen replied the permit is required for use of public right-of-way and the contract is not required in other cities, but it allows more flexibility between the City and the operator. Steele stated limiting the operator to one reduces competition for SPIN and questioned whether any innovations in micromobility could be quashed by a contract situation. Ruhlen replied the City could have multiple contracts or remain with a single vendor. Additionally, she noted the current contract with SPIN is a one-year contract renewable for up to a maximum of five years. Ruhlen stated about 30-40% of her job is spent managing the SPIN program and contract and having an additional vendor would definitely increase that workload. Additionally, she stated the single vendor option is the one that makes the most sense for a city of Fort Collins’ size and SPIN is able to meet the current demand, though the fleet size is restricted by contract. Chair Henderson asked if the contract could require that the vendor provide some of the services Ruhlen is doing now. Ruhlen replied some of the services could be completed by the vendor, but some need to come from City staff. Hanson asked why SPIN was selected as the single vendor. Ruhlen replied her ACTIVE MODES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 11/18 /202 4 – MINUTES Page 4 understanding is some of the things that stood out about SPIN included the fact that the company has W-2 employees, SPIN was willing to bring more bikes to the system despite them being more expensive to operate, and had a free drop- off/pick-up adaptive program. Han stated he just wanted to ensure the City is open to taking a look at other companies with better equipment. Ruhlen reiterated the contract is a one-year contract that can be renewed for up to five years and stated the new Code language does not require a certain length of contract, though having a longer contract provides assurance for both parties. Chair Henderson supported the contract requirement and questioned how it would work if the operations were allowed outside of city limits. Ruhlen replied staff is currently working on a regional model. Jacobson made a motion, seconded by Steele, that the Active Modes Advisory Board recommend that the City require micromobility operators to have permits and contracts. The motion was adopted unanimously. b. SPIN Parking Program – Rachel Ruhlen Ruhlen asked members to weigh in on their experiences with the SPIN equipment or with observing users of the equipment. Members commented on the dangers of riding without helmets. Ruhlen noted SPIN is a dockless system and discussed the parking management program that has been developed for shared micromobility. Ruhlen noted she completes an annual report on SPIN for Council, the Transportation Board, and now, the Active Modes Advisor Board, and stated her initial employment with the City was focused on SPIN complaints rather than inquiries, which has changed over that time. Additionally, Ruhlen noted most of the comments received had been complaints rather than complements and discussed the micromobility study completed regarding SPIN parking in 2022-2023. Han asked how many total SPIN bikes are in Fort Collins. Ruhlen replied SPIN could have up to 500 scooters and 400 bikes at the time the study was completed; however, the fleet is now 900 devices, of which 30% must be bikes. Ruhlen discussed the new micromobility parking ordinance which encourages parking on streets and in scooter/bike parking boxes and provides penalties for improper parking. Ruhlen detailed the staff experience with placing parking boxes in neighborhoods and noted mode shift is one of the goals of the program. Ruhlen discussed the ways in which community members should report improperly parked devices. ACTIVE MODES ADVISORY BOARD TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 11/18 /202 4 – MINUTES Page 5 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Chair Henderson noted last month was the National Safe Routes to School Conference held in Fort Collins, and at that conference, CDOT received a national leadership award for its work in the area. Additionally, Nancy Nichols, the Safe Routes to School administrator for the City also received a Safe Routes to School Colorado Champion award. 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. Staff Liaison Report: Bike park feasibility study updates, Boards and Commissions recruitment Nagle stated Parks Planning and Development approved a scope of work to begin working on the bike park feasibility study and the project management plan is currently being developed. Nagle stated recruitment for open Boards and Commission positions will begin in December. 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:09 p.m.