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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTransportation Board - Minutes - 08/19/20151 MINUTES of the CITY OF FORT COLLINS TRANSPORTATION BOARD August 19, 2015 6:00 p.m. Community Room 215 North Mason, Fort Collins, CO 80521 FOR REFERENCE: Chair: Olga Duvall Vice Chair: Eric Shenk Staff Liaison: Paul Sizemore 970.224.6140 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Olga Duvall, Chair Eric Shenk, Vice Chair Gary Thomas York Sid Simonson Tim Sutton Annabelle Berklund ABSENT: Boardmember Greg Oakes Boardmember Pat Jordan Councilmember Ross Cunniff Paul Sizemore, FC Moves Program Manager Aaron Iverson, Senior Transportation Planner Pete Wray, Senior Planner Laurie Kadrich, PDT Director Rob Mosbey, Chief Construction Inspector Lucinda Smith, Environmental Services Director 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Duvall called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm with a quorum. Chair Duvall introduced new Boardmember Tim Sutton. 2. AGENDA REVIEW Chair Duvall stated the Environmental Services Plan will be presented earlier in the meeting than as advertised. Sizemore stated the remainder of the agenda stands as written. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT None. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Thomas made a motion, seconded by York, to accept the July 2015 Board minutes as presented. The minutes were approved unanimously. 2 5. COUNCIL LIAISON Councilmember Cunniff was unable to attend. 6. BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT – York York stated he attended the most recent meeting. Sizemore stated two bicycle-related items will come before the Board next month. 7. DISCUSSION/INFORMATIONAL ITEMS • Introduction of PDT Director – Laurie Kadrich Kadrich introduced herself and discussed her employment history and experience with the City organization. She discussed the importance of the Transportation Board and stated she would like the Board to be utilized as effectively as possible. Thomas brought up the issue of roads versus transit and asked Kadrich her opinion of balancing the two moving forward. Kadrich replied indicating her support for transit, noting funding has been the primary issue in providing that infrastructure. Thomas asked about the possibility of Sunday MAX service. Kadrich replied that topic is going to be revisited but noted there are issues regarding staffing and logistics for Sunday service. York stated Transfort has been somewhat reactive as opposed to proactive and encouraged a shift in that thinking. Thomas questioned whether enough of the City’s concern for environmental issues has been used to help promote transit. Kadrich replied PDT has played a very important role in how the Climate Action Plan is intending to roll out. Sizemore noted staff has been working to tie transportation goals to climate goals. • Environmental Services Strategic Plan – Lucinda Smith Smith stated the climate action planning work in the City is an enterprise-wide effort. She stated the overall goal of the strategic plan is to support the City’s resolve to act sustainably and to focus on integration among the three aspects of the triple bottom line: economic health, social sustainability and environmental health. Smith went on to discuss the goals of the creation of the Environmental Services Strategic Plan and stated her department’s goals include: air quality, waste reduction and recycling, climate protection and sustainability, education, and outreach. Smith detailed the areas of the Strategic Plan related specifically to climate and transportation. She stated the climate commitment vision has been identified as a healthy, safe, sustainable and carbon neutral community that innovates solutions to climate change. Thomas asked about the fact ozone is immediately harmful but seems to be taking a backseat to carbon and encouraged its inclusion in the Plan. Berklund asked if the possibility of using methane gas collected at the Larimer County Landfill has been considered to fuel buses. Smith replied it has been considered; however, safe transportation of the gas has yet to be considered. She stated more attention is currently focused on composting rather than energy generation. 3 Sutton asked if differences in neighborhood design have been examined. Smith replied she cannot articulate specific differences between new neighborhoods and older ones, but noted there are strong efforts being made to implement the objective of City Plan and the Structure Plan and to get enhanced travel corridors in place. Smith went on to discuss parking issues and stated she would like to come back before the Board for a recommendation in the future. The Board concurred it would like to present a recommendation. • Old Town Neighborhoods Plan – Pete Wray Wray stated the Old Town Neighborhoods Plan is the new title for the updates of the original Eastside and Westside Neighborhood Plans. He stated public comment has been sought and staff is now in the process of updating neighborhood visions. In terms of transportation aspects, Wray stated this plan will involve recommendations from the Bicycle Master Plan, Pedestrian Plan and Transportation Master Plan. Additionally, he stated mobility, safety, crossings and movement within existing neighborhoods will be examined as will issues relating to the two main arterials: Mulberry and Shields, which run through these areas. Wray stated an online survey exists regarding options for these two constrained corridors. Thomas asked if analyses regarding the impact of roundabouts or other “road diets” on traffic volume have been considered. Aaron Iverson, Senior Transportation Planner, stated the key to making those types of changes work involves the intersections in particular. Wray stated support exists for maintaining the existing conservation density zoning in the neighborhoods. Thomas asked about alley-accessed over-garage apartments. Wray replied carriage houses and accessory dwelling units are allowed within these zone districts and projects including those have been increasing. Sizemore asked if the Board can provide any specific vision-related feedback. Wray replied he would like to receive information regarding preferences for how the Board would like to see the Old Town neighborhoods evolve in the future. York stated he would like to see grade-separated railroad crossings included in the plan as that would aid in promoting alternative transportation and a low-stress bicycle and pedestrian network. (**Secretary’s Note: The Board took a brief recess at this point in the meeting.) • Pedestrian Improvement Prioritization – Rob Mosbey Mosbey reviewed the City’s assessment of the entire city’s pedestrian corridors. He noted all of the sidewalks and crossings were assessed for ADA compliance. Mosbey stated there are 18 total components, including bus stops, schools, downtown, hospitals and trails, to the prioritization involving location and proximity to various city entities. Additionally, Mosbey stated nearly 4 miles of sidewalk and 108 ramps have been constructed or reconstructed to this point. Mosbey went on to ask Boardmembers about their views on various questions such as pedestrian demand and distance individuals are willing to walk in various circumstances. He stated the Board’s responses were similar to responses received as a whole from the 4 online survey. The Board held a brief discussion regarding costs of sidewalks and ramps and the dedicated funding for improvements from BOB 2.0. Thomas recommended advertising projects funded by tax dollars. York asked if natural areas are included in the parks component and if parking garages are included in the City facilities component. Mosbey replied he will research the natural areas issue and replied in the affirmative regarding parking garages. 8. ACTION ITEMS None. 9. REPORTS • Boardmember Reports Thomas questioned whether or not weight limit restrictions are being enforced on the city’s streets. Sizemore replied he would research the topic with the Engineering Department. Simonson reported on his attendance at the U.S. Global Leadership Summit in Denver. York reported on the Built Environment Working Group meeting and the Coalition for Infrastructure group. Berklund reported on her attendance at the Department of Energy Bioenergy conference and stated CSU is incorporating bike training for all incoming freshmen. Chair Duvall reported on the City’s Super Board meeting and stated transportation issues are planned to be added to the Social Sustainability Strategic Plan. Additionally, she reported on demand for Transfort and MAX service. • Staff Report Sizemore reported on upcoming Council worksessions involving transportation issues, including the BOB 2.0 fund distribution timeline and the prioritization of Safe Routes to Everywhere needs and projects. 10. OTHER BUSINESS None. 11. ADJOURN The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m. by unanimous consent.