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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBicycle Advisory Committee - Minutes - 09/27/2021 BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING –REGULAR September 27, 2021, 6:00 p.m. Remote Meeting via Zoom 9 /2 7 /2021 – MINUTES Page 1 FOR REFERENCE: Chair: Jordan Williams Vice-Chair: Jerry Gavaldon Staff Liaison: Cortney Geary 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Williams called the meeting to order at 6:03 PM. 2. ROLL CALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Jordan Williams, Chair, At Large Member Jerry Gavaldon, Vice Chair, Transportation Board Mike Weber, Land Conservation and Stewardship Board Tim Anderson, Fort Collins Bike Co-op Kevin Krause, Natural Resources Advisory Board Whitney Allison, At Large Member Katherine Chu, At Large Member Jason Miller, Air Quality Advisory Board Todd Dangerfield, Downtown Development Authority Mike Tupa, Parks and Recreation Board (arrived late) Dave Dixon, Bike Fort Collins (arrived late) ABSENT: Rick Arneson, Bike Fort Collins Ben Mayer, Poudre School District Greg Wells, Senior Advisory Board Ed Peyronnin, Colorado State University Campus Bicycle Advisory Committee Cortney Geary Kyle Lambrecht PUBLIC PRESENT: None BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9 /2 7 /2021 – MINUTES Page 2 3. AGENDA REVIEW Chair Williams reviewed the agenda. 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION None. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – AUGUST 2021 Gavaldon made a motion, seconded by Weber, to approve the minutes of the August 2021 meeting as amended. The motion was adopted unanimously. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. BFO Memo Submitted to Transportation Board Chair Williams stated the memo from the Committee was submitted to the Transportation Board. b. City Manager’s Recommended Budget Chair Williams noted all items supported by the Committee were recommended for funding with the exception of the Shift Your Ride program. Gavaldon noted the Transportation Board recognized the Shift Your Ride program was unfunded and it drafted a letter to Council advocating for its funding. (**Secretary’s Note: Tupa arrived at this point in the meeting.) 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Parks Planning Update – Paved Trails and Other Priorities – Kyle Lambrecht Kyle Lambrecht, Parks Planning and Development Senior Planner, discussed the primary roles of the Parks Planning Department: designing and building new parks, refreshing parks, designing new paved trails, and other special projects. He detailed the prioritized trail projects for the next three years, including the Poudre Trail from the Environmental Learning Center to I-25, a trail underpass as part of the Lemay realignment, and connections to the Power Trail from southeast Fort Collins. He noted the Poudre Trail, once complete, will connect Bellvue to Greeley. Chair Williams noted the Committee has had discussions around whether the city’s paved trails are to be utilized for recreation or transportation and asked how that dichotomy factors into trail prioritization and design. Lambrecht replied it is important to recognize that dichotomy and have necessary discussions with FC Moves regarding active modes. He stated recognizing the trails are used as part of the active modes network in terms of commuters helps to open doors for funding and prioritizing projects. BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9 /2 7 /2021 – MINUTES Page 3 Chair Williams asked if the Active Modes Plan involves a separate trail planning process. Lambrecht replied in the affirmative and stated Parks Planning has been involved in the Active Modes Plan discussion. He stated trails, complete streets, and the bike network cannot be considered independently as all components will be necessary for equitable connections. Gavaldon commented on being mindful of cost efficiency and ensuring one large project does not utilize a great deal of funding thereby leaving little for other projects. He specifically cited the cost of the Harmony underpass project. Lambrect noted that project is in early design and he commented on the importance of regional contributions for that crossing. Krause commented on the importance of focusing on mode shifts and utilizing funding toward that collective goal. Weber noted Natural Areas prefers trails to be more recreationally focused as opposed to transportation focused. He asked if utilizing HOA land and ditch company land has been considered for increasing connectivity. Lambrecht replied ditch companies play a large role in trail development because trails are intentionally located near natural features. He stated it is important to be context sensitive to the ditch while still providing access to the ditch companies for maintenance. Lambrect discussed access to the newly constructed Sugar Beet Park and Romero Park. He noted 9th Street/Lemay will be downgraded to a local street once the Lemay realignment occurs which should dramatically reduce traffic and speeds in the area thereby making the parks more accessible. Gavaldon stated the Museo de las Tres Colonias was previously promised part of the Romero Park land for development of a cultural center following the creation of Sugar Beet Park. He stated the Museo board and the Parks Department should confer regarding moving forward. He also commented on recent vandalism at Romero Park. Lambrecht discussed the recently adopted Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Recreate. He noted the document contains a policy framework for trails and has the primary goal of expanding the active transportation network to support access to parks and trails. Krause noted many people have been advocating for more soft surface trails and stated much of the feedback was that there was a connectivity opportunity across departments. He also commented on feedback for additional bike park opportunities within parks. (**Secretary’s Note: Dixon arrived at this point in the meeting.) Dixon noted Overland Mountain Bike Association has had a number of meetings BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9 /2 7 /2021 – MINUTES Page 4 with Kurt Friesen about the bike park topic. b. Active Modes Plan Visioning Input – Cortney Geary Geary stated the Active Modes Plan is updating the 2011 Pedestrian Plan and the 2014 Bicycle Plan, will combine those two, and add a greater focus on micro- mobility. She provided a timeline for the development of the Plan and discussed the community engagement plan. Geary provided a link to a visioning exercise for members whose comments related to ‘biking in Fort Collins’ included the following: a network of trails leading to many places around town, constantly improving trail and bikeway connectivity, the spirit of continuous improvement, extensive interconnected bike lane network, increasing number of protected/buffered bike lanes, and focus on bicycle education. Comments related to the hardest thing about bicycling in Fort Collins included: east- west connectivity in mid-town, longer routes being required by the low-stress network, safe bike connectivity, driving and texting, car-cyclist conflicts, safe bike parking to prevent theft, lack of connectivity/safe trails to soft surface trails, lack of bicycle infrastructure in north Fort Collins, traffic lights not incentivizing bicyclists, and a lack of mountain bike trails for beginner and intermediate riders. Comments related to ‘in ten years, biking in Fort Collins should be’ included the following: like bicycling in the Netherlands, celebrated by all, at the diamond level, safe, Vision Zero, seen as the safest, most viable option for getting from A to B for residents of all demographics, easier than driving, and increasing while car use is declining. Dangerfield encouraged Geary to utilize more traditional outreach methods in addition to online methods as some demographics are turned off by the technology. Geary agreed and noted pop-up events and other in-person events are planned. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Miller reported on the recent Air Quality Advisory Board meeting during which the summer’s air quality and mode shifts to bikes were discussed. Dixon reported Bike Fort Collins has been working with the City on a grant from the National Association of City Transportation Officials to implement an asphalt art program to help with traffic calming. He stated three locations have been identified, on near Romero and 9th, on one Hickory near Soft Gold Park, and one on Roosevelt near Putnam Elementary. Anderson reported on the Fort Collins Bike Co-op’s return to guided mechanic service. Dangerfield reported on the progress of the downtown alley projects and BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9 /2 7 /2021 – MINUTES Page 5 commented on seeing a Spin E-scooter parked at a natural areas parking lot. Geary replied she would ensure non-paved trails are geofenced. Members discussed having a presentation regarding the E-scooter program. Weber stated the Land Conservation and Stewardship Board discussed the E- mobility program, mountain biking advocacy for soft surface trails connecting to foothills trails, oil and gas regulations, and the budget at its recent meeting. Krause reported the Natural Resources Advisory Board discussed 1041 regulations and the budget at its recent meeting. He noted the Board will likely also advocate for the funding of the Shift Your Ride program. He also reported on a recent negative biking experience during which a motorist threw a drink at his child. Chair Williams reported Larimer County is still working on its Horsetooth Mountain Open Space Plan. 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. Transportation Board Report Gavaldon stated the Transportation Board has been discussing issues with the stacking of cars on College Avenue at the Raising Cane’s and Starbucks drive- throughs. He stated the Board has sent a letter to Council regarding the safety concerns. He stated the Board also drafted a letter to Council, including the BAC recommendations, regarding the budget. Additionally, the Board discussed the Mountain Avenue reshaping project and Gavaldon suggested the Committee may also want to hear that presentation. Gavaldon also noted his last meeting with the BAC will be in November as he is term limited and a new Transportation Board representative will start in December. Chair Williams stated he would be happy to reach out to any interested Board members. b. Staff Liaison Report Geary reported the City of Fort Collins received a Bike Friendly Business platinum designation and submitted its application applying for diamond level for a Bicycle Friendly Community. She noted the bicycle and pedestrian signals are functioning at Magnolia and Shields and Columbia and Lemay. Additionally, she stated the Federal Highway Administration has granted permission to experiment with advisory bike lanes on East Pitkin from Remington to Smith and the City has received a grant to add bicycle facilities and sidewalks along Laporte Avenue near Fishback. Gavaldon stated the Transportation Board should receive a presentation on the Pitkin item and suggested there should be a way to represent projects in the budget that are funded by other mechanisms, such as grants. Members stated they would like to receive additional details on the Pitkin project. BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 9 /2 7 /2021 – MINUTES Page 6 c. Future Agenda Items Chair Williams noted the Mountain Avenue reshaping project, the Active Modes planning process, and a presentation from Bike Fort Collins will occur at the next meeting. He suggested moving the October meeting to the 25th as there is no Super Board meeting scheduled. Members agreed. 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:03 PM by unanimous consent.