Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBicycle Advisory Committee - Minutes - 03/27/2023 BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING –REGULAR March 27, 2023 6:00 p.m. Hybrid Meeting – Zoom and 281 North College Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 3 /2 7 /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 6:00 PM. 2. ROLL CALL (INTRODUCTIONS) BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: CITY STAFF PRESENT: Ginny Sawyer Dave Dixon, Chair, Bike Fort Collins Greg Boiarsky, Air Quality Advisory Board Scott Mason, Land Conservation and Stewardship Board Ed Peyronnin, Colorado State University Campus Bicycle Advisory Committee Whitney Allison, At Large Member Kevin Krause, Natural Resources Advisory Board Tim Anderson, Fort Collins Bike Co-op Rob Owens, Transportation Board Elisabeth Cairnes, At Large Member Marcia Richards, Parks and Recreation Board Bruce Henderson, Senior Advisory Board David Hansen, Colorado State University Todd Dangerfield, Downtown Development Authority ABSENT: Jordan Williams, Vice Chair, At Large Member Jonathan Crozier, Poudre School District PUBLIC PRESENT: Alex Gordon, NFRMPO Anna Rose Cunningham, NFRMPO Alex Broyhill, Trek North Store Manager Steve Dielman BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 3 /2 7 /2023 – MINUTES Page 2 3. AGENDA REVIEW Chair Dixon stated there were no changes to the published agenda. 4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION Steve Dielman And Alex Broyhill introduced themselves. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – FEBRUARY 2023 Dangerfield made a motion, seconded by Peyronnin, to approve the minutes of the February 2023 meeting as written. The motion was adopted unanimously. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Joint Safety Stop Committees with CSU Campus Bicycle Advisory Committee Chair Dixon noted the subcommittees formed are a joint effort between the Campus Bicycle Advisory Committee and the City’s Bicycle Advisory Committee. Peyronnin reported on the adoption of the Safety Stop law and discussed the formation of the joint committees to address concerns that were raised regarding its implementation. He stated the three committees formed were on enforcement, data collection, and education and communication. He outlined the composition of the committees and discussed the meetings. Peyronnin made a motion, seconded by Krause, to clarify the three subcommittees were a joint effort between the Campus Bicycle Advisory Committee and the City’s Bicycle Advisory Committee in the interest of ensuring the adoption and enforcement of the new Safety Stop law is consistent within the city and on campus and to ensure consistent educational efforts. The motion was adopted unanimously. 7. NEW BUSINESS a. Future of the Hughes Stadium Site – Ginny Sawyer, City Manager’s Office Chair Dixon commented on the bike community’s desire for a bike park to be housed on the Hughes Stadium property. Ginny Sawyer, City Manager’s Office, discussed the history of the property and citizen referendum that required the City to purchase the property. She discussed the public engagement process seeking input as to the best uses for the site and commented on the ballot language and property zoning. She noted the City has yet to take possession of the property and there is no dedicated funding available for uses on the site. She stated another round of public outreach will likely occur in the fall and a master plan for the site will ultimately be BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 3 /2 7 /2023 – MINUTES Page 3 formed. Mason asked if a bike park on the site would be managed by the Parks and Recreation Department. Sawyer replied in the affirmative and discussed the funding of the property purchase noting $2 million came from Natural Areas, $2 million from the general fund, and bond funds for the remainder which will be paid back 50/50 between Natural Areas and the general fund, or differently as appropriate based on the ultimate use of the property. Boiarsky asked if there is any planned funding for construction and maintenance. Sawyer replied in the negative given there are no specific plans for the use of the site. She noted there is a broader conversation occurring around the need for a sustainable funding stream for Parks and Recreation maintenance and operations. Chair Dixon asked about the cost estimate for restoration of the property to its original state. Sawyer replied she has not heard a specific number, though it would not be inexpensive. Dangerfield asked how much of the purchase price was funded by bonds. Sawyer replied it was over $8 million. Henderson asked how staff plans to ensure groups feel as though they are being heard and their desires are being taken into account. Sawyer replied relationships have been developed and she stated she believes many uses can be located on the 164-acre parcel. She stated visual representations will be helpful and she noted this will be a slow process. Anderson expressed support for the bike park concept and asked Committee members if a model of what a bike park might include would be helpful. Henderson commented on the dangers of showing a plan as some members of the public would automatically assume that is the design. Krause commented on the benefits of providing bike infrastructure to increase ridership which aids climate goals among other benefits. Boiarsky commented on ensuring uses are compatible with one another. Anderson commented on the benefits of a bike park primarily being related to the lack of interaction with vehicles. Chair Dixon noted the bike park advocates are not requesting all 164 acres of the property. He stated he would like to see the Committee take out controversy and put forth to the Transportation Board that it believes recreational bike infrastructure is good for the community and the City should support the community on a plan to create more of such infrastructure to increase ridership. Krause suggested that statement should be made a motion and suggested an BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 3 /2 7 /2023 – MINUTES Page 4 amendment to add Parks and Recreation to the motion. Geary noted most Active Modes Plan recommendations are on-street with a few connections between streets and paved trails. She noted there is a section in the Plan about creating a culture of support for the development of recreational facilities. She suggested sending a recommendation to the Transportation Board to send a memo of support to the Parks and Recreation Board and City Council. Sawyer also suggested cc’ing the Parks and Recreation Board on the Transportation Board memo. Krause made a motion that the BAC submit a memo to the Transportation Board, advising that it be forwarded to the Parks and Recreation Board and City Council, commenting on the belief that having adequate and additional recreational bike facilities, including paved and not paved, that will encourage ridership, is a positive for the community and supports Active Modes Plan goals. He noted the goal would be to start having a plan about what that could look like. Owens asked if this is specific to the Hughes Property. Krause replied in the negative stating that would be unnecessarily controversial. Allison suggested including the City’s Climate Action Plan goals with the Active Modes Plan. Krause concurred. Allison seconded the motion. The motion was adopted unanimously. Krause asked about the City’s plans for access to the Hughes site prior to the development of any formal plan. Sawyer replied there are no plans for changes to access and currently the Parks Department manages the trash and portable toilet. She stated the access gates that are currently locked will remain so and specific ownership will not be designated which means disturbance or unwanted activity calls will go to the Police. Additionally, special events permitting will not be allowed. b. Community Capital Improvement Plan Renewal – Ginny Sawyer, City Manager’s Office Sawyer commented on the City’s revenue and basic sales tax rate as well as the community’s history of voter-approved taxes for the construction of specific projects and infrastructure, including the permanent 0.6% going to the General Fund, which is not applied to grocery purchases. She noted the street maintenance tax was renewed as was the community capital tax; however, both will expire in 2025. She noted the change to November elections means tax issues can only be called once per year as they cannot be the subject of a BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 3 /2 7 /2023 – MINUTES Page 5 special election. Sawyer discussed the improvements that have been funded by the Community Capital Improvement Plan (CCIP) tax, including Linden Street, the Lincoln Avenue bridge, and the kayak park. She noted there have been discussions around requesting a possible new tax on alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco or a possible increase in property taxes at the 2023 November election; however, there is a very compressed timeframe from normal tax initiatives. She stated the work to build a package for the 2024 CCIP quarter-cent tax request will begin in the next few months. Peyronnin asked about the City already receiving additional property tax dollars given increasing property values. Sawyer replied the state put a cap on that amount, and currently, 67% of what is collected by the City in property taxes goes directly to Poudre Fire Authority. Chair Dixon asked if the $160 million price tag of implementing the Active Modes Plan is included in the funding gap identified by the City. Sawyer replied there is about a $10 million annual gap identified for Parks, the Transit Master Plan has about a $14 million gap, and the Housing Strategic Plan and the Climate Action Plan also have gaps related to achieving their goals. She commented on the passage of the Active Modes Plan meaning it is elevated in the conversation, staff can now write budget offers to the Plan for implementation, and funding could be part of the next CCIP. c. North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFRMPO) Updates – Alex Gordon and Anna Rose Cunningham, NFRMPO Anna Rose Cunningham and Alex Gordon, NFRMPO Transportation Planners, introduced themselves. Mr. Gordon discussed the purpose of the NFRMPO and outlined the communities that constitute the organization. He noted a lot of the work completed around transportation is aiming to improve air quality given we are in a non-attainment zone. He commented on how biking fits into the MPO and how it is being incorporated into the different work that is being done. Mr. Gordon stated the big project currently being undertaken by the NFRMPO is the long-range Regional Transportation Plan. He outlined the sections of the Plan. Ms. Cunningham commented on the public outreach process regarding the Plan, including an online mapping process. She stated safety concerns have been of high importance and there is a desire for more transit options and bike and pedestrian connections. She provided information on social media outreach and efforts to make plans more accessible. Additionally, she commented on outreach BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 3 /2 7 /2023 – MINUTES Page 6 efforts aimed at providing transit education. Mr. Gordon stated the NFRMPO Planning Council has recently been much more interested in transportation demand management (TDM) regionally. He discussed the TDM planning efforts and work with the City of Fort Collins on Shift Your Ride. He stated the MPO is setting up the first transportation management organization along the US34 corridor and he discussed the efforts of that organization to be on the ground outreach and communication around active transportation. Krause asked if there would be a separate budget and staff for the transportation management organization. Mr. Gordon replied it is a partnership with the US34 coalition of communities along the highway. Ms. Cunningham discussed the bike and pedestrian safety reporter tool that was in initial development last year. Additionally, she discussed funding opportunities through CDOT, four different federal programs, and the state. Geary stated a question came through the chat asking why the greenhouse gas goal specifically calls out E-bikes versus growth of cycling in general and whether that might be based on extending the range of the rider. Mr. Gordon replied greenhouse gas strategies had to be compatible with the travel demand model, and fleet mix is a very important piece of that. He noted E-devices can extend the range of where riders can go. Additionally, he noted the greenhouse gas strategies will be updated this summer as part of the Regional Transportation Plan. Mr. Gordon commented on the Planning Council’s interest in TDM stating the mobility program will likely expand as a result. 8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS Anderson reported the Bike Co-op is busier than ever and is accepting donations of parts and new or used bicycles. Hansen reported on the funding of a trail project that would connect Spring Creek Trail at the Gardens on Spring Creek up to the Prospect underpass with a more direct trail alignment which should be advanced into design this summer. 9. OTHER BUSINESS a. Transportation Board Report Owens reported he was unable to attend the last Transportation Board meeting. BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TYPE OF MEETING – REGULAR 3 /2 7 /2023 – MINUTES Page 7 b. Staff Liaison Report • Vision Zero Action Plan Geary reported the Vision Zero Action Plan was adopted unanimously by Council on first reading on March 21st and will go before Council for second reading on April 4th. Geary stated staff is working to coordinate a Think Bike Workshop with the Dutch Cycling Embassy in April. Geary provided an update on grants applied for and received by the City. c. Future Agenda Items 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:04 PM by unanimous consent.