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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-20-17 Public Comment - R. Zimmer (on behalf of Bozeman (Area) Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee) - Galla10 Alliance for Pathways (GAP)From:Ralph Zimmer To:Agenda Cc:Brian Close; Candace Mastel; John Vandelinder; Chuck Winn; Mitchell Overton Subject:Affiliation of City-Related Groups to GAP Date:Sunday, August 20, 2017 4:55:18 PM Attachments:GAp affIlation (memo to City Commission).doc Sunday, August 20, 2017 Mayor Taylor and City Commissioners, Attached is a memo to you from me on behalf of the Bozeman (Area) Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee. It pertains to the possible affiliation of not only PTS but also BABAB and RPAB to the newly formed organization the Galla10 Alliance for Pathways (GAP). The specific purpose for which GAP was formed was to promote the separated shared-use bike/ped path along the Bozeman to Belgrade frontage road, a path the Commission has twice endorsed. Hopefully the memo is self-explanatory. Thank you for your consideration. Ralph Ralph W. Zimmer , Chairperson Bozeman (Area) Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee cc: Brian Close (RPAB Chairperson) Canddace Mastel (BABAB Chairperson) John Van Delinder Chuck Winn Mitch Overton attachment --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus Bozeman Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee Created by, Responsible to, and Serving The City of Bozeman, County of Gallatin, and School District 7 Mailing Address: c/o City Clerk, City of Bozeman, P.O. Box 1230, Bozeman MT 59771-1230 Ralph W. Zimmer, Chairperson, (406) 586-9152, RalphZimmer@mcn.net Danielle Scharf, Vice Chairperson Mandee Arnold, Secretary TO: Mayor Carson Taylor City Commissioners FROM: Ralph W. Zimmer, Chairperson DATE: August 20, 2017 SUBJECT: Relationship of City-Related Groups to Galla10 Alliance for Pathways The Bozeman City Commission has twice endorsed the construction of a separated shared-use bike/ped path from Bozeman to Belgrade, once when it adopted the 2007 Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails (PROST) plan and again when it recently adopted the new Bozeman Transportation Master Plan (TMP). Significantly that path was also recommended in the recently completed Montana Department of Transportation’s Belgrade to Bozeman Frontage Road Corridor Study. A new group, the Galla10 Alliance for Pathways (GAP), has been formed for the specific purpose of promoting that path already endorsed by the Commission. Safer Bozeman and the Gallatin Valley Land Trust have already agreed to become :Partners: or “Supporting Organizations” of GAP. Two City-Related groups, the Bozeman (Area) Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee and the Bozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board, have already voted to similarly affiliate with GAP. At its upcoming September 14 meeting, the Bozeman Recreation and Parks Advisory Board reportedly will consider similar affiliation. Mayor Taylor has expressed concern about BABAB affiliating without specific approval of the City Commission. Whatever concerns he has about BABAB would seem to be equally applicable to RPAB. He has expressed less certainty about whether those concerns would also apply to PTS given the unique nature of its relationship to the City (it was formed jointly by the City, the County, and the Bozeman School District with the City Commission appointing only 25 percent of the PTS voting members). PTS does not concede it needs City approval to affiliate with GAP but in order to present an united front and to simplify and expedite City approval, if required, we urge the Commission to promptly approve all three groups (BABAB, PTS, and RPAB) becoming a “Partner” or “Supporting Organization” of GAP if they so choose. That would leave the door open for RPAB to decide either way at its September 14 meeting GAP is planning a big public announcement of its formation and mission as soon as late September. That is why City approval, if such approval is required, is needed soon. GAP has been working with the City on this issue since the first week in May.