HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-06-19 BABAB MinutesBozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board (BABAB)
Meeting Minutes for March 6, 2019
6-8 p.m. City Hall, Commission Room
BABAB’s purpose is to recommend safe bicycle practices throughout Bozeman in regard to enhanced
bicycle circulation and design, community-wide bicycle education and safety programs, and other
matters relating to bicycling in the Bozeman area.
Board members in attendance: Candace Mastel, Andrew Brechbuhler, James Lusby, John Vandelinder,
Linda DuPriest, Danae Giannetti, Chrissy Pepino, Jason Delume, Tawnya Healy, Jason Karp, Rachel
Rockafellow, Commissioner Jeff Kraus
Public in attendance: Matt Campbell, student MSU; Richard Hayes, student MSU; Barton Churchill,
Bozeman resident; Ralph Zimmer, Bozeman Area Pedestrian Transportation Safety committee; Matt
Marcinek, GVLT
A. Candace called Meeting to Order at 6:05 pm
B. Approved Previous Meeting Minutes with Jason’s amendments
C. Public Comment: 5 minutes each speaker
(Note: If you are a member of the public and you would like to make a formal presentation or
request action from the board please email the board a week prior to the next official meeting
date. The board will consider placing the item for discussion in the action area of the agenda vs.
public opinion so as to give the presenter time to adequately discuss their issue and give the
board time to give feedback or make more official decisions.)
Public comment:
Matt Marcinek– Announced approval of a new paved path to M Trail and new underpass that
Will continue to Drinking Horse mountain. Completion date is Sept. 15, 2019
Barton Churchill – If the City could dig out the bike rack at City Hall, that would be great.
He then approached the podium and asked all board members who skis, a few replied yes or
raised their hand. He referenced the tolerance of risk with various activities. His point being that
if you can ski here in the winter, you can bike here. He said that a Board whose members do not
ride bikes to meetings is not right. He asked two members to give the reason they are not biking
to these meetings. Several members stated that they do right with the exception of a few snowy
months.
Jess Kraus responded to public comment – when you are a board member, you represent all
Bozeman residents. He stated that it is farther than two miles to get from one side of Bozeman
to the other, it is four miles from the west side.
Ralph Zimmer – The Safe Passing bills, one presented in the House and one in Senate, both were
tabled. None moved forward. He and his organization’s Secretary went to Helena and spoke.
They took an active part in promoting the information. We discussed the Bozeman downtown
improvement plan in two different meetings. Both have bicycle components.
D. Welcomed new BABAB members – Danae Giannetti, Chrissy Pepino
E. Old Business
1. AARP Livable Communities
a. Rachel Rockafellow gave update on this. Another grant application has been
submitted for this.
2. Tuesday, March 12, Meet at Rotunda 11 am - 2 pm
3. Friday, March 8 is winter Bike to Work Day
4. Board Member Danae Giannetti stated that she is thankful for snow being removed and
paths being plowing across the city, accessibility has improved greatly
F. New Business
1. Candace Mastel – WCC Conference Update
Candace attended a conference in Canada on winter cycling WCC (Winter Cycling
Congress) put on by a group based in Finland. Common theme was mobility for all, if we
plan for the least mobile then we have taken care of everything
2. Candace Mastel – Traffic Calming on Grant Street in March
Not public yet, planning board approved demonstrations on Grant Street to show what
traffic calming looks like. Wil be installed for 3-4 weeks on Grant St. from 11th – 7th. Idea
is to slow traffic, will do analysis with assistance of video cameras. Will then do a pseudo
full closure of Grant St. to motorized vehicles. Happening mid-March.
3. Jason Delume –
Is MDT required to shovel their sidewalks in the City of Bozeman? i.e. their acquired
parcels on Rouse Street. Seems like they basically don’t remove snow. Wondering if it is
an oversite or they choose not to do it.
Linda DuPriest –
We need a shoveling campaign in Bozeman. The city residents have gotten lackadaisical.
4. Linda DuPriest –
CIP update, specifically on sharrows. In April she will update on exactly what projects
will be done.
5. Discussed MSU Representative replacement, are there any possibilities
G. Future BABAB Focus Working Session
Candace opened topic, Linda DuPriest commented -
How can we make the “Ask” to commission, what would we “Ask”
How can BABAB set the stage to help get some bigger projects done by simply by asking?
Ideas for the Visionary ‘Big Asks’:
Grade separation where appropriate in Bozeman
1. Danae commented on Huffine and Fowler and her two dangerous bike experiences,
close calls. She works for MDT and can open the discussion there on how we
address these areas to make change and improvement.
2. Jeff Krauss at podium – discussed how commission rates and decides what projects
from CIP get done. Staff input and status of certain projects, i.e. new high school,
due to what had to take place to make the high school happen, certain items on the
CIP list were pushed down, for example, improvements on Griffin. BABAB should
write a letter about Fowler and give input to staff.
Linda asked Jeff what you do then to get bigger projects considered.
Commissioner Krauss gave a detailed comment on who and how to address with an
example project. Much discussion with Commissioner Krauss on Complete Streets
policy and how it is executed today. According to the Complete Streets policy, when
engineering for new roads, bike transportation must reflect Best Practices, however,
current 2019 Best Practices are not necessarily being executed. Could BABAB work
to get updated Best Practices, or Standards for future new roads engineering?
Richard Hayes, responded to public parking and bike lane comment made by
Commissioner Krauss.
Barton Churchill also commented on parking topic, regarding S. Wilson parking and
bike lane.
Ralph Zimmer – he corrected a date he provided previously tonight, Commissioner
meeting is actually April 15.
H. Adjourn at 7:57 pm
For more information, please contact John Vandelinder, Street Superintendent.
This board generally meets the first Wednesday of the month from 6pm to 8pm.
BABAB meetings are open to all members of the public. If you have a disability that requires assistance,
please contact our ADA Coordinator, Mike Gray, at 582-3232 (TDD 582-2301).