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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-04-15 BABAB meeting minutesBozeman Area Bicycle Advisory Board (BABAB) Meeting Minutes, Wed, March 4, 2015 6‐8 pm, Commissioner’s Room, City Hall Board members present: Bill Cochran, Daniel Davis, Dillon Warn, Jason Delmue, Jenna Fallaw, Mike Davis, Rebecca Gleason, Sam Haraldson, Steven Blair, Zachary Steffl Board members absent: Jen Petersen, Juliana Olliff Other attendees: Geoff Hoefer: community member: MCC, Heather Davis: community member, Scott Makoutz: Urban Forestry/City Tree Advisory Board, Tom Keck: Collin’s Coalition, Anthony LeBaron: community member, I‐Ho Pomeroy: Bozeman City Commission, Jessie May Campbell: community member A. The meeting was called to order. B. Public Comment: Tom Keck: There is an upcoming fundraiser for Collin’s Coalition. It is a stationary bike ride at the Ridge Athletic Club on Main Street on April 11th. Matching funds will be used for infrastructure improvements. They are looking for ideas for projects to put the money towards. Last year, the money went towards helping fill in the pathway gaps on north 19th. Collin’s Coalition will be re‐involved with bike week due to the improvements in pathway gaps. They opted out over the past few years due to safety concerns on 19th. They need ideas for additional safety messages to add to the games for bike week. How can we gain greater compliance with the rules of the road? A subcommittee has been started with several BABAB members and other community members. The goal is to have a comprehensive plan to give to BABAB by this summer. They are still in the process of compiling ideas. Ideas: Ghost bicycle ride: Where there has been a fatality involving bicycles put a bicycle painted white w/chains and form group ride to the sites. This is a huge attention getter and they also will need to keep the messages positive and provide education. The police are more likely to get involved if they can be part of the education. City ordinances could be changed so that bicycle tickets are not moving violations but able to be paid with a fine. Bike ambassadors with training Bike/Pedestrian Coordinator: What if we raise money to pay for a portion and the city could pay for the other portion? This has been attempted before but failed. We would need someone to commit to a longer term position. Create competitions with videos? The Ellen could be used as a venue? C. The February meeting minutes were approved. D. Urban Forestry/ City Tree Advisory Board and BABAB Collaborations – Scott Makoutz Scott talked about the Urban Forestry/ City Tree Advisory Board that he chairs and how they believe strongly in the importance of urban trees and how this also coincides with more sustainable transportation. He talked about the goals of his group aligning with BABAB’s and that both of our groups would be great support for each other. His board will be submitting a plan to the city and public comment can be made at: http://www.bozeman.net/Projects/UrbanForestManagementPlan/Home E. City updates‐ Transportation Plan, Striping Plan: tabled. F. Bike map update for spring 2015: Bill Bill will meet with John Van Delinder soon to go over final draft of map and submit to the printers. G. Action Item: BABAB vote on 2 letters of support for GVLT 1) Recreational Trails Grant- GVLT is applying for a $45,000 to help fund improvements to the Main Street to the Mountains trail system. RTP grants are administered by Montana State Parks and the funding comes from the federal transportation bill. For more than 15 years, RTP has provided a critical source of funding for GVLT’s Community Trails Program. The RTP proposal will include funding for these projects:  A new east/west trail in northeast Bozeman, connecting the Oak Street Path at Rouse Ave. to the Story Mill Spur Trail.  Improvements to the Snowfill Recreation Area, including expanded parking, an additional entry gate, and a vault toilet.  A new bridge crossing at the Burke Park entrance, replacing a degraded culvert.  Updating signage and trail kiosks for improved wayfinding and to encourage responsible trail use. 2) GVLT is also applying for funding to the City of Bozeman’s Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOP) bond program to help fund the first trail mentioned above – an east/west connection in northeast Bozeman. This connection will be a paved, shared-use pathway built within a public street right- of-way, and will include a new bridge over Bozeman Creek. This important trail will provide a safe connection between an existing paved bike/pedestrian path along Oak Street and the County Fairgrounds, with the northeast neighborhood district, the Story Mill Spur Trail, and the new Story Mill Park. This trail corridor was identified in the Bozeman Parks, Recreation, Open space, and Trails (PROST) Plan, and the Greater Bozeman Area Transportation Plan. GVLT anticipates requesting about $150,000. The board voted to approve writing both letters of support. Mike Davis motioned to approve and Jason Delmue seconded. Rebecca Gleason drafted the letters to be sent. H. Discuss Transportation Secretary’s Challenge for Mayors to improve safety (bike/pedestrian) Bill Cochran emailed the mayor to invite him to join the Challenge. The mayor also received an invite from John Moffett, DOT. Bill made a motion to approve BABAB writing a letter of support for the challenge to the mayor. Mike Davis seconded the letter and the board approved. Geoff Hoeffer volunteered to draft a letter. . Bike Safety Outreach/Education  Winter bike day‐ Tony LeBaron: The first time event, organized by Taylor Longsdale, went well with approximately 35 people in attendance. They hope to make this an annual event.  Subcommittee on Safety Outreach/Education‐ Mike and Sam: – see above B:“Public Comment and Tom Keck”  High School Drivers Education‐ Jen: tabled.  High School Bike Week Involvement‐ Juliana. Update from Rebecca: A high school bike club started by Juliana had its first meeting with 20 students and they hope to meet again soon.  MSU Bike activities: 4 bike lockers have been installed. Two are in Belgrade and 2 at MSU at streamline stops and they hope to be able to rent them soon. The University is moving towards initiating a transportation plan requested by employees and this will be a good time to attempt for bicycle inclusion. J. Bike Week 2015 –planning– Jessie May Daily on Rouse, Sola, Cold Smoke, Rockford on Main have been asked so far. Thoughts on Community Café/Co‐op team? Board decided to keep Co‐op for the morning and ask Community Café to join the week to host nightly events. Or, have the community café be a recipient of funds raised and/or promote at the stops. There are a few additions to last month’s list of jobs that was created. Tony LeBaron and Zachary can also help if needed. Also, note changes to #7. 1) Direct people to the website: bikewalkbozeman.org: Sam 2) Draft a letter to the businesses to become a bike friendly business through the league of American bicyclists: Rebecca 3) Draft a letter to businesses that have helped in the past & GVBC for $: Jessie May 4) Ask Costco for money for food: Jen 5) Securing alcohol for the party at Beall: Mike. Sam & Jessie May will be official servers. 6) Design the First Security Bank window and Bangtail: Juliana 7) Commuter convoy coordinator‐research appropriate times, routes: Steven 8) Create map with safe routes to each location: Daniel 9) Media coordinator: liaison with newspaper, radio to advertise: Dillon 10) Coordinating with bike clubs, bikes shops, bike teams & people to lead convoys: Bill 11) Find music for party at Beall: Jason 12) Invite city commissioners and other officials to invite them to come: Jenna will draft letter. 13) Get alcohol permit and check to make sure Beall Park is reserved: Mike Jessie May will be contacting folks to meet individually about tasks. K. Old business: none addressed.  Bozeman bike code revision  Mendenhall sharrow outreach (spring 2015)  Other L. New business Update on Bike Walk Montana Summit: Rebecca • Monday – day long bike facility design workshop was well attended by MDT • Governor Steve Bullock spoke along with DOT Director Mike Tooley • A lot of DOT employees attended, including lead design engineer and State Traffic Engineer • Bike Walk Montana has had a significant impact on rumble strip policy • Republican Representative Ed Greef legislator from HD 88 (south of Missoula) spoke. He is sponsoring a bill to provide funding to maintain shared use paths. There is no funding now. Per BWMT recommendations. There are 8 democrats and 12 republicans on the transportation committee. Need a vote to pass 11 to 9. Tips to help get bill passed were to reach out to those on transportation committee, especially republicans and those in rural areas. Let them know the importance of bike/ pedestrian paths. Economic benefits arguments may be most effective. Ed referred to a recent report citing that bicycle tourism brings $300 million to Montana each year. • New commute challenge software purchased from Oregon. BWMT is managing, Pacific Source has provided matching funds. • Beers for Geers – a fundraiser for BWMT at Bozeman Brewing Sunday May 3. 2-8 pm. M. Meeting was adjourned.