Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-02-2012 o�QORT T0� V �O City of Port Townsend wA Meeting Minutes Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Board Thursday, August 8, 2012, 4:30 pra - 6:00 pra City Hall, Conference Rm 41 L Meeting called to order at 4:35 pm by acting President Scott Walker II. Members in attendance: Lys Burden, Sally Chapin, Tim Eaton, Pat Teal, and Jolly Wahlstrom III. Staff present: Judy Surber Visitors: Owen Fairbank, Peter Lauritzen II Approval of agenda —voice approval III. Approval of Minutes —Voice approval of minutes for the June and July meetings was unanimous IV. Business 1. Grant Street School Access— Scott noted that walking and bicycling access to Grant Street Elementary School is incomplete and inadequate. There are no speed tables, only paint. There is no sidewalk on the west side of Sheridan, north of Discovery Road. No school-related roadway enhancements are included in either the Discovery Road or Sheridan Street upgrades. Board members had been encouraged to evaluate the school access prior to the meeting, but members felt they needed a group field trip to the site to examine and discuss the situation. It was decided to gather at Grant Street School on October _3 at approximately 2pm to watch the travel patterns of students going home from school. (It will be National Walk— and Bike—to School Day.) 2. Trail through Wetlands—Judy Surber introduced the subject by noting that she is a multipurpose trail user, as she uses PT Trails for running, mountain biking and horseback riding. Prior to the meeting Judy had sent several information documents to Board members. Eight basic trail designs are outlined in the USDOT/US Forest Service Wetland Trail Guidelines. Some of the facility designs are fairly old. Several would be fine to address muddy areas. And in fact, the Back Country Horseman have used the geotextiles at Anderson Lake (Judy shared photos from Jeff Chapman of BCH). The problem is that most of these designs involve fill and when you place fill in a regulated wetland, you must obtain the appropriate permits, assess impacts and provide mitigation. However, impacts may be avoided and federal and state permits may be waived if you use pin-pile boardwalks which could be allowed in Class II, III or IV wetlands. There is a process for approval of boardwalk designs over wetlands (JARPA Application). Any project would also need a local critical area permit. In order to build a boardwalk, grant fiinds must be sought. Site reviews would be required, and it may require structural engineering to make sure the boardwalk could support desired users (which may include horseback riders/emergency vehicles). Jolly noted that most of the low trail spots that become muddy with use are not in designated wetlands, except a small section on the 39th Street Trail, near the Richardson/Lynn property. Judy noted that Jeff Chapman from the Backcountry Horsemen Buckhorn Range Chapter checked with Clallam County Public Works, who suggested reinforcing treadway with geotextile and geocell material for muddy low spots. Jeff would like to be included in any planning for improvements along Cappys Trails. According to Judy, the President of BCH reached out to her membership asking that they pitch in on trail work in the city and that they consider applying to be on the NMTB to represent horses. 3. Richardson/Lynn Property— Scott met with City Attorney John Watts and Mayor David King about the Richardson/Lynn property trail corridor dispute. The subject is slated to come before City Council next Monday, August 6th at 8:30pm. Scott asked that as many board members attend the meeting as possible, to show support for the trail. It was pointed out that the segment going through this property is part of a major N-S trail corridor, called "The West Side Loop," that has been in the plan since 1998. The trail, as presently developed, follows public right-of-ways on the least steep topography possible. Other landowner proposals would damage critical areas. Addendum: This matter did not go be f01'e City CO1iuCil()Yl l�()Ylday evening. Next Steps are foY pYOperty otirners Dick Lynn and Ann Richardson to meet with reps fi^om the City's Public Works Dept. (with authority over rights of way and streets) and Development Services Dept. (with authority over land use and plats) to discuss details of a possible re- plat laud exchange. 4. Budgeted Funds for Map Printing— Staff needs actual bids for pads of printed tear- off sheet of the new trail maps. Board members wanted to make sure the maps are printed with printer's ink, not toner, as the latter nuns and become illegible. It was suggested that Chamber may be approached for funding as the maps are appreciated by tourists. 5. Downtown Bike Racks —Pete Sexton is expected to submit a letter to the City requesting conversion of one car parking space in front of his store be used for bicycle parking. Pete Lauritzen suggested that it is time for another bicycle parking survey. The earlier one (2004) is now quite dated. Tim Eaton is very interested in this issue and would like to work on it in detail. 6. August Trail Project— Scott reported that with the completion of a major link in the Westside Loop, Lowell Jons has recommended that the board revisit the treadway placement on the Baker Street Trail that was developed in July, 2011. The existing trail is quite steep with short switchbacks. Treadway realignment to lengthen the switch backs would help moderate the incline. A better delineated r/w border is needed. The board decided to organize a trail work day for Saturday, August 18 from 9am to noon to improve the treadway alignment down the hill. Owen Fairbank had another trail project request, suggesting that a better connection was needed between 36th Street to the 39th Street Trail to make a good gateway into Cappy's Trails from town. The N-S r/w's are 80 feet wide and provide enough room to create good switchbacks down the steep terrain. Logan and Rosecrans r/w's should be considered; bulldozer work would be needed. Owen announced that he has a number of trail signs and is willing to put some up on the Baker Street connection. Board members requested that a large map of existing and proposed trail corridors to be displayed during meetings for reference purposes. (Addendum: Judy posted a map the following day) It was suggested that we annotate the trail volunteer list with short descriptions of any special expertise available. 7. 2012 Work Plan —not separately discussed, topics already listed as business items or in long term, continuing issues. 8. Fir Street Walkway— Scott(and Jolly) reviewed the history of the Fir Street walkway, which had been a 4-foot gravel platform on the east (high) side of Fir Street which allowed access for pedestrian use of the road. New housing development along Fir Street over the years has diminished this path with new driveways and landscaping. The path is no longer continuous or comfortable for walking. Fir Street is designated as a major non-motorized neighborhood connector in the NMT Plan and functions as a well used non-motorized route into Ft. Worden. The board would like to know if this path can be re-established. 9. New trail map posted to the City's website—The Board thanks Tyler Johnson and any other staff members who made this posting happen. Public access to the information has been sorely needed for awhile. 10. Clarification of Board's role in promoting biking and walking— This topic was already clarified in an e-mail memo from Judy Surber after a meeting with Rick Sepler (copy below). 11. Schedule for appointing missing member of the board—In addition to the application(s) already received, it was suggested that the board include horseback rider representation in the future. V. General Discussion - Two long-standing, critical missing links still remain on major trail corridors, one to complete the Spruce Valley Section of the Portage Trail (Cedar to Center) and one to complete the Chestnut Street Trail from Morgan Hill into Ft. Worden (between P and Q Streets). The board would really appreciate staff attention to these problems and a suggested timeline for resolution.. - Sgt. Suber (through Judy) reported that there has been a recent spike in bicycle thefts in PT (seven last week).They mostly happen at night with cut cable locks on bicycles parked outside. - Judy Suber reported that she had to take her horse through the Howard Street Roundabout; motorists were courteous. - Lys reported that WALC staff, who bicycle often through the Howard Street Roundabout, are concerned about the signage. Bicycle riders are directed onto Howard Street where they must ride out of the way and make a"U" turn to continue west on Sims Way. A "Bicycles Sharing Roadway" sign would be more appropriate. VI. Next Meeting: 4:30 pm, September 6, 2012. VII. Adjourned at 6:00 pm VIII. Long Term, Continuing Issues: 1. Website update, Portage Trail, Securing r/w easements for Spruce Valley and Chestnut Street Trails, Hwy 20 underpass 2. IX. Action Steps Needed 1. Board field trip to Grant Street School on October 3", individual exploration of all non- motorized pathvmys into the school recommended. 2. Someone needs to Nvork on a map printing spec (paper,no. of maps, binding, etc) and determine bids 3. Lvs to send electronic copy of the 2004 Bicycle Parking Survey results to Tim 4. Announcement and promotion needed for August trail Nvork day. Lvs to send volunteer registration materials to Sally. 5. JolIv to coordinate August trail project Nvith staff. 6. Draft letter to WashDOT still needs to be v ritten(Lys needs assistance in order to write draft). On Jul 20, 2012, at 11:01 AM, Judy Surber wrote: Hello Scott, As promised, following is a response to your questions - compiled after my meeting with Rick and Mary Heather on Wednesday: Please provide us with a definition of the word "promotion,"which is found in the NMTAB enabling language. Rick explained that as the term is not defined in the NMTP, in this context,promotion is read as "advocacy"—as in providing information materials, outreach,presentations,providing a clearing house of information, events, raising awareness and even funds(placed in a dedicated city account). Judy Surber Senior Planner/Planning Manager City of Port Townsend 250 Madison Street, Suite 3 Port Townsend, WA 98368 360.379.5084 0surber aacityofpt.us