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HomeMy WebLinkAbout030614 OF PORT TOE � ys ti City of Port TownsendwA Meeting Minutes Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Board Thursday, March 6, 2014, 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm City Hall, Conference Rm 41 L Meeting called to order at 4:35 pm by board vice chair, Jolly Wahlstrom Members in attendance: Lys Burden, Sally Chapin, Richard Dandridge, Tim Eaton, Pat Teal and Dick Williams Staff present: Tyler Johnson and Rick Sepler Visitors: Dan Brant IL Approval of Agenda —Agenda approved with modification of agenda numbers by voice vote IL Approval of Minutes —Minutes of the December and January meetings were approved. III. IV. Business 1. Public Works Staff items: a. Spruce Street/Chestnut r/w/acquisition — Scott is working with John Watts b. Trail Project Recap &Planning—Upcoming trail project will fill in some low spots in 35th Street Park trails with the existing gravel pile there (approximately 3 cu. yds.). Announcements to the press and trail volunteers have been distributed, starting last week. Rick reviewed the process needed to go forward with the Grant Street School Trail, as outlined in an e-mail from Mary Sepler, also the need to work with adjacent landowners, prior to developing the trail. He had walked the corridor and met with the planning committee (Mary, Tyler and Jolly). A map of the proposed corridor is needed, and Tyler will be providing it. The corridor has been flagged by Jolly and Dan Brant. We were encouraged to attend school board meetings to talk about bike racks needed and importance of significant non-motorized improvements. Board members inquired about the current notification process for adjacent landowners, as we were unclear about the process since Mary Heather left. Who writes the letters for us? Rick realized that we need to re-establish a process and suggested that the City should print a quantity of generic postcards with Mary Heather's language with space to customize the location. The improvements needed along the 39�h Street Trail wet areas were discussed. The City still needs to ask Dixie Lewellyn to assess what studies and designs are needed to improve the hydrology. The number one objective will be to minimize impacts to the wetlands. We may be able to place "pin piles around the edges of the wet areas that would not impede water flow. A parallel trail system of compacted earth may also work, and we would need a good base map to figure quantities of cut and fill material needed. Sketches of a section design (with all-weather surface designated). A file of all permit approvals needs to be kept. Any filling would require a critical area permit and Army Corps of Engineers permit. Mountain biker, Harold Anderson may be able to help with submitting the permit applications. We need to recruit involvement and support of Rick Maag from Dept. of Ecology for this project. We also need to coordinate with Jefferson Land Trust on mitigation and entrance designs needed, as they have a plan for the area. We may need to do some mitigation and could possibly plant some basin buffer natives at Winona Wetland. Also needed are some targeted Comp Plan revisions in Transportation specifying key issues: motorized trip reduction, service to concentrated development, health demographics and active living encouragement. Rick estimates this project may need as much as $9,000 of staff time and would take about a year to complete. The board reviewed the situation at Holcomb and 30th with the removal of the cow fence from the r/w. A trail may only need signage, although a culvert may be needed over a ditch. The City needs to contact the adjacent landowners. c. Hastings Hill Climb (near Howard Street) — Tyler had nothing new to report. The City needs to determine how to pay for design and improvement, but Public Works is open to providing some signage. d. Grant Street SRTS Grant Funds for map printing—The schools are working on SRTS maps with Tracie Chandler, Director of School Transportation, and the City is planning assemblies for school to emphasize safety and encourage walking and biking to school. e. DT Bike Racks — Racks have not been ordered yet. 2. COMP Update Planning—some discussion above. 3. Trail Project/Project List/Grant Street trail work—The 2014 Trail Work Project List discussed included: 1. 30th & Holcomb and Cedar to Center connections 2. Gap in the Sea-to-Sea(STS) Route at Hastings and Sherman 3. North Beach problem of ill-defined trail on r/w being used as a driveway 4. Grant Street School Trail There was also some discussion about the Logan Street improvements needed on the STS Route to make a contoured trail. Negotiations are needed with Buck Henry to see if r/w trade is possible to allow broader public space for a switch back. 4. Trails/Safe Use Articles —Jolly volunteered to ask Denise to write for the paper. 5. Map Project: Funding, Edits, QR Walk Times, Process —Lys to send Walk Times Map to board members 6. Roster/NMTAB elections —We still need to recruit another board member.. 7. Bike Friendliness Project - Christina Privarnik is the only support the City can muster. Richard Dandridge is continuing to lead the efforts to establish this program. 8. NMTAB Website—Sally volunteered to talk to Peach about updating our pages. 9. 2014 Plan and Trail Work Plan—covered somewhat above. 10. Bike Tour Ideas —for the ride with Dave Timmons tabled. 11. 39th Street Trail Plan—to alleviate muddy trails and involve Dixie Llewellyn, covered above. Jolly will meet with Dixie once Tyler has a map ready. 12. Grant Street SRTS Audit Report—The City is pursuing another grant to make the following improvements: the gap on Sheridan Street between 10th and 14th, Center Street between Blue Heron and Cherry Street and Blaine Street between the high school and Mountain View Commons. V. General Discussion: - Caption needed for last trail work day photo - Distributiion of the HUB diagram developed by the Recyclery would be helpful. VI. Next Meeting: 4:30 pm, April 3rd, 2014; VII. Adjourned at 6:00 pm VIII. Long Term, Continuing Issues: 1. Securing r/w purchase for Chestnut St.Trail easement and Spruce Street connection 2. Designating and marking an official Portage Trail route 3. Hwy 20 underpass and appropriately marking bicycle passage through the Upper Sims Way roundabouts 4. Meet with Timmons;Agency rep invitations to board meetings XI. Action Steps Needed a. Tyler to bring new bike/ped draft map print-outs b. Lys to e-mail Walking Times Maps c. Jolly to meet with Dixie d. Designated Route Task Force to meet at Dick's house e. Lys and Jolly still need to meet with David McCulloch about map project review f. Draft letter to WashDOT still needed to be written about inappropriate roundabout signage for bicycling,potential underpass development at Bishop Park and Kearney Street intersection planning g. All board members to visit Chestnut r/w between P and Q