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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-07-2013 o�QORT T0� V �O City of Port Townsend wA Meeting Minutes Non-Motorized Transportation Advisory Board Thursday, February 7, 2013, 4:30 pra - 5:30 pra City Hall, Conference Rm 41 L Meeting called to order at 4:30 pm by board chair, Scott Walker II. Members in attendance: Tim Eaton, Pete Sexton, Pat Teal and Jolly Wahlstrom, and Dick Williams; Lys Burden arrived at 4:45pm, Sally Chapin arrived at 4:50pm III. Staff present: Judy Surber Visitors: Brenda McMillan, Richard Dandridge, Bob Gray, and Owen Fairbank arrived at 4:45pm II Approval of agenda —Agenda approved as amended by voice vote III. Approval of Minutes —Minutes of the January meeting were approved by voice vote. IV. Business 1. Lynn/Richardson Property— Scott Walker had nothing to report at this time, but will meet with Dick Lynn and Doug Mason, attorney for Jefferson Land Trust later in January. At this time Scott is under the impression that Dr. Lynn only wants to trade enough land to move the trail, and a new corridor flagging process will be undertaken. 2. Grant Street School SRTS Discussion/Plan—Report was delayed for arrival of Lys (who was late from trying to complete the report). The draft 24-page report is 95% complete, and Lys will send all board members and staff the final initial draft for their review and comment. The report is due to go to the school district and public works department for their review too, so any additions or edits will need to be made by board members within a couple of days of receipt of the document. 3. Spruce Street Trail Connection—Judy reported that John Watts has been working with the landowner who wants to lower his taxes and is interested in selling the old r/w strip (assessed at $6,000)to allow an easement for public access. (Judy reported that the City sold this r/w many years ago.) Judy also reported that Ken Clow, John Watts and Rick Sepler met earlier today and are in favor or purchasing the r/w. They will let City Manager Dave Timmons know that this purchase is a priority for fiinding. 4. January Trail Project Review— The sign-making session took place at Jolly's workshop on Saturday, January 19th, and he has placed four signs along the 39th Street Trail at Hendricks, Thomas, Wilamette/Garnet(same street). Erik Kingfisher of JLT approved the concept, but it still must be approved in the plan. JLT has been sent an example photo of the placed signs (from Judy), The four signs are currently hung from trees, and feedback has been positive. 5. Budgeted Funds for Map Printing—Lys has had trouble connecting with David McCollough, but mentioned that a design firm in Portland regularly provides graphics for these sizes of maps for the Bureau of Transportation Bicycle Program. She will check costs. 6. Sheridan Street Improvements —Road edge improvements between Sims Way and loth Street are scheduled for sometime this spring, and board members would like to review the facility design before it goes to bid. DASH will meet with Public Works with a list of questions. The City is coordinating with the County on placement of a rain garden on the west side of Sheridan and with the hospital on their pending renovations. 6. Downtown Bike Racks —Pete Sexton reported that he has not sent the letter to the City to request a parking space conversion to bike parking facilities in front of his store. Visitor Richard Dandridge offered to help write a draft letter to get this project moving. Tim Eaton would like to see the City draft some form of bicycle parking implementation plan with annual minimum of racks to be installed per year. Pat Teal suggested that although the NMT Plan lists recommended locations, we need to prioritize the list at the next meeting. Richard Dandridge offered to help with prioritization. Ron McElroy of the Quimper Merc has been working with John McDonough on placing bike racks in front of the store, and they were considering bollard-style posts. Board members discouraged this style, as they do not give much support to parked bicycles. Scott will send images of other designs, especially a penny farthing design that may be in keeping with the store's theme. It was noted that the Historic Preservation Commission will approve innovative and artful designs on a case-by-case basis. Lys noted that the charitable donation tax credit from the City was designed to encourage private purchase of bike racks by enthusiasts or store owners. She will send the NMTAB all the charitable donation documents to board members and staff 7. 2013 Work Plan/Trail Work Schedule—tabled 8. NMTAB Website— Apparently there is some City heartburn over our trail volunteer Facebook page. Sally will speak with City Clerk, Pam Kolacy, about the details. Lys had send board members a link to a new PRTAB web page that is posted on the City's website. It is a centralized point of information for advisory board and City parks, recreation and trees information. Debbie Jahnke drafted the content and City staff put the page and links together within a couple of weeks. Lys proposed that the NMTAB look into a similar site where we could have a central place on the web for links and information on all things non-motorized in Port Townsend. Judy requested that staff receive the draft content for their review before it goes to City staff for posting. Lys volunteered draft content based on the parks board site and send a first draft to all NMTAB members and staff for review. 9. Explore Possible Road Edge Funding Source using Car Tab Fees — Scott still needs to meet with David Timmons to glean more information. Bob Gray reported that the topic had not come before City Council yet and was doubtful that it would be tackled soon, as the Unified Fire District and Metropolitan Park Board proposals were the issues of immediate interest/concern. 10. March Trail Project—Jolly suggested that the board work on the long standing request to relocate trails that go through Grant Street School property to the south and west perimeter. V. General Discussion - Bob Gray brought up the issue of an important missing sidewalk link, half a block on the north side of Discovery Road between Town Point and the end of the sidewalk by the Baptist Church. This corridor has heavy pedestrian traffic because of the school and bus stop to the east. Minimum needed would be grading and graveling the r/w. Sally volunteered to write a letter. - Jolly had questions for Judy about trails in wetlands, especially in the Quimper Wildlife Corridor(QWC), as we have done trail maintenance there recently. Judy said: 1.) we must work on existing trails only, 2.) wetlands are designated on maps and site visit are required prior to work, 3.) work must not interrupt the hydrologic flow, but large drain gravel should work It was noted that the 39th Street Trail is wet in 5 to 6 places. - Dick Williams asked about the trail behind Town Point and the need to improve this trail. Judy had a plat map of the development and noted a 10-foot easement along the boundary, but nobody knew if this had been designated a common use area and would be available for a common pathway. Someone must research the PUD materials to answer this question. (Jack Hensel worked on the PUD application.) - Constriction debris blocking a trail has been observed at the new Habitat for Humanity home constriction in the same area(as above) - Designated trail on the 7th Street r/w in the Bishop Park Development is a short section (starting at Memory Lane) that provides access from Hancock to Parkside to Bishop Park. Parkside Park planning MUST include this trail access. (Trail steps into the Bishop Park ravine were constricted by a Boy Scout troop about 12 years ago, with entrance off 9th St.) - Judy suggested the idea of a trail near Kah Tai Lagoon on r/w used by Malcolm Dorn as a driveway to his shed. This trail (for bikes and peds only) could be a loop to view the lagoon or possibly a through pathway by extending it on the Kuhn and Landes Streets r/w and to 14th Street. This trail would impact Tim Eaton's property, and Scott Walker was going to make a site visit. VI. Next Meeting: 4:30 pm, March 7, 2013. VII. Adjourned at 6:15 pm VIII. Long Term, Continuing Issues: 1. Securing r/w purchase for Spruce Valley Trail connection and Chestnut St. Trail easement, 2. Designating and marking an official Portage Trail, 3. Hwy 20 underpass and appropriately marking bicycle passage through the Upper Sims Way roundabouts 4. SRTS improvements IX. Action Steps Needed 1. Send electronic draft Grant Street School Walking Audit Report document to board members for their review and comment 2. Scott to meet Nvith Dick Lvnn after his return 3. Meeting Nvith Dave Timmons to obtain more information about proposed car tab fee program and support for more business-funded bike racks in town 4. Sallv to contact Pam about the FB page and v rite a letter about the sideNvallc link needed on Discover`-*. 5. Lvs to send draft NMTAB Nveb page content to board members and staff 6. Richard Dandridge Nvill v rite a draft letter for Pete Sexton to send to the City for bicycle parking in front of his store 7. Lys Nvill gather more information on a design and cost for the new pocket-sized bike/ped map by checking Nvith David McCollough and Portland. 8. JolIv Neill contact TvIer Johnson at PW and provide more details about the March trail project to relocate the trail at Grant Street School. 9. Judv to ask for an update from Dave Pederson on the Sheridan Street Improvements to be made in 2013. 10. Lvs Nvill send copies of the charitable donation(trail expenses and bike racks)information to Judt and the board. 11. Draft letter to WashDOT still needs to be v ritten about inappropriate roundabout signage for bieveling