HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-BPAC-2006-08-10Minutes
Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Council (BPAC) Meeting
August 10, 2006, Thursday, 7pm, 2"d Conference Room, City Hall
** *NOTICE: Our September meeting will be postponed so that we can attend the
Sustainable Tompkins meeting /potluck scheduled for Sept. 14, 6:00 -8:30, at the
Cooperative Extension. The focus of this meeting will be "Transportation." * **
Present: Kent Johnson (Chair), Dave Nutter, David Kay, Tim Logue, Jennifer Dotson,
Nicole Tedesco, Dave McElrath, Jan Zeserson
Guests: David Henderson, Steven William Culman
Absent: Ken Mudge, Michelle Berry, Carla Shafer, Dwight Mengel, Ron Chapman
Guest Report
PAC Report follow -up: At end of June, Mayor Peterson contacted David Henderson
about PAC. David, Chair of the original PAC group, responded with his suggestions, and
has not yet heard from the Mayor. David is willing to serve, but needs guidance from the
City. In the meantime BPAC voted to endorse David's involvement and his suggestions
for assigning various PAC recommendations to pertinent City departments, and urged
David to contact the Mayor again (which David did already in an email on August 11).
In June 2005, then -BPAC Chair David Kay, in a lengthy letter to Robin Korherr,
included the following paragraph on behalf of BPAC, stating BPAC's willingness to
serve:
To: Robin Korherr, Chair of the Community Services Committee
From: BPAC - David Kay, Chair
RE: BPAC recommendations concerning implementation of PAC Final Report
(30 June 2005):
3. Institutionalize inclusion of advisory councils in city decisions
This is vitally important because these advisory councils (DAC and BPAC)
contain citizens thinking hard about issues related to pedestrians and
their energy, time, and expertise is needed by the city especially in this
era of limited resources. It is also their role as stated in the city code
that set them up. There have been examples of pedestrian facilities being
simply overlooked in several recent constructions - -- the inclusion of DAC
and BPAC in the decision process will make this less likely. In addition,
the more closely these bodies are integrated into the city decision making
processes, the more informed and helpful their advice is likely to
be. BPAC is eager to work with Council, staff, and other committees to
figure out how these recommendations can be actually implemented in
practice.
It is in this spirit that BPAC again supports and applauds David Henderson for his role as
chair of the original PAC and for his willingness to serve in implementing the Report.
Steve Culman's bicycle accident with vehicle on Rte.79 (E.StateSt) & Schuyler Ph
Steve reported that driver of the vehicle pleaded not guilty, and a non jury trial will
follow. Steve is healing well from face scarring and shoulder injury.
At July BPAC meeting, it was decided to send a resolution to Common Council that
Steve's accident is a wake -up call to implement the Bike Plan on E. State Street (Rte. 79)
now. That letter of resolve has not been sent yet. Members expressed urgency about
striking while the iron is hot, given that Steve's accident highlights the obvious need to
make E. State Street a safer bicycle route for commuters to and from downtown - Cornell.
It was suggested that in addition to sending a resolution we also make a live presentation
to Community Services Committee. We agreed that Kent will think about how to
proceed and a decision will be made as soon as possible.
Member Reports
Town of Ithaca: Nicole will give a guided presentation through the Town of Ithaca
Transportation Plan at our October BPAC meeting, with hopes of involving BPAC in that
planning process.
City Trails Master Plan Committee: Jan reported that this citizens committee met for
the first time on March 2, 2006. Jan, a member of that committee, will contact City
Planner Lisa Nichols, chair of that committee, for an update.
Black Diamond Trail Work Day:
Jan announced that Parks Manager Paul Thorington has agreed to supervise a workday in
early October. Details will be announced as soon as decided.
Hilton Sidewalk: Tim clarified that the pull -in loading zone is state - owned. Tim sent
plans for reclaiming that pull -in for sidewalk to DOT in Syracuse about 2 -3 months ago,
and after getting no response, contacted them again 2 -3 weeks ago. No response at all,
quite discouraging.
Tim is unclear whether the space between the pillars and the front door has been given as
an easement to the City, or is private property of the owners.
2
Earlier this summer, Joe Whetmore was preparing to petition all the City Committees
about this issue, but we have not heard whether he actually accomplished this. At our
May meeting, we agreed to sign a resolution to support Tim's efforts to reclaim the
sidewalk, but we cannot find a record of existence of this resolution.
Crosswalks:
• Tim reported that Ithaca Police Dept requested the City to stripe a crosswalk opposite
their entrance. After lengthy discussion, it was decided that the best solution is two
crosswalks: one at IPD and another where the curb rocks currently exist. Tim will
execute this decision.
• New crosswalk signs have been installed at Cayuga & Farm St.; and at Clinton &
Corn St. A crosswalk sign for Clinton & Plain St. intersection is on the way.
Clinton /Fulton/Meadow St. crosswalks are in the works.
• State DOT is making plans to install new pedestrian signals around town, including
Third St. & Meadow. Tim asked for 6- second pedestrian lead time signals at both of
Third St. and Dey St. We already have these pedestrian lead time signals at Wood
St., South St., and at Hollywood Video. To be precise, DOT is putting a ped crossing
signal on one side of the Rte 13 crossing (from the physical therapy building to
B &W) and on one side of the Third St. crossing (from B &W to Aldi's). They are
also replacing the signals at Tops & Wegman's entrances (as they are set up).
• After the new State signals are in place, Tim will request striping; signals and striping
are two different divisions within DOT.
Sustainable Tompkins Meetings:
Jennifer announced that the next monthly potluck meeting of Sustainable Tompkins will
focus on transportation. It is scheduled for Sept. 14, 6:00 -8:30, which conflicts with our
regular BPAC meeting. Many of us want to attend the Sustainable Tompkins meeting, so
we postponed our monthly BPAC meeting until Sept. 21.
Waterfront Trail Update:
Tim reported that before the City decides whether or not a third public hearing is called
for, it plans to make offers to property owners for easements. The State must approve
the $$ offers, so time line is indefinite at the moment.
Bike Suitability Map:
• Kent met with Fernando d'Aragon and a representative from Cornell transportation
and employees of Trowbridge & Wolf. Themes that emerged from that meeting are
connectivity from edges of the City to the center; linking destinations; and connecting
main streets, including informal cut - throughs and bridges.
• Questions: How is Fernando evaluating routes—by what criteria? Where do t -GEIS
and ITCTC suitability maps coincide? Who is the intended audience for Fernando's
map?
• Bike lift: David Kay and Kent agree that Seneca St. is the best route for a bike lift,
going against vehicle traffic. The one -way street provides the necessary room for a
lift along the curb line.
Planning Board Project List (provided monthly by Tim):
• Hoyt Ball field
• Top of Hill Apartments, 320 Dryden Road, Parking Lot off Summit.
Should Kent stay on as Chair of BPAC?
Kent has just been hired by the City's Engineering Office.
In the next few months, we will consider and look for precedent regarding whether it is a
conflict of interest for him to stay on as the chair of BPAC, given that we are a citizens
advisory group.
Kent's email on the job: kjohnson(am,cityofithaca.org
Meeting adjourned at 9:20.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Jan
El