HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Bicycle & Pedestrian Committee - 02/08/20231
South Burlington Bike & Pedestrian Committee
FINAL Regular Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 @ 5:30 p.m.
Room 301, City Hall AND Virtual
Committee Attendees: Havaleh Gagne (Chair), Donna Leban, Bob Britt, Nic Anderson (Clerk), Ann
Mason, Amanda Holland, Doug Goodman, Joel Klug, Dana Farr
Committee Absent: None
Other Attendees: Erica Quallen (City Staff Liaison), Ilona Blanchard (City Staff), Susan Grasso (Local
Motion)
Public: SA O’Brien (virtual)
1. Welcome, Emergency Exit and Virtual Meeting Instructions, Gratitude –Havaleh (6:00PM)
2. Changes or additions to the agenda –Havaleh (6:02PM)
a. Adding quick update from Ilona Blanchard on TIF Bond Vote.
3. Comments from the public not related to the agenda–Havaleh (6:05PM)
a. Member of public. Lived along Kennedy Drive for 27 years. Walker. On right track with
everything on lighting from last month. Replaced walkway lighting at their condo
complex and its good.
4. Consideration of minutes from January 11, 2023–Havaleh (6:10PM)
a. One addition from Bob. Under updates from the city. After Spear St widening had asked
about lane narrowing on Kimball. Asked if we needed to list on CIP. Erica confirmed
would just be done next time they striped.
b. Dana – Correction on Nic and Amanda would look at bike to school in May, not ride of
Silence. Donna thought we were looking at both. Amanda took minutes. Grouped as
awareness ride group with separate kids educational event and would be separate from
Ride of Silence. Ride to school is in May. Amanda – Didn’t come to consensus. Would
connect with Local Motion to see what events were in May. That was her interpretation
already. Ann understood it that we would at least just contact Local Motion. Nic
mentioned that May is bike month so could be a lot of events. Remove word May from
minutes. Susan Grasso mentioned they would love to work with the committee around
May events. Donna mentioned it is hard to initiate schools on anything. Asked if there
was advice on connecting with schools. Susan would love to talk with someone on
another meeting about supporting events. Can’t run them but can help make them
easier.
c. Bob motion to approve. With correction to strike May from 7.
d. Seconded by Ann, including two edits.
e. Nic and Havaleh Abstain.
f. All approved.
5. TIF Update
a. From Ilona Blanchard. Gave presentation
b. Four projects on TIF funding ask on Ballot
c. $15MM total ask for TIF Financing
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d. Detailed each of the four projects.
e. Doug noted this is an investment.
f. Nic mentioned that Local Motion reached out to provide support for getting people out
to vote. Will connect with them. Want to make sure it doesn’t go badly at the ballot.
g. Amanda noted that this was discussed at Art Committee and concern that this is the last
potential vote for TIF funding.
h. Doug asked about City doing FPF.
i. Erica noted that they cannot lobby for one side or the other. Lots of opportunities to
discuss budgets over the next while. Erica noted that cannot speak on behalf of the
committee and recommends making sure that if you are speaking you confirm that you
are not representing the committee.
j. Donna – At planning committee meeting this was discussed in detail. Should have no
effect on people’s taxes. Had good tax projections from what has already been built.
k. Erica will send out Ilona’s presentation from last budget presentation and can easily
send to bike ped committee members.
l. Donna has been having lots of discussion around impact to other budgets (not an
impact to schools).
6. Updates from the City –Erica (6:15PM)
a. Updates in Agenda Packet.
7. Multi-Site Crosswalk Preferred Alternative Discussion –Erica, Havaleh (6:20PM)
a. Committee members can submit information.
b. Amanda submitted comments around changes and restricting around intent and
recommendations. Want to have realistic expectations. Some comments on what I don’t
support not in the written comments.
c. Doug detailed support. Have strong feelings on Dubois Drive. VTRANS study showed
53MPH just south of this location. Detailed fatality and injury numbers from Feds and
want to know what numbers were used in this study. Really need to do something about
speed here. Need to do something really serious.
d. Havaleh asked to keep on track with regard to crosswalks.
e. Bob noted a previous VTRANS speed study in 2021 at the City’s request that concluded
that the speed limit would remain at 45MPH. Need to use the crosswalk scoping report
findings to work towards redoing that request, using this study to get the speed
reduced.
f. Amanda – As a planner, should have a bold statement of what the next step is, not just
an alternative with a note that it can’t work. Would like them to be bolder, not just
leave it vague.
g. Doug – People are dying on our roads. We need to up our game on this.
h. Havaleh asked what the next step was for Erica. Do we need action items?
i. Erica – This shows documented need for the project. If we want to use outside money,
we need to have this study. Final deliverable is primarily a funding seeking tool.
j. Amanda and Bob represented committee on a lot of these, nothing to approve, just
reviewing drafts for additional comments. No vote on this.
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k. Havaleh suggested providing written comments on Dubious about what the committee
wants.
l. Erica is happy to submit minutes and written comments if they wanted to submit
m. Donna – How do we change the recommendations in the report before it gets finalized?
n. Amanda wants to know if they take into the consideration on the crashes at a further
distance from this intersection bounds. Recommendations should say what we do next,
based on the recommendation. Would they accept modifications?
o. Erica has not submitted City comments or CCRPC comments.
p. Amanda thinks there are other things in her comments that are valuable. Want to make
sure that our recommendations are taken. Don’t agree on Nicklaus Circle where it is just
a sidewalk but no crosswalk.
q. Donna – Neighbors said they would do the sidewalk if needed.
r. Amanda – Doesn’t meet the warrants for a crosswalk anyway because of only 9 houses.
s. Erica – RPC felt that it would not be appropriate to recommend that the neighbors
install something. Didn’t feel comfortable recommending something being completely
funded by the development.
t. Bob noted that there is another proposed development for 32 homes on the other side
of the street which could lead to higher crossing counts in the near future.
u. Havaleh – Committee members should submit written comments to Erica. Can discuss
next steps at another meeting.
v. Erica can collect and send out to committee for review (not comment because of Open
Meeting Law).
8. Updates Ongoing Committee/Liaison Work:(6:40PM)
a. Vice Chair updates/comments–Bob
b. DRB Update
c. DPW/Safety –Bob, Dana, Amanda, Doug
d. Bike Friendly Community Planning/Greenway progress–Nic
e. Communications/Outreach –Donna
f. Mapping–Amanda, Nic
g. Signs–Nic, Donna, Dana
9. Confirm March 8, 2023 Meeting/ Comprehensive Plan Meeting (6:55 PM)
a. Next meeting would host Transportation Component of Comprehensive Plan Meeting.
b. Erica – Discussion at City meeting to have folks get together at 6 or 6:30 to discuss
before that meeting.
c. Bob asked if we started at 5:30 so we can continue to discuss important items before
that meeting.
d. Amanda – Should definitely meet beforehand.
e. Havaleh – Suggested meeting at 6pm that day before 7pm. Not a separate meeting.
f. Donna asked how the public meeting comments can work. Could we just compile notes?
g. Erica – Committee feedback is due back March 17th after the meeting. Just what was
heard at the meeting.
h. Donna – Each could just take our own minutes and send back to one person to submit.
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i. Havaleh – Can compile (her or Nic) the notes afterwards
j. Donna mentioned request for Clean and Green article in Other Paper. Could also do Safe
Routes to School (or other) such as what safe routes are available and other safe routes
to walk/bike in SB.
k. Havaleh noted that that was a big topic for the 750-word maximum.
10. Adjourn to attend 2024 City Plan Energy and Climate Meeting (by 7:00PM)
a. Nic motion to Adjourn
b. Seconded by Bob
c. Adjourned 6:58PM