Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutR - 2024-14- Establishing Safe Routes to School Task Force 2024-14 :40 s out000 VERMONT City Council Resolution Establishing a Safe Routes to School Task Force June 3, 2024 WHEREAS the City of South Burlington and South Burlington School District jointly commit to counteracting climate change as laid out in the City's Climate Action Plan including the promotion of biking and walking. WHEREAS the City of South Burlington and South Burlington School District share a common goal to make it safer for students to walk and bike to school and encourage more walking,biking, and rolling where safety is not a barrier. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of South Burlington and South Burlington School District jointly establish the Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) Task Force to work together towards a shared vision of safe walking, biking, and rolling for all ages and abilities, including the use of assistive mobility devices, to and from schools. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Safe Routes to Schools Task Force: 1. will consist of the following appointed positions: 1. One seat appointed by the City Council 2. The Director of the City's Department of Public Works or their designee 3. One seat appointed by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee 4. One seat appointed by the School Board 5. A staff member of the South Burlington School District Facilities Department, appointed by the School Board 6. A rotating volunteer school district building administrator 7. A student representative, parent, or educator in a student-facing position appointed by the School Board 2. will complete the following tasks with administrative support provided by the City and School District as needed: Task 1: Develop safe walking and biking routes to each of the five school campuses. This work will involve: • Using city and school data to develop maps of safe walking and biking routes. • Evaluating the safety, comfort, and convenience of routes, especially as they address the unique needs of students, and identifying barriers and improvements. • Identifying the need for crossing guards along these routes. • Sharing identified routes with other city planning efforts related to active transportation, such as the Active Transportation Plan and Bike/Ped Committee master planning work. • Identify other topic, policy, or responsibility areas within the city and school district that overlap with or could benefit from information gathered from this Task Force and make recommendations accordingly. 180 Market Street, South Burlington,Vermont 05403 802-846-4107 www.southburlingtonvt.gov 2024-14 I s outhburlington VERMONT Task 2: Support SRTS school-based teams to plan and execute education and encouragement events for school communities and track active transportation mode share using Local Motion's travel tally data collection process. • Evaluate baseline transportation to school mode shares using Local Motion's travel to school tally data collection process and determine whether/how to set walking and biking target mode shares for each school and/or school district. • Assist in the coordination of school-based education, encouragement and demonstration events. Task 3: Following the completion of Tasks 1 and 2, make recommendations regarding the need for a continued partnership towards this shared vision. 3. will work with the nonprofit Local Motion for facilitation and expert analysis of data while subscribing to the best practices of the national Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) program and Complete Streets models. 4. will make decisions by consensus of appointed members. If achieving consensus proves difficult, the Task Force may revisit its decision-making protocol. 5. will report on initial findings for each task by fall 2024 to the South Burlington City Council and School Board to inform the city and school district budget processes for FY26. 6. will promote transparency, accountability, and better decision-making in government by: 1. providing advance public notice of meetings, including meeting agendas. 2. allowing members of the public to attend and participate in meetings. 3. nominating a meeting notetaker to take meeting minutes and make them available to the public. 4. documenting all actions and decisions made by the Task Force in meeting minutes, whether taken during or outside of public meetings. 5. reviewing and approving meeting minutes at each meeting. 7. will use the city's website to inform the community of its work. The web page will include links to meeting agendas/minutes, Task Force members, and meeting dates. 8. will coordinate with City and District staff to get information about meetings or other Task Force group-related events out to the school community and community at large. Approved this 3rd day of June 2024. SOUTH BU LINGTON CITY COUNCIL Tim Barritt, Cha" ndre Chalnick, e-Chair Mich Scanlan, Clerk urie Smith Elizabeth Fitzgerald 180 Market Street, South Burlington,Vermont 05403 1802-846-4107 I www.southburlingtonvt.gov