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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem02 Springfield Open Streets Event AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 1/22/2018 Meeting Type: Work Session Staff Contact/Dept.: Emma Newman/DPW Staff Phone No: 541.726-4585 Estimated Time: 15 min S P R I N G F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L Council Goals: Promote and Enhance our Hometown Feel while Focusing on Livability and Environmental Quality ITEM TITLE: SPRINGFIELD OPEN STREETS EVENT ACTION REQUESTED: Provide guidance on desired level of support and involvement for City of Springfield partnering with Willamalane Park and Recreation District to co-lead establishing an annual open streets event program in Springfield. ISSUE STATEMENT: The Springfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and other community partners and members have expressed interest in Springfield having an open streets event. Springfield and Willamalane staff have had initial meetings with BPAC members to develop the concept that is being brought forward to City Council for consideration. ATTACHMENTS: Attachment 1: Springfield Open Street Information and Levels of Support Attachment 2: Springfield Open Streets Overview Attachment 3: AARP Letter of Support Attachment 4: Point2Point Letter of Support DISCUSSION/ FINANCIAL IMPACT: Initial conversations about the possibility of Springfield starting an open streets event have led to conversations of possibility and excitement, seeing the event as a key initiative to celebrate and promote active transportation and showcase Springfield community organizations and businesses. A working group consisting of BPAC members, City of Springfield staff and Willamalane staff developed a draft vision and goals for Springfield open streets. Vision: Springfield open streets events promote healthy, active living by temporarily opening the city’s streets so people can walk, bike, roll, and discover active transportation in a safe, car-free environment. Goals: Encourage walking, biking, and rolling through a free community event Enhance Springfield’s economy by featuring local businesses and organizations Create opportunities for community engagement and civic pride Highlight accessible transportation options for community members of all ages and abilities Promote the health and environmental benefits of active transportation Additional information about what open streets events are and more details about potential levels of support are provided in Attachment 1. Attachment 2 provides the vision and example of what open streets could look like and contribute to Springfield. M E M O R A N D U M City of Springfield Date: 1/22/2018 To: Gino Grimaldi COUNCIL From: Anette Spickard, Director of Development and Public Works Emma Newman, Senior Transportation Planner BRIEFING Subject: Springfield Open Streets Event MEMORANDUM ISSUE: The Springfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and other community partners and members have expressed interest in Springfield having an open streets event. Springfield and Willamalane staff have had initial meetings with BPAC members to develop the concept that is being brought forward to City Council for consideration. COUNCIL GOALS/ MANDATE: Promote and Enhance our Hometown Feel While Focusing on Livability and Environmental Quality BACKGROUND: What is an open streets event? Open streets events are being hosted in more and more communities worldwide each year as a way to encourage healthy, active lifestyles by providing community members with the opportunity to experience our largest public spaces, our streets, in a car-free environment for an afternoon. The streets are open to people to walk, bike, scoot, skate, dance, and roll and there are activities to promote health and well-being along the event route. These activities could consist of fitness classes, activity booths hosted by local community organizations, performances, walking large-scale children’s book storytelling, a mobile bicycle library, food trucks, and more. The events provide opportunities for community partners to be involved and contribute to the event’s success, to connect neighbors, and to support local businesses. Open streets events are often credited with originating in Bogotá Colombia as “ciclovias” and have since been implemented in communities across the United States, including Oregon events such as Portland Sunday Parkways, Eugene Sunday Streets, and Bend Open Streets. The events vary depending on the city, to meet the needs and style of the local community. How did the concept of an open streets event in Springfield originate? The Springfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) has included a goal of helping to launch a Springfield open streets event in both their 2016 and 2017 work plans. BPAC members have worked with staff to reach out to a few community partners (Willamalane, Springfield Safe Routes to School, Point2Point at LTD, and AARP) to explore the idea and develop this concept to bring forward to Springfield City Council. Willamalane staff, City staff, and BPAC members have been meeting to jointly develop this concept. Point2Point, AARP, and Safe Routes to School have expressed a desire to support the effort if it receives City of Springfield support to move forward. Attachment 3 and Attachment 4 are letters of support from AARP and Point2Point. Safe Routes to School actively participates through BPAC. Additionally, an open streets event was mentioned by many of the incoming BPAC members whom City Council interviewed and appointed in fall 2017. Community members have MEMORANDUM 1/18/2018 Page 2 frequently asked staff over the last few years, “when will Springfield have a Sunday Streets event?” What could the first Springfield open streets event consist of? As staff has explored the concept with BPAC members and Willamalane staff, there has been general agreement that starting within the Downtown/Washburne neighborhood with a route that is approximately 1 mile long would be an appropriate first event option for Springfield. As the events grow over time, other neighborhoods throughout Springfield could be considered. In order for staff support to be established, funding and sponsorship to be secured, a detailed route and traffic plan to be developed, and activity booth and business involvement to be solicited and organized, the earliest foreseeable timing for the first event would likely be the end of June 2019. The event would provide an opportunity to highlight active transportation options, educate the Springfield community about transportation safety, showcase local businesses and organizations, and connect more people within the Springfield community. One BPAC member involved in the planning effort shared with the group that “if we want to do it in a way that would be successful, we need to really embrace it and commit to the full vision.” She would like to see Main Street opened to people for the events and be able to better showcase downtown businesses. Open streets events have various names that are customized by local communities across the globe. Although this concept is being presented as “open streets,” if support is received a different Springfield-specific name or coordinated name with Eugene could be explored. Successful open streets events in other communities that result in high participation rates have started with an initial event and continued to build on the initial excitement and grow community support from year to year. What do event participants and volunteers experience? Why do they keep coming back? A Springfield BPAC member who has volunteered and participated in the Eugene Sunday Streets events said: I continue to attend and volunteer as an intersection "superhero" for Eugene Sunday Streets because I love being a part of this meaningful celebration. Standing at an intersection, smiling and greeting excited community members as they approach on foot or by bike, skateboard, scooter or wheelchair, I thoroughly enjoy the heart of the event--active living and accessibility. When a passing motorist slows to ask, "What's going on here; why are the streets closed?", I get to further fulfill the mission of Sunday Streets by educating individuals that beyond the divider, people are enjoying a few hours of safe, car-free togetherness in the streets. Most are intrigued and express interest, and several return later in the day to experience the event first hand. I'm very excited to see a uniquely Springfield approach to an open streets celebration--I know it's going to be memorable, popular and beautifully reflect our community. Is City management staff supportive of Springfield open streets? Transportation staff spoke with the City Manager’s Office, Development and Public Works, Library, and Springfield Police Department leadership to ensure there were no significant obstacles to moving this concept forward. Additionally, the concept was taken to the Springfield Executive Team and received a recommendation to be bring the idea to City Council. What investment is needed for an open streets event? For an open streets event to be successful, the following pieces are necessary: a coordinator position that is at least a half time seasonal staff position a high level of volunteer coordination support MEMORANDUM 1/18/2018 Page 3 traffic control planning and support sponsorship and advertising Willamalane is interested in supporting the development of a Springfield open streets annual event, but will need the City to support and co-lead as Willamalane is unable to move the project forward alone. During the first few years of the Eugene Sunday Streets events, the cost was approximately $20,000/event, without including staff time or in-kind support. What could different levels of City of Springfield support involve? Option 1: No support Springfield open streets does not move forward with any City of Springfield involvement. Option 2: Moderate Support Springfield open streets moves forward with a goal of the first event taking place in 2019. City of Springfield is Lead Sponsor in collaboration with Willamalane City of Springfield dedicates some staff time to ensure event success, pays or waives permit fees for the events, provides traffic control plan, and provides an officer or two who could be called in to support the event if necessary. Option 3: Strong Support Springfield open streets moves forward with a goal of the first event taking place in 2019. City of Springfield is Lead Sponsor in collaboration with Willamalane City of Springfield dedicates some staff time to ensure event success, pays or waives permit fees for the events, provides traffic control plan, and provides an officer or two who could be called in to support the event if necessary. City of Springfield requests regional transportation grant funding to support 2-3 years of support for the event, in the $10,000-$15,000 per year range. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Support the City of Springfield partnering with Willamalane Park and Recreation District to co-lead establishing an annual open streets event program in Springfield. Provide guidance on desired level of support and involvement. January 8, 2018 TO: Springfield City Council Springfield Mayor Christine Lundberg RE: Open Streets, Letter of Support AARP Oregon is pleased to provide this letter in support of City of Springfield establishing an Open Street event that celebrates walking, biking, health and community and we applaud the dedicated individuals and organizations involved in making this vision a reality. AARP has worked on Livable Communities and in 2012 launched the Network of Age Friendly Communities – a template for cities to use as they look at 8 Domains of Livability in creating a city for people of all ages. AARP’s public policy supports local and state jurisdictions pursuit of transportation plans that accommodate all users, including pedestrians and bicyclists. In addition, America’s public health crisis of obesity is well-documented. More than two-thirds of adults are overweight and more than 1 in 10 children become obese as early as ages 2-5 years. Older adults have the highest obesity rates of any age group, topping 35 percent in 17 states. Oregon has the 31st highest adult obesity rate in the nation, according to The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America released in August 2017. Oregon’s adult obesity rate is currently 28.7 percent, up from 19.9 percent in 2000 and from 11.2 percent in 1990. Traditional public health intervention efforts, such as nutrition and exercise education and promotion have had limited success. What is clear is that a crisis of this scale and tenacity requires a fresh approach. Open Streets might be that spark. Open Streets unlock our streets to people so that they may walk, run, bike, skate, dance and play for a few hours each week. Many cities in the United States and around the world close a designated street, usually on a Sunday. During this period, the streets are closed to cars, giving the community a safe and affordable environment in which to come together for exercise and play. Our streets are valuable community assets. In both large and small cities across America, between 80 and 90 percent of public space is street space. About 25 percent of our urban land area is streets. We choose how we use that space. We can choose to open that asset up to the community. Following in the footsteps of cities around the world to establish an “Open Streets” event would create a synergy in Springfield that would pave the way for more discussions end public education on street safety, and create a life-enhancing – maybe life-saving - experience. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, social change and membership organization. We have over 39 million members nationwide and 500,000 in Oregon. With a mission to enhance quality of life for all as we age, we are actively engaged in public policy, education/information and community service at the national, state and local levels for our members and society. An important aspect of our work here in the state includes creating livable and age-friendly communities where Oregonians of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can live, work and thrive. Carmel Perez Snyder Director of Advocacy & Outreach AARP Oregon January 11, 2018 The Honorable Christine Lundberg, Mayor of Springfield and members of the Springfield City Council Springfield City Hall 225 5th St Springfield, OR 97477 Dear Mayor Lundberg and Members of the City Council: Point2point at Lane Transit District is very pleased to support the City of Springfield’s efforts to establish an Open Streets program. Open Streets events promote healthy active living by opening selected public streets for people to walk, bike, and roll to discover active transportation in a safe, car-free environment. An Open Streets program directly aligns with Point2point’s mission of reducing reliance on single occupancy vehicle travel and the Regional Transportation Options Plan vision of ”promoting safe, efficient transportation options through the region that support economically vibrant and livable communities, improve public health through active transportation, and enhance environmental sustainability.” Point2point is happy to be a supportive partner of these efforts to ensure a successful collaborative open streets initiative. Sincerely, Theresa Brand Transportation Options Manager Point2point at Lane Transit District Theresa.Brand@LTD.org 541.682-6132