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Home My WebLink AboutItem 03 Springfield Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Meeting Date: 6/25/2012 Meeting Type:Work Session Staff Contact/Dept.: David Reesor Staff Phone No: 726-4585 Estimated Time: 20 minutes S P R I N G F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L Council Goals: Maintain and Improve Infrastructure and Facilities ITEM TITLE: SPRINGFIELD PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACTION REQUESTED: Staff seeks Council direction to continue the Springfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) beyond the one year pilot phase. ISSUE STATEMENT: Based on previous Council direction, Staff created and facilitated a one-year pilot BPAC. Approximately one year has passed since the formation of the Springfield BPAC. Staff will highlight and discuss the BPAC’s work over the past year and provide an opportunity for Council to comment and provide direction. ATTACHMENTS: 1. BPAC Roster 2. BPAC recommendation letter to Council 3. Individual Committee member letters of support DISCUSSION/ FINANCIAL IMPACT: During the May 16th, 2011 Council work session, Springfield City Council directed staff to create a one-year pilot Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). Based on this direction, Staff created the Committee and held its first meeting on August 11th, 2011. A total of six meetings were held over the course of approximately one year. Initial recruitment efforts for the BPAC illustrated a strong interest from community members to be part of the BPAC and provide the City with input on bicycle and pedestrian issues in Springfield. Original recruitment efforts solicited 5-9 members to join the BPAC. Staff received 15 committee applications. After Planning Commission (acting as the Committee for Citizen Involvement) review, the Planning Commission appointed all 15 members, and three ex-officio non-voting members. Staff received additional community interest after the recruitment deadline. As noted in the attached BPAC letter of recommendation to Council, the BPAC covered a wide-range of topics during the past year. Meeting attendance was consistently high and the committee members were highly engaged in discussion, questions and comments. Based on the past year’s events, staff recommend that the Council direct staff to continue the BPAC beyond the initial one-year pilot phase. If the Council chooses to continue the BPAC, the following next steps are recommended: 1. Update committee by-laws 2. Re-advertise / recruit committee membership, allowing existing members to reapply and allow other interested community members to apply. 3. Reconvene committee meetings beginning late summer / early fall. BPAC Chair Pat Mahoney, and committee members Carrie Lynn Welch and Garry Swanson will join staff in reporting on BPAC progress to-date. 2011 – 2012 Springfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Roster Membership Category Membership Type Name(s) Citizen‐at‐large Chair / Voting MemberPatricia Mahoney Citizen‐at‐large Vice Chair / Voting Member James Yarnall Citizen‐at‐large Voting MemberDan Vierck Citizen‐at‐large Voting MemberGarry Swanson Citizen‐at‐large Voting MemberAndrew Young Citizen‐at‐large Voting MemberCharlotte Behm Citizen‐at‐large Voting MemberCarrie Lynn Welch Citizen‐at‐large Voting MemberRobert Cook Citizen‐at‐large Voting MemberRussell Bowsky Citizen‐at‐large Voting MemberPeter Kurtz Citizen‐at‐large Voting MemberMarcy Carico Citizen‐at‐large Voting MemberMark Plaia Citizen‐at‐large Voting MemberLaura Zuke Citizen‐at‐large Voting MemberTaylor Murdoch Citizen‐at‐large Voting MemberKristina Koenig Planning Commission Liaison Non‐Voting MemberGreg James City Council Liaison Non‐Voting MemberSheri Moore Willamalane Parks Non‐Voting MemberRebecca Gershow/ Greg Hyde Lead City Staff: David Reesor Senior Transportation Planner City of Springfield Public Works Department 225 Fifth Street Springfield, OR 97477 Email dreesor@springfield‐or.gov Phone 541‐726‐4585 Fax 541‐726‐3781 Attachment 1 Page 1 of 1 Attachment 2 Page 1 of 1 June 14, 2012 Springfield City Council, I was filled with excitement and enthusiasm when I first saw the advertisement announcing the Springfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) pilot project last year. This was my opportunity to get involved in my community, something I’ve wanted to do for a few years now. Not only was it a chance to get involved, but with something brings out my passion for cycling and walking. Thanks to Dave Reesor’s dedication and thoughtful planning, participating on BPAC is both exciting and motivating. I have shared BPAC topics with my coworkers and friends who use alternative transportation and have received a positive response. Participating on BPAC has opened my eyes to the wide array of issues that affect pedestrians and cyclists in Springfield. I have appreciated the unique perspective and input of each member of BPAC. I am grateful to Springfield City Councilors who decided this project is worthwhile. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to give input to the City and to engage citizens around the topic of alternative transportation. It feels wonderful to know that the City of Springfield is listening and responding to community needs. I eagerly look forward to the continuation of Springfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Respectfully Yours, Marcy Carico Springfield Resident Attachment 3 Page 1 of 4 Andrew Young 3536 Valentine Court Springfield, OR 97477 Distinguished Council Members: I would like to express my desire for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) pilot program to be extended for a to‐be‐determined, at a later date, amount of time. I feel that Springfield is in an extremely exciting time right now. We are becoming an increasingly desired destination for both business and families. With that in mind, we need to continue to increase the livability of this great city. Expansion of our paths and areas for walking, biking, and other activities greatly adds a structure to the community that will continue the growth and appeal for the City of Springfield, both now and in the future. Thank you for your time and consideration, Andrew Young Attachment 3 Page 2 of 4 Attachment 3 Page 3 of 4 City Council & Planning Commission Attn: David Reesor, Traffic & BPAC Liaison Robert G. Cook 942 West L Street Springfield, OR 97477 (541) 741-4367 June 25, 2012 Dear Council & Commission Members: As a current Bike & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Member, I’d like to note how positive and insightfully proper I believe in the resurrection and work of the BPAC. Stating my view as a Western Springfield homeowner and resident of Lane County, I’ve been committed to community and disability advocacy within the Metropolitan area for the 11 years that my small family has lived here. We selected/chose in mid-2001 to live in the area, due to the more comfortable weather, schools for our then three year-old son, specific employment opportunities for us and positive community development we’d observed upon our end to a year-long search of the mid-Pacific Coast. As vision impaired pedestrians, we chose Springfield and diligently began working on our lives as Oregonians. Also being that I view my disability (blindness) as an advantage, as a BPAC Committee Member I’ve hoped to provide an unusual perspective to our Committee work and discussions. My background and Masters in Education, International Community Development and Rehabilitation Teaching for the Blind have allowed me to observe the area’s many domains of urban planning with unique observation. After helping found the local Center for Independent Living in 2003 though, input on my own community seemed to be elusive until the reestablishment of the BPAC; far better I believe than working in Eugene for similar purposes. I feel that the diversity of BPAC Membership has brought creative ideas/solutions to Springfield regarding people with disabilities. With my significant background in the above noted domains and now working in my own commercial venture also associated with urban planning, I feel the selection of the BPAC Committee Members has been outstanding; the work yet to be addressed is vastly important on a “community involvement” basis. Hopefully, our charge of said advisory capacity will continue. Citizen involvement is of utmost concern for me and my BPAC peers, and the breadth of domain subject matter I feel should include interpretation from residents and “special populations” such as myself and other Committee Members. Thank you. Rob Cook Attachment 3 Page 4 of 4