HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 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
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Attachment 2
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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
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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
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Attachment 3
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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
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