March 13, 2007

Meeting Minutes

 

Newport Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee

  Members Present: Ken Dennis, Elli Work, Diane Henkels, and Chuck Forinash.

Staff:  Lee Ritzman, Lance Gatchell.    (Jeff Bertuleit was out of town)

 

Meeting called to order at 5:40pm and the minutes from the Feb meeting were read and approved with no changes.

Staff Report: Lance Gatchell reported that he had drafted a letter to JC Market inquiring whether they would be interested in providing bike racks on their property for use by patrons of the shopping complex.  He explained that during a recent public workshop in conjunction with the City’s TSP update citizens had commented that bike racks would be helpful there.  Committee members asked if Lance might e-mail a copy of the letter to them to stay informed and view the tone and content of the letter. Lance agreed to do so and further commented that the letter was only a request and the City could not require them to provide racks.  All agreed that it was good to start a dialogue with JC Market and depending how they responded to the request perhaps the committee might help advance the project.  Discussion continued regarding what style of racks might provide the best function and that perhaps bike lockers might also be considered since locals and those traveling through Newport by bike needed the added security for bike and cargo.

Lance reported that he had completed the sidewalk inventory in conjunction with the TSP update and that he was working to assist the City in their efforts to establish a workable LID program that might be used to build sidewalks throughout town.  He is starting with the area north of Olive St. and east of Hwy.101 since this area is flat making construction easier and its established residential character has a large user group and a high need for additional sidewalks.  This might make them more willing to participate in a LID.

Lee reported that he was working with Ron Garrison from the City’s Street Department to design a possible curb extension project at the bottom of Fall St. as it meets Bay Blvd.  This is where the City has recently installed a new stop sign. He noted that it could reduce the pedestrian street crossing distance from about 80 feet to a little over 40 feet, increasing pedestrian safety.   When asked about costs and funding source, he explained that cost estimates have yet to been determined and some of the funding would likely come from the 1% Gas Tax that the City gets from the State. Approximately $4,500.00 may be available from that source. Other money could come from other City sources.  It was noted that committee chair Ken Dennis helped the City reestablish the 1% gas tax as line item in the City budget, which is to be used for pedestrian and bicycling improvements.

Lee reported that the consultants for the SE Bay Blvd. sidewalk project should have the engineering plans completed by March 19th and then they would be forwarded to ODOT for approval.  When asked about the money available for the project it was noted that $90,000.00 is remaining from the original grant.  He thought the project would be started sometime this summer and would be completed by no later than October 2007.  The committee noted that the annual Newport Marathon is routed through the construction area so some coordination with that group might be necessary.

Lance explained he was hired as a senior planner and is involved with several projects for the City some for James Basingthwait in Community Development and some through Lee in Public Works, as well as some through Parks and Rec. Director Jim Protiva

He will soon be involved in a major GIS mapping project involving identifying utilities infrastructure throughout the City.

 

 

 Old Business:

Diane Henkels reported on her activity with the National Bike to Work Month program, which will take place this May.  She has been in contact with the City’s Wellness Committee and will meet with them on March 15th, hoping to promote their participation in the program. It was suggested that City employees who may not wish to Bike could walk the new Bay to Beach Walk from Fall St. and Bay Blvd. to the Nye Beach turn around in general support of auto free travel. This would also help support the first phase of the Walking Routes Map Project.  Eli Works mention her recent presentation to the City Council on the Walking Routes Map Project, which she said was well received.

Diane Henkels will be contacting the Newport Chamber of Commerce and try to get information in their monthly news letter to promote community wide participation in Bike to Work Month. She reported The Bike Shop was willing to provide bikes and helmets for possible City employee’s use. Elli Work volunteered to get the Bike to Work Month program info to the Lincoln County School District for participation by staff and students.  Ken mentioned that the local bike club, Yaquina Wheels was planning to ride in the Loyalty Days Parade to promoted Bike to Work Month.

Lee Ritzman departed due to prior commitment.

New Business:  Ken Dennis reported that Jennifer Wittier had approached the City’s Parks and Rec. Department about an idea to add a small city park near the Performing Arts Center with a trail connection from SW 2nd St. (near R-Place Restaurant behind the Monissory School) to Don Davis Park. It appeared that some of the property was in the public right of way and the balance in City ownership so the trail seemed like a good idea. There was a motion made, passing unanimously, to forward a recommendation to City Council, to support the trail concept and to have it added to the TSP update.

Ken Dennis commented that the SW Elizabeth St. sewer repair project was nearly completed and wondered if the street would be patched or repaved.  Several members commented that it was pretty rough even before the sewer project started so hoped that the area would be repaved.

Chuck Forinash reported that he had been contacted by Parks and Rec. Director Jim Protiva with a request to guide he and Lance Gatchell through a potential City trail route in the South Beach neighborhood.  Forinash commented that about a year and a half ago he and a group of members from the community (including George Boehlert-HMSC, Terry Vaughn-PUD, Ken Dennis-Bike/Ped. Jeff Bertuleit-City Council and others) had hiked the route of potential city trail. Starting from the end of the current HMSC estuary trail along the bay to a point on SE 35th St. (adjacent to the new Eohalla Point condos.)   They continued up through the 7 acres of City owned, old South Beach Water District property then heading west exiting near the PUD yard. The recent Protiva hike was focused on the old water district property and included hiking from there, south to the Oregon Coast Community College property. They continued west down the future 40th street area to the PUD yard, then north on Ash Street and Ferry Slip Road and back to the starting point on SE 35th Street.   Protiva mentioned that Lance might be involved in the mapping and development of this trail linking to the College and that Parks and Rec. would be looking to advance the project.

 Meeting adjourned at 7pm.

Next Meeting April 10th, 5:30pm.

Corrections or additions to the minutes will be made at the regularly scheduled meeting and noted in the next edition of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee minutes.