Okay. Uh, I'd like to kick off the meeting of the uh, bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee with the uh, pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Um, we'll have a roll call here of members of the committee. Uh, city council member Bodner >> here.
>> Joe Cassidy missing. George Dick >> here. >> Jerry Hathaway missing. >> Jim Moffett here. Bob Morris >> here. At this point, I'd like to turn it over
to Steve Bardner, our city council representative to the committee. >> Thank you, Jim. I appreciate it. Uh well, it's good to see everybody again on the bike and pedestrian committee. We uh took a little bit of a
uh planned break from the springtime. Um and it's good that we're getting back together because we're going to have a lot of work to do. Um since we last met in the spring, there has been uh there have been some changes. Um obviously the
most uh a significant one being a change in the membership of the uh the composition of the committee. Um we have recently added two new members um Joe Cassidy and Jerry Hathaway. Um I would
anticipate them to be at the at the next meeting and u look forward to um having them participate in the committee. appreciate their volunteering to be on um on the committee. Um I also want to acknowledge the members who have left
the committee since we um since we last met. Um and that being Jeff Facier, uh Terry Dubaldi and Hillary Pritchard. Um and you know they all of them had served on the
committee for a long period of time. um all had made significant contributions to uh to the committee. Um and in addition to that, two of them served in significant roles in the in the committee. Not just that they participated, but um Jeff was our
immediate past prior chair and Terry had been our uh had been the secretary. Um both did a very good job in in that capacity. And it's going to be, you know, there's going to be roles that that need to be filled. Um and um there well the roles that are going to need to
be filled. It it's also an experience void that um you know we're um we're going to to miss but we do appreciate the work that they that they had contributed u to the committee. So where we um where we stand right now the where
this bike and pedestrian advisory committee stands is it's in a time of transition. Um, that being said, over the past couple of weeks, I've had the opportunity to have several conversations with Jim Moffett about the direction of the
the committee. Um, the committee was created by resolution in 2017. Jim, you've been a charter member of the the committee. you've participated in every issue and every topic that um the
bike and pedestrian advisory committee has dealt with and you have institutional knowledge of the committee's work going back to the time when it uh when it was formed. Um I'm I'm addressing this because we're in a position where we need to fill our chair
position and we need to fill our secretary position. Um, candidly, my primary concern for today is that moving forward that we have the chair position filled. Uh, since since Jeff is no
longer the our our chair and the position being vacant. Um, and to me based off the conversations I've had um with Jim and although I don't have a vote in the issue, it's evident to me
that you would be an excellent chair for the bike and pedestrian advisory committee. Um, so I have had conversations with Jim. My understanding is that if you were elected um that if Jim were elected that he would serve as
interim chair uh for the remainder of the year. Now while that may seem to be a short period of time, I would note that the committee positions for any of our voluntary uh volunteer committees in Kate May are renewed on a yearly basis
at the beginning of the year um during our reorganization meetings. So the the there's always some moment where there's a reflection on the the composition of the of the committee and while we always hope obviously for continuity
um you know the you know your willingness to step in as interim chair is something that I think uh would be significant to uh help with a transition of the committee as well as the work that needs to be done for uh for the
balance of the here. So, um what I would suggest at this time is um to uh to this to this committee is that there be a nomination set forth for the chair. I would suggest that Jim would be a good
candidate for for that interimm chair position. >> Yeah. Okay. I'll nominate Jim Mafett for the chair position. Interimm chair if you want to have it that way. I second that. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Well, um >> favor.
>> So, why don't we why don't we take a we'll take a roll call vote. Um I mean I'll do it for the moment. >> Yay. >> Okay. George, yes vote. >> Yay. >> Okay. Yes. Vote from Bob. >> Yes. I'm going along. Okay. >> The rest people. >> So, thank you very much, Jim. It's
appreciated um your willingness to step in. Um so with that we we do need to fill the secretary position um for for the moment as I said um we'll address that as we move as we move forward um for the
purpose of today. I am completely uh confident that we'll figure out a way to get our minutes uh published um because I think that I see George scribbling some notes and I'm scribbling some notes as well. So >> you already have yours in in notes? I already have
>> computer format. >> Yeah, I like that. So I have a I have a feeling that they'll let's just say they'll come together really really quickly and really easily. >> Okay. Um so with that I just have a couple more more remarks if I may Jim >> please. >> Okay. So, um, part of the I I figured
since it's a time of transition and it's a time of change and in part after conversations that I had with with Jeff um and with Terry as well as other members of um with with Jim as well um that there should be um
one of some questions had come up just as far as um our organizational mission. um and as well as well really the focus is just on the organizational mission. So with it being a time renewal, um I took a look
back on the resolution that formed our this committee and its purpose and I thought that it would be worthwhile to just briefly um discuss those in an open form or just at least put them out there
because I think it gives us the opportunity to focus on just what our goals are. Um when you review the organizing resolution, it states that the um that the goal is for the city admin that the city of Kate May administration wishes to ensure that
Kate May's roads, walkways, mall, prominade, bike paths, and beach access points are safe and userfriendly by taking remedial action to repair sidewalks and related walkways and continuing access to bike paths throughout the city with adjoining
jurisdictions by communicating with federal state and local officials for support and resources to create safe streets, sidewalks, and bike paths and marshalling locational programs for pedestrian maintenance and
safety and the maintenance and safety of low-speed vehicles. So with that mandate which goes back to 2017 in which I think has been at times certainly the focus of of of the committee but there is other stressors
that have forced us and have have had uh the committee look outside of Kate May. Um it just I I think it makes me ask what is the focus of the bike and pedestrian
committee? what should we be looking for for issues as far as the issues and for solutions. So, you know, first and foremost looking at what is our the jurisdiction of the committee. The jurisdiction is Kate May. This is a Kate May city committee. It was created by
resolution with members all the members that are here approved by a vote of Kate May city council. This committee reports to Kate May City Council and there are plenty of bike and pedestrian issues in Kate May to keep this committee very very busy. But the organizing resolution also
requires that this committee consider how its actions in Kate May will provide continuing access to adjoining jurisdictions. So while our mandate is Kate May, there's also a commitment to building and maintaining links to neighboring jurisdictions and I believe that is a
critical component of this committee and a critical mission of this committee. So that is why we although we focus on um infrastructure issues in Kate May um bike issues in Kate May, pedestrian
issues in the city of Kate May, it's why we also um have on our menu of of of tasks to work on the islandwide bike plan.
um looking at the working with the future route to Sunset Beach and also the First Avenue Bridge proposal. So I think that it's it's critical to the reason I mention this and I think
it's it's critical for us to to note that and not not let it get lost in a soup that we have really have two missions. One is we need to focus on our issues in town, but we also have an obligation to see how we connect with
our with our other communities and to make sure that we're able to maintain those those links as seamless as possible. So the um other issue I have um is not necessarily an issue but I wanted to discuss um the QR code stickers and
we've been candidly there's been discussion about them for um for a good part of the season and unfortunately they didn't well we're about we can roll them out now and we need to distribute them and get them rolled out now. So, let me just discuss
what these QR code stickers are. I'll pass that down. George, I gave I gave you one as well. So, in essence, the um the idea behind this is is is as follows. Um Kate May City has had a bike
map that has been available, the paper map for um for for riders and for for users to to to utilize. Um the city did not publish a bike map this uh this
year, a topic that we can talk about for uh for the future. But um the idea behind these uh these stickers is these stickers have a QR code on them and on the QR code these these stickers can be
placed on any bicycle that would be in Cape May and the intent is to distribute the uh the stickers to the vendors who rent bikes on the island. Um, and
cyclists would be able to uh use their phone to access the QR code and it will take you to the city bike and safety page. Um, on that bike and safety page is also the Kate May the bike map is on
there as well. Um, look in this day and age people do rely on paper but everybody's relying on their electronics as well. um one, it's a cost-effective way to get the information out. It may not necessarily need to be the exclusive
way to do it, but it's a way that um we will promote to get the bike map out to people um to have it readily available. Um and I we will get this distributed to um as I said to in to the to the bike
vendors um so they can attach them to their bikes. Um, additionally, as the website gets updated, updated or as the bike map gets updated, we can update the information. It can still work off the stickers. So, this is something that can be up updated
unlike a map where if you make a change, you need a brand new map to uh to to show whatever the change is and reprint it. Um, this is an easy fix. you plug in the information and the next time you go and access the QR code, I mean there you
are. You have the you have the latest map that's on there as well. So, um that's where we stand with the the QR code uh stickers. Um at this point, um as I said, they need to be distributed.
um going to work on on that to make sure that they get out um and uh distribute to the people that need them. So, um does anybody have any questions on the on the QR code stickers
or any comments? Is that >> mandatory that the bike shops are they rent a bike that has to have this on there? I think that the the my understanding is the bike shops will are good with this idea. I don't think they're going to need there's going to
need to be any persuasion from anybody to add these um add these to the bikes. Um look, I think the probably one of the question that the bike shop owners receive is how do I get from here to there? Um and where can I get a map? So,
I don't I don't think that there will be um an issue with that. So, I mean, I it's it's it's a voluntary thing, but I think it's going to be a it will be a welcome um um welcome addition to to what
they're able to provide their, you know, their customers as well. >> I I think this is a is a good start. I mean, I'm looking at the map uh and it really it clearly shows where you don't want to go. And to me, that's the number one thing. It shows uh Broadway from
Landis down to Sunset as this the no-go zone. It shows West Perry as a no-go no-go zone. Shows Lafayette as a no-go zone, which is great because it if people would look at this map, they realize, hey, this is not a safe route
for me. Um I think the next step to this this is a great idea for people. Oh, can't hear. >> You can't hear me? I'm sorry. I'll I'll bring the mic up here. Is that good? Sorry about that. Uh, I was saying that the next step, the map is really good
because it shows you where not only where you should be riding, it also shows you where you shouldn't be riding. Um, this group has spent a lot of time talking about don't ride on Broadway, don't ride on Lafayette, and even suggested, hey, let's eliminate car bikes on those roads. We're not allowed
to do that. Um, so but this map is is very good, but the next step would be actually have street signage that says this is a safe route. Uh, and so for example, if you're coming down Broadway and you pass the Barrow Hall, um, once you hit Landis, it would be a sign
saying, "Hey, safe route to the beach is this way rather than straight down Broadway." So that's kind of I think the next step from having the map. You look at the map and then you're riding your bike. You need to have uh direction. So, >> and that's something that we can
certainly work on in I'll call it the off season as we transition over into into next year to um yeah take the idea to the next step and uh you know make it more visual as people are actually biking on the streets.
Unless there's anything else I that's the that's the extent of what I have, Jim. So, I'll return the floor to you. >> Okay. Thank you, Steve. Just a couple of introductory remarks for myself. Uh first of all, thank you
for my fellow committee members for confidence in me and uh approving me to be the interim chairperson. uh why interim uh may be on people's mind
and um I I had a u a really good conversation with the with Steve and the mayor probably about a month ago as the three members of the U committee
resigned and what was what was I going to do? And tell you the truth, I was on the fence of whether staying or leaving with the other three members. Um, and we we we talked through some of the issues
and uh it it really turns out that I kind of wanted to see what the new thinking, new members u might be for the for the bicycle committee going forward.
So I agreed to take take the uh if elected to the position of uh interim chair to take the position for the remainder of 2025 this year the next four months um and see h how the
progress is going with the committee uh and how I'm feeling about it uh how my health is holding up how other things that I'm involved with I can set aside a little bit more and spend some real time um with the committee and trying to move
it forward in the best interest of the city of Cape May. Uh so so I'm here for at least for the next couple couple of months and we'll see uh a couple another personal thing is uh
being a uh oxygenarian uh my hearing is going like uh many of my comrades in in their 80s. So, I just ask that people uh to speak up when you are speaking, turn the button on to green
for the uh microphone, or otherwise, I'm going to have to ask you to uh repeat everything you just said, and I don't think either one of us really want to deal with that. So, um please uh please speak up. uh
a couple of things that I I'm mostly interested in seeing what's what's the real purpose of this committee and what are we trying to do and two things to me stand out above anything else. And the first and foremost is safety.
that everything that we talk about doing, whether it's for bicyclists or pedestrians, safety has to be the number one number one concern of the bicyclist or the pedestrian.
And that to me is above all. And the second is I I want to see this committee being the advocate for bicyclists and pedestrians and making sure that they're having the
the best experience they can in Kate May, whether they're a resident, whether they're a visitor, whether they're uh from some somewhere else in the United States, when they come when they come to Kate May, we're providing them with the the best experience they can have.
as a as a bicyclist and and a pedestrian. So, those those are the two things I'd be looking for to promote. As we talk about recommendations, as we talk about the we're an advisory committee, we provide advice to city
council, the city me city manager, uh department heads, not directly, but going through the city manager. Um and that uh we don't make any rules or we don't make any ordinances. That's left up to
council. Um but we we are here as advisors and we need to earn the respect of council and the city manager to let let them hear our ideas and give us
consider consideration of those ideas. Um, and I guess the last thing my bottom line would be, uh, are we are we as a committee adding value to the town? Are are we just rubber stamping things? Are
we just listening to whatever um, departments and the city and and council and the city manager are doing and say, "Okay, okay." or where where are we adding value as a committee to the city
and being meaningful as opposed to just rubber stamping. Uh essent essentially that's it. The last two things I'd say is um I'm all in favor of short to the point meetings.
Uh not that not with ones that drag on for hours and hours. Um, so I I want to set the limit for meetings of 90 minutes. If we can't get it done in 90 minutes, then we get it done next month at the ne at the next next meeting. And
if we can get it done shorter than 90 minutes, let's say within an hour, all all the better. And that particularly in the public comment section to limit your comments to no more than five minutes.
Uh we encourage you to be heard. Um but we're we're not here for a a 20 minute uh sermon from the um from from the individuals who would like the opportunity to speak. And I want to give
everybody an opportunity to speak, but remember we're here for n more than 90 minutes. And you you are limited to a to a five five minutes thing. Um, the next thing I have is uh we need to
approve the minutes of the last meeting which I believe are the June minutes. Steve, do you have those? >> I believe. >> Oh, here they are. >> Yes. Um, so they have they have been printed out and you have them for distribution, Jim.
>> Right. >> Thank you. Maybe everyone would like to have an opportunity just to take a quick >> Yeah, take an opportunity to look at >> take take a quick look. Uh the these are the meaning of a actually the April
meeting. Uh they're minutes from the from the April meeting. Yeah. On both sides of the page. Um, fellow members, when whenever you're ready to uh have a glance at these and u
vote to approve or make any changes, speak up. >> I had received an email on these and uh I accept the minutes as written. >> I I accept the minutes. Yeah. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I I
>> I Okay. Okay, the minutes are approved as written. Uh, next I'd like to call on the city manager, Paul Dietrich, uh, to have remarks and his his report as to what what you've been up to the last couple of months. >> Um, actually going to give a couple
updates. So, uh, from a pedestrian standpoint, uh, we've added and upgraded the, uh, the pedestrian crossing here at city hall to Victoria Towers on Washington to an activated push button to kind of match what the county did
over at the school at Lafayette. uh the the old ones that were just continuously flashing didn't really give a a good alert because I think the motorists just got used to them just flashing lights and then it really wasn't alerting to when a pedestrian was in the crosswalk.
So, we've upgraded and made that upgrade at that location. Um I know that this committee has been working for several years on the bike lanes on Pennsylvania Avenue uh with the
county. Um the county's kind of pushed this project down from their high priority list and and kind of has kept moving it. Um have spoke to the uh county engineer. It is on their docket to go out to bid probably later this month or next month. Uh they hope to
award it uh over the winter, have construction start in March to be uh opened up by uh Memorial Day in 2026. I know it's been a long time coming, but that's where we're stuck with when we're
dealing with our county partners, but we've been pushing with them. So, we feel fortunate that it is going to happen uh in the spring of 26. >> Is that going to go from uh Madison to u >> Pittsburgh? >> Yep. >> Yes. >> It's the school program.
>> It's part of that safe streets to school program. Um, and they they did do some of the crossings on Madison, you know, the the crosswalks across Madison, but they will continue the whole labeled bike route from Pittsburgh back down to Madison on Pennsylvania.
>> Nice to see that come to >> It's It's going to be a good important addition for all of our uh you know, the students that that come from on the other side of uh Pittsburgh Avenue that come down Pennsylvania and head towards the elementary school. It's going to be
a important safety improvement for them. >> Paul, if I could just um add to that for a moment. I mean, it's I know Paul's understating um or the I think the effort that has gone that's been put
out by the the city to work with the county to uh get this project um done. it hasn't always been, I guess, uh, you know, out there, um, you know, in the in the public realm as far as all the communication that's been
going on back and forth. But I just want to say I acknowled you you've you're probably tired of hearing from me. uh regarding this particular project as well, but um you've been you know I I know there's been a lot of people who've been pushing this not just with this committee
obviously um for a long period of time but um we're at a point now in Pennsylvania Avenue has been completed for a couple of years now. And you know the uh you know we anticipated that this
would be done essentially the spring after or the fall after the the road was >> you thought in 2023. >> So I think I think our thought was that well okay now that it's done in 2023 um it doesn't it only takes a couple
hours to go and lay those lines down. Um what seems like it should have been a small task is you know here's where we are. So, um the I appreciate, you know, the county um that this is a county project uh and their involvement with this, but um I think
by the constant uh keeping our foot on this has really been helpful to get it to this point and look forward to one stay on top of it to make sure that they follow through and put it out to bid in November, get get the project done. But um as I said,
appreciate everything you've done, Paul, and do this and keep this on your >> in your a basket, you know, as far as uh to make sure that it gets it remains priority. >> Steve, um does the Coast Guard
still have a I'll call it a little mini parade every morning and afternoon to and from the Coast Guard base to the school. Back in the day, five ten years ago, they had a a parent or two who would lead somewhere between five and a
dozen young bicyclists from their home from the Coast Guard base to the elementary school and then in the afternoon, you know, reverse that. Is that still a activity that the Coast Guard is involved with? Jim, I know exactly what you're talking about
because I remember seeing it and it looked like it looked like a you know a um you know a mother hand with its chicks following it down down the street you know back and forth each way um to to to
school um and it was well moms and dads that participated in that >> you know unfortunately um right now no that's not that's not happening and I I think that Um I think what happened I is due to the
construction um I think that people changed their habits at that point in time and right now that those habits haven't been you know there's a different behavior that's going on. It's not being utilized as much as I had and
we had seen it uh done before. But I'm confident that you know if we get the lanes back in that's going to start to um bring traffic back on there again. Um, and I realized that although bike lanes aren't designed to be a speed control device, I think that when the
lines are put on there, that it will help maintain the I think it'll have a a dampening effect on speed on Pennsylvania as well on those on the streets. I mean, the good news is Pennsylvania is now it's it's uh it's smooth, but it's also it's also fast.
So, um, people take advantage of that, including school buses. Um, and I I but I think that the the lines will help with that. And I would also think that once we get these lines painted, look, we'll have a conversation with um you
know, the Coast Guard community will be aware of this as well. Hopefully, we can reestablish that so we can see what what we did before because we know that we have that community over there. Those those kids are going to school. They're just taking a different route than than they had in the past. >> Thank you. Um the other thing I just you
know we last year we had completed the um the uh safe streets roads program. Um we did the city did submit an application uh for federal funding for to update the the
Cape Island bike plan. So that has been submitting and we're awaiting to see if we receive that federal grant. Um there is some state legislation circulating. So I'd encourage everyone to reach out to their state legislators
regarding um ebike safety and registration. There's um and I know several of the towns have passed resolutions, but I encourage all residents to reach out to their state legislative teams, especially not the ones, you know, locally. It's being
sponsored by our local um it's pretty supported by our local legislative team, but to any of our residents that live in other communities in the state, they need to reach out to the their legislators and and their districts outside of our local legislative
district to help encourage the registration, the proper enforcement to give our police the tools necessary to to make it safer for ebikes and the other users of the road because unfortunately there's a lot
of ebike users out there that just don't follow the rules of the road and and you know the police have a difficult time enforcing that because they can't get into a chase with them and because there's no registration or
identification on them they can't you know it's not like you know if a car they have a license plate so you can identify that car even if you don't have continuous eyes on them or even if somebody as a as a resident, you could
report somebody based on their license plate. But with an ebike, we don't have that ability. All you're going to say is, "Oh, yeah, there's a guy with a hoodie on a on an ebike flying through town." Well, there's probably about five of them at any given point in time that
meet that description. So that's why this legislation is so important to get through the legislation and get to the governor's desk um before we have to go through another summer like this. >> Did you guys uh Kate May do a resolution? >> We have it on for an upcoming agenda.
>> Okay. Yeah, we have ours tonight. It'll be on. >> So it's it's important. So, it's this is really an encouragement for any of our residents that are listening to this or listen to it later um to to reach out to your state legislator legislative team
to let them know that you really do support that legislation to regulate ebikes in in some form or fashion. And I think the legislation that they've proposed is a very good first step to uh help with the problem. Um
>> Paul just a a a question on the um consultant study from last year. >> Yes. >> That has been finalized and it's on I know it's on the website. >> Yes. >> Where are we in the process of the next step? >> Well, the first step was applying for
that grant because remember that that was the whole focus of of of that plan was to identify projects that we could look at doing in the future. So, um I know West Kate May has taken on a project to kind of focus on First Avenue
Bridge and I'm sure George will kind of touch on that here after I finish my report. Um Ky City is looking at taking on and and looking at updating the bike plan. So, those are the first two action items coming out of that. um some of the
other items that are in that you know whether it's a Kate May city project or one of the other burrows projects you know each individual governing body will have to look at if if we can't if we haven't applied for federal funding
whether or not there's a project that we can take up the local cost of that I know that that there is some uh we potentially might look at a soft route out of like the bike route that would say
continue from Leming and Landis and and and kind of bring it Elmyra Bank and then how do we get it once Bank comes up to Lafayette? How do how do we try to get it, you know, between Jackson and
Decar and get it back over to Beach and and whether or not there's a easy lift project that we can maybe do from signage and and and changing of some one-way streets and and and doing that. So, that would probably be a project that I might look to propose for council
for next year to do get some budget funds to look at that. But there again, those are all going to be driven on getting budgetary funds in order to to design it and implement those projects. Well, and again, in preparation for this
meeting, I I went in and reread the um their report and I counted seven uh priori prioritiz. >> Yes. >> That that are there. Are we looking for
grant money for each one of these or in total? Uh >> well, we applied for the one because unfortunately even applying for the grants, it costs money to make the application to get the grant. So, it's not, you know, these aren't things that just, you know, to look for the grant, you
know, but the main grant that we'd be looking for is through the federal highway grant. um when the DOT announces some of their additional funding for their transportation enhancement grants, we'll look at when those grant announcements come out over this next 12
months to see if there's things that fit into the those categories. Um but those are really the two lo the the two places that you would get grants for the the types of projects we're looking at is the DOT and the federal highway. And you
know in in this past year's we applied for the federal highway funding cycle. We'll look at next year and if you know it's a lot it's going to depend on how much funding I can get from council to make those grant applications because unfortunately those grant applications
aren't inexpensive uh to put those things together. They require a lot of documentation that requires a lot of effort. It's it's not as those aren't simple grant applications where myself or another staff member can spend a half an hour
writing up some good words and and putting the application. There's a lot of the especially the federal grants require a lot of documentation and information that's not just off the shelf and easily prepared. >> Right. Is there uh and I know this is a
u a touchy subject but is there any thought about using Kate May budget money? That's why I said >> operational budget as opposed to waiting three years for a grant to >> Well, that's that that's a discussion that that I'll be evaluating our entire
budget and then if we ha if if I can find a hole within our budget that we have funds available that I can make a recommendation to council to move one of these projects forward. That's what I did and I kind of that's what I said was, you know, I would might look at for
next year to put some budget money in the budget to look at that corridor to ex, you know, to to kind of bring it the bikes down Elmyra to bank and then how to figure out how to get them from once
you cross Lafayette, how to get them down to Beach Avenue. So that'll that could be that's most likely the project that I would I would try to propose to council in next year's budget. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Hey Paul, a question on that. Um when we
did the GPI study, the the final output of the study was identifying kind of hot spots and yep, >> Carters, for example, the one you're talking about from WestK May into town and then to the beach. um they proposed
a followup that had more specific projects on it. The if I remember correctly the last meeting we talked to them it was um these are general things when you do a project like you're talking about it would be another study to do
>> what are the options on for example the leing the land Broadway leing all the way down. Um, are you thinking about actually doing something with GPI again or another firm to look at specifics for that?
>> Yeah, we what I'd be looking at funding would be the design of that that project. >> Okay. >> Which obviously they have to design it, you know, so it's not a construction project. It's a funding to get a consultant to engineer
the potential solution for that issue and that hot spot, >> right? >> And move it forward. >> Yes. >> Um the next item I really want to discuss is I think one of the most favorable projects the city's probably completed and that's the ADA mats on uh
the beach that parallel the prominade. We finished up the last of that this, you know, prior to the this past beach season. Um, and and I think that's been one of our most welcome things and we've gotten a lot of positive support on the mobility
of getting people out onto the beach and to be able to go up and down the beach. Um, we've just received accolades and accolades. it it seems like everybody is just it just opens up the beach to people that aren't able to get down
there and it just really I think that's been one of the most satisfying things that as a project to have that we've completed from the city standpoint to be able to get people to enjoy a beach location that they may not otherwise be able to do. So we we look
forward to maintaining those mats uh moving forward. Obviously, we have a new seaw wall project that's anticipated that will extend the prominade. So, that'll be more pedestrian and bike facilities that, you know, hopefully that project will go to construction
over the wintertime into the spring. Um, so that that will probably be a 18 to 24month project. So, you know, possibly 2028 season, we could look at having maybe
increased our uh the prominade by 50%. >> Um >> good. Those map those maps are wonderful. >> Yes, >> that'd be great. That's going all the way out to Wilmington. >> That' go all the way down to Wilmington. >> That'd be great. Yeah. >> Yes. Um and then the next two projects I
going to have the presentation board, so I'm going to I kind of saved those for last so I could get up and talk about them. So the first project we've received two grants uh small cities grants from the department of community affairs to uh construct ADA improvements
um and ex this would be extending from uh Quantis Park where the sidewalks kind of go to the end of the pond at Quantis Park. Uh we're going to extend sidewalks through the tennis club area and then up through the physics estate all the way
up to Washington Avenue to create a a pedestrian ADA corridor um through the physics estate through the tennis club all the way out to Madison. So, and we're also going to eventually sign that as hey as a bike shortcut so that so
that bikes don't have to go up and navigate the intersection at Madison and Washington that bikes would be able to navigate through this area to kind of cut the corner so to speak. >> Is that an easement that you guys is that >> the city owns all that property? >> You own that property? >> Yeah. The city what a lot of people
don't realize the city owns Quantis Park. City owns the tennis club. City owns the physics estate. That is all city property. We lease obviously we lease the physical estate to MAC and they operate that. We lease the tennis club property to the tennis club to
operate the tennis facilities. And there is one just to make sure everybody is fully aware. There is a public court that is open to the public um that you don't necessarily have to be a member of the club to utilize, but it is a you you have to reserve it through the tennis
club, but there is the uh the hard court, not the clay courts that the rest of the facility has, but there is a a hard madam court in the back that is a a city court. Um so this will improve um ADA access through there but also
creates that corridor to cut the corner so to speak from Madison to Washington. >> So looking at that map can can you cut keep going straight and come out on Virginia. >> So >> no you can't there wetlands in there. >> Yeah there wetland or it's it's low back
in >> of you know we talked about in this group multiple times >> Washington and Lafayette's a tough way. So, let's say I want to go to the the marina. If you just cut off a magic, if you can get on the Virginia, you're on back streets. >> No. No. I mean, this gets you this
avoids the the um the intersection, but also gives you an, you know, from a pedestrian standpoint, gives you an ADA point to kind of go through the park and through the physics estate um and kind of see the other side of of that area in
a better fashion. Paul, is there any discussion about having a path around the south side of the lake, the pond, and come up there because it gets >> there's been several discussions of that. However, the the the properties, the residential properties on that side
of the lake, their houses are really close to that edge and it just we haven't we we've wanted to respect those neighbors that live along that side of the lake and not put those pedestrians from a sidewalks perspective right in
their backyard because because there are setbacks. These lots that that front here that back up there they are they don't have a lot of rear yard and their rear yard is essentially right there >> like some of some of the rear yards are
like from here to the stage backyard. So, I think council was, you know, I think there originally there was a proposal to put the sidewalk there, but after discussions with the neighbors, they decided not to do that. >> Okay. I just think with adding, you know, the path, there's going to be more
people busy as it is right now. >> I can't I wouldn't disagree with you. It's a beautiful walk to walk around that whole lake, but that's kind of this the decisions you made. The the next um project that the city is undertaking is um is going to be a multi-phase project.
It's uh the city has budgeted $600,000 for a sidewalk only project. Um my understanding this is probably one of the only sidewalk only projects the city has done and I can't remember so I don't want to say that they've never done a sidewalk
only project. Um, you know, we've, you know, through the Shade Tree Commission, we we look at individual properties and and through a 50-50 program, but to my understanding, this is probably one of the first sidewalk only projects uh to where we're going to go through and really look at sidewalks. Um, pedestrian
safety is is a concern and and is a priority for the city. And we realize that, you know, we have a lot of people walking down our sidewalks. We have a lot of areas that we need some help in repairing our sidewalks. Um the
ordinance really says that sidewalk repair is left to the property owner. Um well that's we can't always rely on property owners maintaining it because we have a lot of visitors traversing the sidewalks but also we have a lot of street trees and those street trees
cause problems along there. So the street trees are a city problem. So we're wanting to take this as a partnership with these property owners and do that. Uh the first so the first phase of the project is a little bit smaller in scale though I think it's
still a a good project just because we wanted to since we haven't done this before we wanted to see about pricing because a lot of the sidewalk repair is we're looking at areas especially so we're we're looking at Columbia Avenue from Madison to uh ocean and then
Virginia from Pittsburgh essentially out to um Madison doesn't quite come out to Madison I think everybody gets the idea. And then some areas along ocean. And then there's some scattered spots that we know that we have some of these street tree look problems um that have been
identified to shade tree commission. And this essentially if you look at it creates kind of a a corridor from Pittsburgh down to ocean as a as a walking corridor. But on Columbia we have a lot of issues where there's a lot of slate sidewalk and some brick
sidewalk. So part of that is we, you know, from a contractual standpoint, we don't really know on a large scale of what price point we're going to get for resetting this slate sidewalk. We're in a historic area, so we don't we're not going to tear up the slate, chuck it in
the trash, and throwing concrete. We're actually going to set a concrete bed, wet set that slate into the concrete and so that it's stays put and we'll have a better walking surface um in that respect. So that's why this is a little
bit large smaller of a project. Um but those that's the area that we're looking at uh doing the entire stretch of Virginia and the entire stretch of Columbia Avenue um as this first set of projects. Once this is done, I anticipate we'll extend this project uh
through the funding of that $600,000 and uh move that forward throughout the years. So, that's that's the uh other those are the I'll say the two these are two pedestrian guided projects. Uh the
the sidewalk project will probably be going out to bid within this month to have it awarded in the early part of November by council and then we'll start construction and hopefully it'll be completed by spring. Um the the tennis
club project will probably be maybe a month behind that project. >> A question or two for you Paul. How is this going to work with the owner of the property? So, so we are going to be because because there is some sidewalk responsibility on the owner, we are
going to be looking at a 25% cost share with the owner and ask the owner to to pick up 25% of the costs. >> Will they have the option of saying no? I you know I I have no money to put into this. Well, we'll give them the option that, you know, obviously you don't have
to pay us 100% today, but yet we can take it, you know, we can take that installment over 5 years and and and pay it out over a 5year period. >> Well, again, >> maybe there's some negotiations here. >> Well, but ultimately the sidewalks by
ordinance are the responsibility of the property owners. So, so it's not, you know, from a from we have a responsibility for all of our taxpayers that I mean, we have, you know, if there's a trip and fall and it's on your property and you
haven't maintained your sidewalk, you share some of that responsibility because guess what? The city has tort liability on most trips and falls on sidewalks mainly because we have a shade tree commission. We have a process about
repairing our sidewalks that are caused from street trees. We're now also developing a a comprehensive more full program about that. So from from the city's perspective though, we don't want anybody to have a trip and fall accident. From a liability standpoint,
the city's protected. So guess what? If somebody wants to sue, the city is is protected. Who are they going to look at from a liability standpoint? and who are they going to be able to get some potential money from? It's going to be that property owner. So, it's going to be in that property
owner's interest to work with the city to replace the sidewalks that we've identified as a as a hazard. >> Okay. And then a second question, is the city going to go out to bid for one contractor to do all the work on both
those avenues? >> That's how that's how these projects work. >> Okay. So the resident doesn't get a chance to say, "No, I want Joe to do this, not Sam." >> Well, most likely because we're doing such a large project in in scale, it's
going to be cheaper for us and our pricing compared to you as a homeowner talking to a contractor. Now granted, if Joe's your uncle and he's going to give you a deal, >> Yeah. then then then yeah, we may say,
"Yeah, if you want to have I mean, we're going to tell them what this is what we estimate the price at when the price comes in. This is what your share is. If you think you can get it all done with your contractor, >> go for it." Yeah. >> Go for it and have at it. Um I'll just go down to the next property.
>> It keeps the standards the same. >> Yes. AC across the board. >> But the idea is to to improve pedestrian walkway safety um through these projects. >> Paul, a lot of cities that I'm aware of, they the way they handle the sidewalk
issue is when you sell your house, you must fix the sidewalk in front of your house. So, this continues on forever. You know, every time somebody sells a house, the sidewalk is fixed. So, things get taken care of by the homeowner as they're leaving. Uh, have you ever considered doing something like that?
>> Not at this point. >> Okay. >> But other ways they they get it is insurance companies do routine inspections and that's how a lot of people Exactly. >> come to us and say, >> "Hey, I need some help." >> Yeah. >> And that's what they and that's where we've routinely that's why our 50-50
program with the Shade Tree because with the Shade Tree, it's a 50-50 program. So this program at a 25% cost share is a better deal than waiting for if you go straight to the Shade Tree Commission. That's only 50/50. So, you're going to pay 25% more on that compared to if you
participate in our program now. So, >> okay. Thank you. >> Yep. No problem. Do >> Do you have anything further, Paul? >> No, I think I I think I covered all the everything I wanted to cover. >> Great. Good report. Thank you.
>> Um George, you want to give an update the uh >> First Avenue Bridge report? >> Sure. I can actually give an update on a couple things um that we've had. Uh first, projects that we have with the county
that affected the roundabout uh which has been on the books since 2013. That we met with uh Bob Church and that is scheduled for winter 2627. And that's the roundabout at Park Boulevard, Perry,
Myrtle, West Prairie, and I guess that's still Park Boulevard on your side, too. Um, so hopefully that'll happen. Um, the the big holdup had been parking spots that were in front of the
lumber yard. That was resolved um actually six or eight months ago. So, that should be ready to go. Um and hopefully next next winter we'll see some progress. Um second thing, another county project, and this one's kind of in fluid. It's the Sunset Boulevard
project that hasn't had as long a life, but it is still there. Uh and they're waiting for the Higgby project to get finished. So again, that could be 26 20 start construction 27. um that provides
an off road walkway parallel to Sunset Boulevard that'll run from uh Pacific Avenue, which is where Stagger's uh beach thing, Jake's Pizza, is uh down to the parking lot. Actually, it's before
the parking lot. It's Beayhore Road attached to the gravel road that's in the South K Meadows and then extend past there actually on the street. So that'll go all the way uh out to sunset hopefully again that that'll start up in
the fall of 26. Um spec and that that's a a great project. I I'll tell you a couple things that are going on there. Um there will be and we we've spoken with the engineers since it's still somewhat in flux on exactly the striping
and some of the uh speed mitigation. We're trying to get them to have the same speed limit on that all the way down. right now has three speed limits. It's 25 in West Cape May to Colombia. It's 35 from Colombia to Beayshore, and
it's 40 all the way out, which is insane. But, uh, we're trying to get that to be one, uh, speed limit. The other thing is there will be crosswalks, um, for pedestrian safety at, um, one that we we talked them into is is one at
First Avenue. um that'll go right to where the fruit stand is. Uh one at um Pacific and that we're looking at that as a raised or a raised intersection so that that is the safe way to go to the beach. Um then there's going to be one
at Atlantic um Colombia Bayshore the entrance to the um nature center west and then Se view View excuse me Stevens and then I'm not sure all the ones up
toward the point but all through West Cape May uh it'll have crosswalks so and they'll have access to that off-road um path. >> Great. So that's good project. Um specific West Cape May projects. Um this
fall we'll go out to bid. We are redoing First Avenue um from Sunset down to West Grant. It actually turned a little bit on West Grant. Um there's a considerable flooding on that street uh when it rains
because the storm sewers the slope of the road isn't quite correct. So we're going to fix that. We're fixing the storm sewers and we're fixing the roadway. We will have bike friendly striping on that. Um that and that project is being uh will go out to bid this fall. So it'll be done this winter.
So that's kind of a precursor to the next thing. Um the proposed bridge uh at off of West Grant to 1 Avenue in Cape May. Um there's really not a lot of update on that that people already know. Uh we have done preliminary plans at the
last board of commission meeting. We authorized doing uh additional engineering work so that we can prep, as Paul said, you you prep to do your applications for the D and for other grants. Uh we have a $85,000 grant for
from local aid infrastructure grant, which is which is great. It allows us to do that work, the preliminary work to see if it's actually feasible um with grant money, which is awesome. Uh so we're we're in that process. We just again just approved using that money
on uh the last meeting which was two weeks ago and the next thing is getting the permits ready for D and and then once we have additional information we'll do a public meeting to talk to everybody. We can we can do it jointly Paul if you want or we can do one here
and one um there. But that's that's kind of the up update. Uh we have talked to residents residents have come to the meeting spent a lot of time with Ted there. uh on his deck and Mr. God on his deck. Uh so we spent a lot of outreach time trying to make sure we're working
with the residents to see see how this can work for everybody. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Um before before we get to public comment, um just one thing about going down the road. Uh our next meeting is
scheduled for uh Wednesday, October 8th. I would hope at that time we would start talking about um priorities of this committee for 2026. Uh what our focal points are going to be
uh what projects we want to commit to and what our what our goals are for u for the for the coming coming year. So, um hope hopefully we'll have not just ourselves but our other two new members uh join us and I'll give them a call or
contact them and make make sure that that's on their schedule to uh to attend that meeting. >> Jim, can I make one more comment? >> Certainly. Um I just want to thank Kate May for allowing West Cape May to participate. I mean, I've been on this committee for I don't know over a year
now. Um, and it's been a really good thing to work together on some of these projects since our towns are so linked. Uh, Westgate May has had a great presence on this committee for a long time. I know Carol Sabel was on it. Hillary Pritchard who just resigned as a
West Cape May resident. Bob is a West Kate May resident. So, two of the three people that are here today are actually from Westgate May. uh it gives us a great insight as what K May's thinking about their mobility issues for other than cars and then it it helps us
understand what we need to start thinking about on how we can um create programs and create routes safe routes like we've talked about many times to the beach to the mall to the restaurants uh so I appreciate that the opportunity to be part of the committee
>> yeah well we have a good opportunity to be good neighbors uh and enhance that through this through this committee Yeah, I would add that it's it's added a lot of value. Um you know, we have these discussions. Um it is seamless to go from one community to the next. So, um
you know, it it really helps to to work on it and bring those issues and discuss them together. I think we've been able to um kind of cut through a lot of um issues by just being able to sit down, be at one table. >> Thanks.
>> Okay. Thanks. Uh if there's no other discussion things, I'll uh open open it up to public comments. Uh so please come up, turn on your microphone, uh just announce your name and address,
and the floor is yours for five up to five minutes. >> Great. Okay. I I'm Raj Johnson. I live at 826 Lafayette Street. Um, I'm here because I'd like to propose an improved signage
of no bikes allowed on the Lafayette Park Nature Trail. Um, the nature trail is an amazing addition to our city. Uh, beautifully built, uh, carefully placed, all of which I'm very grateful. Uh
because of its above ground narrow composition, it can safely accommodate walkers but not both walkers and cyclists. Um an ordinance was passed by city council
stating such. Um as of now there is a large clear simple no dog sign, which is great. Uh, no dog sign allowed on one side of the loop. Um,
but um to know there are no bikes allowed, you have to read through a wordy sign and small writing that explains the entire ordinance.
So, it's big sign, big sign, no dogs, little sign, the whole ordinance. No bikes, no recreational whatever. Um, cyclists are whizzing by the placard, not taking note.
Um, for safety reasons, there needs to be a simple no bikes allowed sign similar to the no dogs sign on both sides of the nature trail as it ascends.
Um, I say to the left and to the right side because visitors enter the above ground area from both sides. It doesn't say enter here, exit here. They go on
both sides. Um, I' I'd like to know your thoughts on this. And of course, if you've not visited the nature trail, I encourage you to take in all the beauty that's there because it's amazing. So, I know I have talked to Steve about
this. Uh, Steve is in agreement that um there are always bikes. There are always bikes there. It is not safe. Um, I am a healthy person that uh is able to
walk this area, but um I know two people in particular that uh have walkers that have started the trail and are very afraid for their safety because behind
them a a bike will come missing by. Um I was brave enough to confront someone who whizzed by me. Um two weeks ago and uh the gentleman was
very irate. Um he said to me, "Uh no, there isn't a sign." I said, "I'm sorry, sir. For future reference," I was very nice. I said, "For future reference, if you could, um, note that there are no bikes allowed on the trail." And he
said, "Um, do you want to make something of it? I've got a body cam on me and you're on video." At which time his wife put a phone up to my face and said, "We can go at it right here if you want
about this issue." Um, and I said, "No, I'd like to. Um, I'm going to go take a picture of the sign and bring it back to you. And I would also like to explain to you to the person why there are no bikes
versus uh bikes and walkers. I said it's very narrow and it's unsafe. I proceeded to uh take a picture and bring it back to him. So, what I am what I'm asking for is for you to approach council and
um I know Paul you would be you might be open to this um to simply have a no bikes sign that people can clearly see at the left side and the right side of
the trail. Again, it's a safety issue. >> Yeah. Thank you. I think we understand Okay. uh your your request, Paul, uh something for for you and uh to look into. >> Yeah, I mean we have signs for the dogs, but guess what? There's still dogs up
there, too. So, I mean, and and I totally I rise, I totally understand and and I could put the signs are for the people. I mean, everybody sitting here, we all follow the rules and follow signs regardless of
how well they're worded or not. and and respectful for those things. And unfortunately, we we do have people that want to be confrontational like that. And and and I could have had five red signs along there. >> But I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt because this the no
bicycle is tiny. The whole ordinance is there, but the no dogs is very clear. No dogs. And um you know I would have liked to give this gentleman the benefit of the doubt that there was a clear sign
that said no bikes. >> And we do have security we do have security cameras out there R. So if you've if you have that type of encounter I would definitely if you feel that you needed to re you know reach out to the chief and the police and if you
need to because we can track you because we do have security cameras out there now. We can we have the ability to track, >> right, >> and record those people. >> I probably shouldn't have even mentioned that. Um to me, it's just to give the people the benefit of the doubt that
there are no bikes. >> I understand >> a a clear a clear sign. >> Okay. No, I know. I realize we look, we may have issues from a >> um as far as what people may do, but I think that from a communication standpoint, I think it is important that
>> um particularly visitors who may not know what's going on on the nature trails >> and aren't going to stop when they're on their bike to read a lengthy lengthy sign. >> Um I think it it is a good idea for at least for us to take a look at the signage out there. One for at both ends
of the trail. Um because there's no beginning there's there's no end point you know I mean it may yeah >> what you think may be the place that you naturally enter may not be the place where somebody else thinks is naturally uh to enter. So if there's a if there's
two entrances we I I think it's fair for us to be looking at a solution that would have some type of notification at both at both sides and something that is abundantly clear to people. So that there's visually they can pick up and
spot right away that bikes aren't permitted, that they don't have to um that they don't have to stop and necessarily read a a an ordinance. Um I can't I don't know exactly. I need to take a look at the signage. Maybe Paul
maybe we can just take a walk out there or a ride out there and just take a look. And I'd like to at least uh I'd like to take a a look at what Raz is uh has stated because I think there is a a valid point to making sure that the
information is communicated to people because we shouldn't have any it's one thing if somebody responds and says I'm going to do whatever I want, right? >> But it's another thing if somebody says I'm unaware of that or I don't know or the information isn't available. So, I
just wanted to make sure that we have done our part as a city to properly post that. Um, being mindful that we don't want to pop 50 signs up all over the place because we lose out there too. >> It's the same thing. We have the same
problem with on our beachfront. You end up having to have, >> you know, instead of people just respecting and and >> knowing what the rules are and reading what the rules are, >> it's pretty obvious that's a rules sign. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, let's let's just I would just just
saying I'd like to take a take a look at it. I think it's a um >> you know, knowing that it's a it's a situation and knowing that uh that we're hearing that some people are saying that they >> don't see >> it hasn't been communicated to them. Let's at least just take a look at the signage. So, the only reason
>> I'll do that. I'd like to do that with you. At least take take a look at that. And the only reason why the dogs got their own sign was because the other sign was based on the ordinance for the rules that were adopted by council. So that was already pre-ordered. So it was kind of >> a
>> right. >> It was a an add-on sign because council changed the rules from when we originally adopted the rules. So that's that's just so that you know that we didn't we didn't think that the dogs had a greater need for a different sign compared to the other, but the other
sign was already ordered based on >> how the ordinance was prepared. >> I think Ross that unfold in real time. >> I just wanted clarify that so that we weren't it's not that we were >> thinking one was more important from a safety standpoint than the other. That's
that's all I just wanted to make sure. I know I know Roz was fully aware of how we got there. >> Thank thank you very much for your comment and uh we'll follow up. >> Uh anybody else public comments? If there's no other public comments, can
I have a uh a motion to adjurnn? >> I'll make a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll second it. >> Okay, meeting is adjourned. Thank you everybody. Thank you for coming and listening.