Cool. Thank you everyone. Thank you for your patience. Um, thank you to Tommy for getting us in here. Um, we will start with introductions. I see a couple new faces which is excellent. Um, so
say our names and our neighborhood just briefly while we're here. Um, hey, my name is James Vanre. one of the co-chairs of PEC. I live on Red Street and I'm concern
green album. Um, and I've also watched the work. >> Hi, I'm Peter Olms. I live in Belmont. Um, and I try to attend these meetings with Hi, I'm Catherine. Um, I'm kind of new
to Charlotte. I'm a grad student over at UVA and they told me about these meeting. >> I uh worked in bike advocacy in Kansas City where I used to live. Um, and here to tell you the truth, I don't know what
neighborhood I'm in. I'm just north of Rose Hill. Some people call it Kelly Town. Well, real quick on that. Did you go by Cat or Cath Katherine? >> Um, Catherine. >> Okay, Katherine. Um, there are neighborhoods and then there are 19
planning neighborhoods that the city made up. So, you know, we can talk about your specific >> Kelly Town's accurate >> Kelly Rose the huts.
I'm I'm Peter Krebs. Um I live in Belmont. I work for the Pum Environmental Council. I bike commuter, run walker, all that stuff. My name is Mike Perezy. I bike half the time and uh I mostly come to these
meetings because of the Rose Hill neighborhood vice president and um you know the rest of bike pad stuff in our neighborhood. >> I'm Jen Fleer. I'm on city council and I live in Belmont. I also bike most of the
time and yeah, >> I'm Timothy Kimble. This is my first meeting. I live in Martha Jefferson. Um, and I heard about this through the neighborhood walks. >> Nice Tommy. Welcome. >> Nice mayor.
>> Hi, Meredith. Um, I am Tommy Spernic, uh, the city's bike and pedestrian coordinator and I live in Martha Jefferson. >> Um, Meredith, do you want to kick us off online?
>> I would love to. Hi, I'm Meredith Mccrite. I live in Fry Spring and I'm the secretary for VPAC and I lead a bike ride on Sundays and I also enjoy walking. Alber >> everyone. I'm Alber Kina Plun. I am a
county transportation planner. I live downtown and I enjoy walking there. >> Oh, Ethan. >> Uh, hey, uh, Ethan Tate. Um, local dad. Uh, live in the Martha
Jefferson neighborhood. Got a first grader at at Sunrise. Um, an ebike enthusiast and been doing this for a little while now. Nice. And Josh, are you able to speak? >> Uh, I think so. Hi. Um, I'm Josh. I'm
cold. I live in Fville. I'm volc library. And as of January, I'm on the planning commission. And I mostly welcome Mike. >> Awesome. Thank you. Um, excellent. So, first order of business,
does anyone have any >> amendments they'd like to propose either to today's agenda or to the meeting minutes from January's meeting? Lovely. Um,
next up is public comment. opportunity to ask general questions, talk about something, bring something to our attention that isn't on the agenda. And does anyone have anything they'd like to provide for public comment?
>> Um, the summit's not on the agenda, right? So, >> I'll just make a quick announcement about it. I invite everybody who's here, especially the new folks to attend the um 6th annual active mobility summit March 5th and 6th at the Wolf Factory.
It's a celebration of progress, a coming together of different types of people developing ideas of ways to work to better to work together for better walking, biking, transit, and park
access. Um it's free. There's food provided. We have a pretty good lineup that's coming together. It should be very exciting. And you can learn more about it by going to petcva.org/mobility summit.
So yeah, and I'll there's a link for it on the list serve as of today. Great. Um and the plan at the moment is that there won't be a March feedback meeting because March 5th is the time that these
would be meeting. So correct. Yeah. So it's an evening be the Thursday evening session will will actually go great with BPAC. We're we're going to have a um keynote speaker who's his name is Pete Dashman. He needs from Roro. He's part of the team that put together their
awesome greenway network and he runs an organization that promotes outdoor renovation. We're going to have a sort of just um review of some of the awesome stuff that's happened in uh 2025.
We're going to have a poet give a invocation, lots of networking and lots of good food and drink. So >> awesome. Yep. I just want to add um today's the last day to make comment
about this. Um I know there was discussion the past couple days about the uh West Main and Ridge McIntyre intersection V star study. If you if there is any comments that want to be added, like please send those comments in um today. um you go to their website
um and essentially you're going to be sending Sandy an email which is un unorthodox but uh it's on their project um page um and I brought the posters from our public um meeting a few weeks ago if anybody wants to see them up
close >> I think could you say okay to the meeting being transcribed and I think Ethan possibly has it send Ethan, go ahead. >> Yeah, as I raise my hand, I realize this is maybe more of a staff question, but I
know um when I first joined BPAC a while back, um there was talk about snow routes and kind of the city's um either responsibility or potentially coordinating role in figuring out um
sidewalk clearing in snow um conditions. And we didn't at the time didn't really have anybody within city hall to talk to about that. And there were the ADA compliance things that were all kind of roped into that that were going to kind of
impact the hierarchy of priorities and and all of that. So that that had been something that I had kind of taken on and then seems like we'd kind of shelved it. But I was um just kind of flagging that in re in in light of recent events to see if there's anything that we as
BPAC uh ought to be thinking about on the you know snow clearing of sidewalks front. Um, and if there's a and I guess mostly curious about what what's happening or what's being discussed within city hall at the staff level that
we might influence or assist with or or whatever. >> Do you have anything I I have something to say to that. Do you have anything? >> I'll I'll let you go. Um just Ethan that um that's one of the
things that I thought might come up for the strategy like strategizing subcommittee formation. I know we've had um snow a snow subcommittee in the past. It sounds like maybe you were part of
the the previous one. Um and given the increase in attention and increased support we're getting for um pedestrian infrastructure, perhaps it might be an
idea to revisit that. Um I've heard that >> I've heard from staff that it might be helpful to have our input on the city's current snow management plan. um because I think they'll be looking at changing
it and if they're not looking at changing it, they should look at changing it. Um so if it's okay with you, we'll put that to the the item on the agenda. Um but I think it should definitely be part of
that item. >> Sounds good. >> Um cool. I have one further comment >> related to Tommy's comment about this uh Ridge Street study. If anyone is uh
going to submit comments before the deadline to presume is at midnight tonight, uh I would like to tell you what I'm going to comment, >> which is that cars turning from Water
Street right onto Ridge McIntyre Road in this design have a stop light, but in a right turn only lane, a red light is no different from a stop sign, right? Um and in
if you cross that intersection many times as a pedestrian now you know that everyone runs that they left all these people when they were playing. So my u strong opinion is that should be a no right turn on red salsa and I would love
to see no right turn on red city one but this is a comment about study specifically and I also want to agree with something that Peter said in his email that the um
vertical parking on South Street should not be there. there to be a sidewalk there. Um, so I will include that in your comments as well, too.
>> Awesome. Thank you. Um, we've just had some new people join and just for the sake of minutes and introductions. Um, could we have some introductions? Just name and neighborhood if that's okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Uh, sorry I was late everyone. Uh,
my name's Ally and I live just south of downtown. Um, I think the Ridge Street neighborhood is what we would call it. >> Guavir Higgins. I am the co-chair alongside James. Sorry, I'm coming from the dentist, but um, I live in
>> Cypress Smith. Uh, uh, just coming in from work. I uh live in the Georgetown Marine area just off of hydraulic. >> So, was the bus on town? >> No. >> Oh,
>> unfortunately not. >> Okay. Just curious. I'm trying to take the bus more and more. So, >> it typically is. It's truly just the hour of 4 to6 that like it seems like the seven is like not on uh as even but
it's it's yeah it's truly like just the congestion makes it hard to >> and correct not >> yeah welcome thank you >> didn't mean to shame you but it's great
to have you here wanted to include you s as well I don't think we cropped you paint. So, you're welcome to become a panelist if you would like to speak, but you're also welcome to um just sit and watch if you prepare.
>> Um hi, yes, I Flynn. I'm a climate justice policy manager for the community climate collaborative. Sorry, I meant to be here in person, but a call went long and I might join shortly in person. >> Um
looks like he's joining. Zoe, would you like to introduce yourself? No pressure to do so. >> Hi, I'm Zoe. I'm a student at University of Virginia and I live over on Mortland Street. >> Awesome.
>> Thanks for being here. Um, I think with Kevin's comment, that's that's all the public comment. Thank you for that. That was good point. Um, >> thank you. Sorry I'm not at 100% but I tried to get through all my thoughts. >> Great. It's helpful with all these
surveys. We find it's helpful for people to share as you saw Peter doing um share the comments they're making because we can't all think the the salient points. So next we'll come to questions for
staff. Uh Tommy provided staff updates. Um, this is an opportunity to ask any further questions about any of those things. I know I have some questions, but I'll open you know to the floor to
start. >> And I'll just say I I understand that some of you may not have had the opportunity to read through the updates because they they came in today, but um my goal was to get them out on Tuesdays. Uh that didn't work out this week, unfortunately. >> Sure. People can always email you about
questions after the meeting. So that right? >> That is right. I do have a question. You sent a link to a public viewer for the pavement plan. >> Maybe I should just stop there. >> No, no, no. Go ahead. There was a couple
things in here that I almost Easter eggs. I'm wondering like >> Okay. Yeah. So this is a I was paying attention comment. >> Okay. >> Vailed as a question. Later you have a note about Rose Hill Drive being repaved shortly. >> Uhhuh.
>> And yet Rose Hill Drive does not appear as a highlighted street. >> Well, there's actually, if you want to go a step further, is another comment or update in there with no hyperlinks, no context, no additional information that we've all been talking about for years and years and years, and it's not on
that plan either. >> Cherry, >> uh, West Main. >> West Main. >> Yeah, I I noticed that. Yeah. Yesterday >> I also noticed that the fact that Lucas is getting repaved is not >> But is it >> was not >> is it getting repaved? >> Well, that's what I heard.
>> Right. Exactly. I I heard that, too. But what? Right. But I didn't hear that within this building. >> Oh, okay. All right. >> So, this may be one hand of pavement plan and there may be another secret hand of pavement plan that we don't see.
Is that what I should? Uh, I think what when we asked the last we heard was that this is to expect more on that pavement plan soon, whatever that means. But we've been asking for this plan, Ben and
I, since we two and a half years ago. So, it came from >> Am I answering your question? >> Why is the online pavement plan so crap is this question? Yeah. Why are there why is there no plan? >> I don't think I have charge of it.
>> I don't um public service um I don't have a great um answer for you. They have provided an answer. I don't remember it off top of my head in full detail because I'm pretty sure I remember it not being a great answer. >> Can I ask I've been hearing the past
couple of weeks mention of public service which is something that I hadn't been about before. What is public service? >> Yeah. So, um, someone, um, will probably be able to explain this, but I just consider them public works. They, so Jonathan Dean is the head of public service. He reports
to Steven Hicks, who's in charge of public works. >> Um, so public engineering or traffic engineering, public service, >> they all report to Steven Hicks. And then there's utilities. >> They all that used to be kind of one
pot, but they separated them out. Any other question? >> I I'll ask a question then. Um I saw on the Cherry I think Josh has a question next. Um on the Cherry Avenue point,
we've been hearing the Central Waterline project where Cherry Avenue is going to be taken up and repaved hopefully as an opportunity to put in better infrastructure. You said there's a restoration plan, but not a streetscape
plan. Um what is a restoration plan? >> Oh, okay. And how do we get a streetscape? So, I want I will um yeah, good question. Uh man, but I will say a restoration plan, as I've
been told, is um so public um utilities is working with RWC on that project. They're getting permits through traffic engineering. They came up with like the restoration plan. Essentially, there are swasts of that road that will kind of get um
repaved and mil um like blocks, but it might but not might might not be both lanes, both travel lanes, for example. Um it might be the one travel lane headed north and not the southbound or vice versa. Just depends on what's needed um and where and dependent on the
scope. uh once they get in there, they can change their mind if needs to be and decide to repave the whole thing. But there's also going to be like patchwork and not remilling at all. Um so they they have like um a plan specifically
where they think they have to do some patchwork and where they think they have to do some re reming and then pavement or top. But because of all that, there's no plan for any type of restriping. That's that's the that's the crux of that. I will I will push back on this idea of a streetscape. You know, there's streetscape. There is the East High
streetscape plan, which is a real thing that is going to happen, even though the project website is from 2021 and no one knows what's going on with it. Um, uh, that's a real thing that's supposed to go out to bid in the next couple months. Um, I didn't add that in there, um,
because it's supposed to be on that hyperlink I added about transportation projects. It should be updated on there and the last time it was updated was in November. Um, so that that's a street skate. A lot of the things that we've been talking about here is just a restriping plan. And I and the reason
why I'm trying to make that point is because the folks over on Fourth Street Public Works, utilities, they get really concerned when you say streetscape cuz that can turn a simple project into like a West Main situation.
>> Slice um and and really um conflate, you know, a simple project. So, um, and I just want to point out since I'm making this point that, yeah, West Main's not on there. And technically speaking, as
of today, I've been told, uh, utilities has no plan on repaving West Main after their project. That's going to be up to um, Jonathan Dean of Public Service, which I've been told they should be
doing that. I had not heard anything in writing that they will do that. Um, we're under the impression that, you know, my task next fiscal year is to go after consultant to get a a free striping plan, but I'd feel a lot more comfortable if someone could commit to
it, even though a year ago that's what we were told, >> right? >> But I hadn't seen anything in writing. >> Okay. >> So, so these are all kind of at the moment looking more like the Locust Avenue where it's just kind of like patchwork.
>> So, yeah. So, Locust Avenue, just to keep everyone up to date, that's a utility project that came in. Um, no one over here reviewed that because it was just supposed to be a patched plan. So, they during that they have to do like ADA compliance on ramps, but they don't
really have to do anything else. Um well that corridor has been um discussed by the residents for decades for needing like traffic combing and so residents are trying to maybe get more out of that project um is my understanding.
>> Okay. >> Thank you. Um Josh. >> Hey. Um I have two small things. Um one on the paving schedule. Um, I think we all had similar questions about this and they're not questions for our staff
leazison on his BPAC. Um, but I have found Jonathan Dean to be responsive to email. So, if you have questions, I would encourage you to email him. I will be doing that. Um, and then, oh, and the thing the thing that I think I want on pavement, by the
way, is either pavement quality index scores or pavement something index scores. Basically, the city has a rating of the quality of pavement block by block, which corresponds quite closely to when we need to repave each block and that's in a document somewhere and uh I
want that and it exists so we'll get it. Um >> yeah, >> that's just a suggestion. >> We're getting it, Josh. I mean, a lot of this came through. You're >> Yeah. >> How do I say >> I think I think I was like the 50th person to ask for this information. Uh,
and I probably will just foy the PQI numbers because I think it would be easier for staff than email, frankly. Um, but I think emailing public works has been I've gotten answers and I wasn't sure I would. So, feel free to get in touch with them. Um, my question
about West Main, Cherry Elliot is when I've asked questions to NDS, to Kelly, the the the position is always NDS is going to work closely with utilities and public works to make sure
that we have bike ped improvements as part of these utility projects. And I think that's what NDS intends to do. And it sounds like maybe the biggest challenge is getting information getting on the same page with other offices with
utilities and public works. I think I heard about and so my question basically is what is the correct organizational tool to get everyone on the same page about these projects? I I think I heard about a monthly meeting that NDS staff with utilities. But but
Tommy, this isn't >> you can't do this on your own. But what what kind of working group or structure or work session will get everyone on the same page such that we actually get the improvements that we all want? Um or do
you think we already have that today? >> Um so >> yeah. Yeah. So, I'm trying to um so on on the first part, Josh, um
feel free beac to invite Jonathan Dean to a meeting. Um if you want, I can extend that invitation if you think that would be helpful to get a more um a presentation about the paving plan. I'm happy to to to make that invite. Um,
so I've been thinking about what you've been saying a lot recently, Josh, your your question, and it kind of ties into what my response might be about what is actually on the agenda um later. But
I can't do all this myself and not not nor do I attempt or say that I ever am like you know Ben has been is tremendous you know um to be perfectly blunt those meetings you referred to those monthly or quarterly meetings we were having uh
were great we haven't had them in a year those were Ben's meetings and I think that the city is really struggling since those meetings stopped Um, and maybe I'll try to like answer more of your question once we get into the
agenda. Um, James is shaking his head. >> If it's pertinent to don't let the injunction, >> okay, >> interrupt. >> Um, >> you all may have noticed that I'm trying
to like uh be really frank the past couple months and like because I'm tired of putting beating around the bush. I want to be as direct as possible, but I've been very frustrated and um uh there are projects that we don't know, we don't even know how to plan about. Uh
we don't know about locust coming up. We're asked about providing um bike detours once the project's happening, but we have no clue about the design. Um, I reached out to public utilities a year ago because I heard a rumor that they're planning on doing something and
we knew for a while that in our office that we wanted to do a restripening plan. Um, and they said, "Well, hold off, wait a year," which, okay, makes sense. Um, but I still don't know for sure if there's going to be repaving and when that may be. I have kind of a general
idea, but no, nothing in writing or any commitment. Um there are projects that could be happening that are happening that don't come through this office like we asked public developers to provide. If you want to build something in the
city of Charlottville, you got to get a permit and go through um like site plan review, right? So Chris Gins, in fact, you'll see in my notes, he's got projects in the hopper with the city planners. Um but there but Locus from
from what from from I understand Locus Avenue that didn't happen. Um so therefore people didn't have didn't have the opportunity to say well we could do traffic calming after this or we could repave this or you know there was no discussion was being had but to their
fair enough uh if they come back and say well repaving is not part of this project. No no no one really should be saying let's do all this other stuff. It's if it's not repaving is not going to be part of it. It's not really an opportunity to provide traffic calming.
Um, so Rose Hill kind of offers something new in that regard. It we're going to have this big public engagement around it. So that's a good thing. This might be a step in the right direction. Um, so yippy. Um but uh projects uh there's
just it's hard from my standpoint um to say let's get um bike lanes or any other bike ped facilities in corridors that we've already identified that need them when we don't know what projects are coming down the pipeline from internally and that is happening. So, I guess to
answer your point, like I hear that we're supposed to be working by departments. Feel free to copy me on your emails to Kelly. Um, but I don't see it. I don't I'm not experiencing that. Um, if I can ask a followup.
I Okay, one assertion I want to make is that restriping is a great excuse to do bike infrastructure. We don't need restriping to do bike infrastructure. And I say this because before we learned about the utility work on West Main, you and Ben
were working on bike lanes on West Main. Um, and that work was paused to accommodate utility work on West Main. Uh I don't see why it couldn't be resumed after the work is complete if we don't restripe. Um so I and by the way
I'm not trying to convince staff of things that I think you already agree with. I'm just trying to make an assertion. Um for the record uh I don't think any outcome of utility work would mean that we should stop pursuing bike lanes on on West Main. Um a question I
have is because this really sounds like a problem of organization communication. Um, I've been told that planning commission can convene a work session on topics within its remit and I'm wondering if there should be a work session on transportation um, which would include
staff from various departments um, to ask people questions in the same room on the record and get some answers. Um, so if anybody has thoughts, let me know. But I'm going to look into that possibility and see if we can maybe unblock some things. I'm being optimistic, but maybe get maybe push a
little bit harder on some things. Um, so if it's a bad idea, let me know. If it's a good idea, help me do it. But I think it's a thing we can do. >> Do it. Let's go. Do it. >> Okay, I'll stop there. Sorry. >> Thank you, Jack.
>> That's a really good point. His first point, but I forgot to personally, but we were already doing like re >> Oh, infrastructure can happen. It doesn't have to only you know pre behaving. You just need to know what's happening so you know what
>> we don't want to spend uh you know $100,000 or whatever on something and then they get milled up again, right? Like um but to your point, if it is going to get >> well I mean even actually to Josh's point, let's say they don't remill it and pave it and they just patch it,
>> it would be nice to know does that is it going to be like that for five years? is, you know, what is the what is for how long is this restrip? Because restriking is not like the the most expensive thing in the world, but it's not cheap. >> Mhm. Um,
so especially an entire four-door >> and this might be naive of me to say, but if if they're already doing patchwork, it would it it seems like it should be
cheaper to instead of doing patchwork do a full repaving than do the patchwork and then do a full rep. Or are you saying we we don't have to have a repayment in order to do a reeight? >> I think that's what Josh was saying and
I I agree with them technically, but again like let's say we were to do that and then 5 years later they decide to mill it up and repave it. >> I mean I don't at what point was where's the cost and and whatnot. And I mean >> to be honest with you, I'm two and a
half years in this job. This was like when I in my interview, I sat right here and I said, "Sidewalks and West Main were the two main things why I accepted this job." And um you know, we I remember the first week we were talking about Andy Orbin's bike lane idea and we
started looking into it. We sent it to a consultant. We wanted to explore how we can make it happen. And then I was kind of hunted off to to focus on sidewalks for a while and to revisit this the West Main. And at that point, that's when we realized that utilities is coming in.
So, let's let's not put anything on the ground right now. But, you know what? It would have been really nice over the past 2 years if we had a better bike facility on West. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, like when you're past like 3 years or whatever, the the the
lost opportunity is more expensive >> in the redoing. And also like for for something like a spot tear up patch, would they replace like with light? Like if you had like partial if you had bike
lanes and part of it got screwed up, would they not put them back there just like they had put the yellow line back there if if they busted that? Well, who I guess when you say they um you're saying the city and when you're saying
the city, I'm I'm I don't know where that money is going to >> in theory like we paid for the the initial install, they tear it off and they have to pay for whatever we had planted our flag on. >> Yeah. >> I will say here's the thing about West
Main. Like in a perfect world, we can put down something to see if it works >> and then revisit it and improve upon it. So like we have to just get something in there to see if it works. And um >> and that's the spirit of Andy Andy's
thing was that knowing that West Main would be obliterated, >> right? it would have a limited shelf life and you could tell the church or whoever is opposed to it, this is definitely going away and revisited, >> right?
>> Um and and unlike other places like um that are going to make a corridor one way or take away a lane, um I know West means big. I know people are using it, a lot of people are using it and it's
taking away probably parking, not um like a lane and changing the nature of the corridor. Um so yes, there was a lot there um that I
don't know I hopefully and I appreciate Josh's comments like wait, he's on point with a lot of this stuff. So yeah. Does anyone have any other questions? Um
I saw that NDF staff have visited about 50% of the last year's quick build. Visited them to record data. Well, I think I wrote in the data. By data, I mean, >> is that just photos of
>> where did they actually install the thing? Because some of those um some of the installations is not exactly what we talked about, right? Potentially for good reason. Um, but I want and photos and I want to calculate I want to
record all that so that hopefully in the near future we as a city discuss >> um next steps with that program. >> So you're just collecting >> I'm just going around town taking photos and and public should have collected when they
is what I'm hearing. Like they should they should know what we put in. Well, I honestly I haven't asked them to be honest with you if they if they had or not. Um I know Josh had asked them questions and I don't know if they said yay or nay, but yeah. Um
>> yeah, can I can I add one thing? Sorry. >> Um this I actually had to foyer. They wouldn't tell me. Um but I have uh I have Brennan's list of what was done and not done as of last November on quick builds. Um, and the the summary was they
finished almost everything in the urgent quick builds category uh minus a few things. They canceled everything on Rose Hill uh and didn't do certain projects. And then there's been nothing done on anything that is not marked urgent quick builds in the website in the city page.
That's meant to be this year, I'm told, but I don't know who is doing it or when money yet. Um, but I can I'll forward to the VPAC list Brendan spreadsheet from last year. That's that's the least I have. Okay. >> Yeah, I saw that Josh. Um,
and I'm like kind of felt like it was importantly for me to go around and put eyes on everything myself essentially. >> Um, and again, take pictures because like a quick example is um as the snow
starts to melt in your all's neighborhoods, take a look at those um tables. I have photos >> and um >> they do well. >> Okay, >> there you go. >> Yeah, >> we need to as a city be tracking that.
>> I know. And I'm like program >> what do we why can't these things just be permanent? >> Well, yeah, but we need to track that so we can then ask the question, right? Like, >> but like come on. Everyone could have predicted this. Like it's not rocket
science. We did predict it and we we we heard that they were going to be taken up to be honest with you in like November ahead of this ahead of winter and they >> really >> and Brennan also used it as a reason to delay putting in more.
>> You can't put the this group that we're going to wait till after winter. Well, if you wait until half a year later, it's not a quick bill. And it's if the whole purpose is to have them on the ground like not >> they can't work if they're not there, >> right?
>> So why don't we just put in the things we know will work. >> It is a little bit boggling. >> I think Do you mind answering that question? Cuz there is an answer to it. >> Me? >> Yeah. >> Well, I'm I'm I'm Yes. I actually I would like you to answer it.
>> Okay. Fire fire department. >> Well, yeah. Yes. >> Just want to make sure not everyone knows. >> Thank you. And the fire department, I don't know if they've rescheduled it yet, but they're having a public input session on how they do business. And so that is an opportunity for all of us to show up and say, "We would like you to
do business in a way that >> bombs traffic, >> saves lives >> and say yeah. Makes your work easier. >> If you don't mind, I will just refer anybody's interested back to a BPAC meeting from last year. One of your names will know the date when we had
Caleb and Brandon speak to us about this stuff. Um, I do think even though I don't like it, it's fair to delay work for winter and fall because it is leaf and snow season for public works. So, I get that they're busy. Um, but I think one of the sticking points that I want
to hear more about in the future is their perspective as I heard it when they came to us was we need to put in a few projects and collect data for some length of time to evaluate what worked. Until that happens, we can't do anymore.
And I didn't agree with that frankly. Um and I think the means of evaluation that were discussed here as you'll remember those of you who are here were unsatisfying to me. Um so I think the idea that we delay until someone has
time to evaluate data that we don't really trust isn't the right move. Um it's it's going to be a question for Brand's department. Um but I think if we wanted to engage with the arguments
that's that's the argument um is that we need to evaluate the evaluation will be speed based and we won't see probably huge changes because the actual behaviors that we care about are probably more to do with angles turning
radius and feelings of safety as pedestrians and so on which are not captured by you know car speed data But so that's that's the argument. I don't agree with all of it, but just so we know we're arguing about that's that's what we heard last time and we have recordings of that call if anybody wants
to revisit it. >> Yeah. Thanks Josh. I'm guessing that was maybe October, November last year if anyone wants to look for it. And for context for people who weren't here, last year was a big success story in
getting a lot of um quick build infrastructure projects down on the ground. flex posts to shortterm crosswalks and speed tables. >> Question beacons beacons and >> we don't have to take those out for the winter. >> No, not called those quick belts cuz
they're expensive and they're permanent. >> Well, can I provide context? Remember, all this really came about because someone died. >> That's right. This is not like I mean and there was a good response and we want to test things but we have some
money set aside to move forward on on continuing this program. It would be helpful to know like what this program is what the variables are what the measurables are and the process and implementing them. So, you know, I've gotten emails all the time saying, "Can we do X, Y, and Z at my neighborhood, at
my crossroad?" And I kind of just put it into this list of like whenever we and whenever somebody allows us to like do it, then uh we can have a discussion about what makes the most sense to be able to do stuff. >> Yeah. >> And I don't love that process.
>> And we will talk more about that in >> a minute. >> Um but first, sorry, just really big. I wonder if that can be fire. >> Yes. >> Note because I saw that too >> and I know that came up when we were talking about Rosel repaving
um session with the ladders and getting to tall buildings that don't exist yet. >> Uh as well as many other things that I'm sure y'all have talked about before. Um but but fire is important for this and some other things. I will tell you that
I asked them about that and it's not a requirement that they that is flexible. It is set by the people who certify the fire department to make their things like that. So I was because I was like well surely people in Europe fight fires
>> tiny trucks and they were like they don't have to be insured or certified by the same people we do. So it's not come. They would love to have >> Does that apply to getting ladders certain places too? >> It's to be a certain fire station you
need x amount of things and they set this standard and >> well this is going to be my question. >> I think there's more to that. >> Are you leaving? I could do. >> Well, I know I think there's a lot more to that because I'm not going to claim
I'm an expert, but I have looked into it and there's definitely localities that are insured that do a lot more ambulance, you know, work and with, you know, or with a lot more medical response with ambulances than like large fire trucks with tower, you know, on
ladders and such, >> right? Um, >> I'll say this. Don't be surprised if you hear that it's the >> national agency that says that they have to have these things. Yeah. >> The NFPA, which is not a government body,
>> in case anyone doesn't know that. >> They're in the pocket of big fire truck. Well, I mean, institution is to >> self. Um, but you know, it's been really inspiring to watch Josh be a pain in the ass to utilities
>> and we see how long it takes and yeah, how often >> yeah, >> you have to, you know, nudge them. And so I think even just as a group helping helping ourselves become more literate about what isn't as possible with fire. Uh anyway, the second thing was quick
builds. I think um there's a real case to be made that these should be not just seen as quantifiable variable reductions, but as neighborhood amenities. Um I think this is like super crucial >> to this program. We can't just let
utilities say these are successful if these numbers work or don't. >> Like we saw it on the agenda left, but we saw it in the quick build walk in our neighborhood. like this makes people really happy even when they hate the specific design, >> right? But how do they feel? >> But that they feel and like there's a
specific comment that was like I don't really like this design but it's so great that people are paying attention to our neighborhood making. >> Yeah. >> Right. So that that's one way just that you know the emotional effective benefit of this and it's the same with like you know West Main Streetscape. None of that is necessary, right? But we're doing it
anyway because it makes the environment enhances the environment. Um, so anyway, I think yes, the the numbers are good and we can continue nudging them to be less numbers obsessed and make the case, I think. Um,
yeah, >> think less like engineers. >> I mean, I appreciate where they're coming from, too. I think, you know, the two things can work together. Sorry. >> No, thank you. That was that was very cool. Um,
Peter, would you like to introduce this next section or would you like me to introduce this next section? >> As much as I love hearing your voice, I can try to talk about it, please. >> Um, I wonder if we could put the email that I sent if
>> Oh, no. Um, what if I sent it to you again right now? Well, no. I'm not a huge fan of recording my email. What if you send it to Meredith >> and then putting it on YouTube? >> I'll send it to Meredith and she can
Yeah. >> Yeah. I think Merit should be able to screen share, >> right? >> Oh, thank you. >> You're the best. >> If I could get to my send button. Um, so what I wanted to talk about was daylighting at crosswalks, which is a
good old engineering jargon term, but it just means let's not have the cars parked right on top of the crosswalks. So, it's another one of these, I don't know, we might lose parking topics, but really it's what can the city do to move towards not
having parking in places where it's illegal already. I think the city code says you're not supposed to park within some number of feet of crosswalk 20. Somebody can look it up. >> But if there's not a sign or a device, people are going to park within 20 ft of
a crosswalk, especially in places where uh parking is at a premium and not enforced. So, I would like to just push for that from the BPAC perspective because crosswalks are places that people are supposed to cross the street and we're supposed to
have drivers yielding, but it's just not reasonable to expect a driver to yield if you are hidden by a giant truck that's parked right up on the cross. So, um I think another I saw an interesting article this week about a Whimo in San
Francisco that hit a child uh a driverless Whimo. The child darted out, of course, as children always do from behind. >> Yeah. From behind a car. But as we maybe will eventually also start seeing more driverless vehicles here, they are also
relying on being able to see people in the roadway and we are making it in this city so that people cannot be seen as they're standing in a marked crosswalk. And I don't know why. All it takes is some signs that say no parking, some
paint on the road, maybe some flex posts in places that people refuse to um park in the way you're supposed to park. >> That's all. >> Tommy, do you have any guidance for us on this?
>> Do you guys say something? >> Oh, I was just going to warn you that you're uh the web tab still has your email pulled up. So yeah, I'm going to assume that everything's >> Meredith screen. >> Oh, she Okay, thank you, Meredith.
>> So, you have to zoom way in. But basically, these are my my little pictures from Belmont at the top. Wow. >> And those are both legal parking spaces, at least according to the signs. >> And then UVA is that van. There's a
legally marked parking space that has a little sign that says, "Oh, don't let an oversized vehicle here, but it's always full of giant facility." And then if you scroll down, the next picture down is an example of what DC is doing, which is when they're doing these
street restriping projects. They're putting in um flex posts and curb stops and markings within certain distances from crosswalks um just as their standard. >> And look how wide that crosswalk is. Well, also they have wider crosswalks, but
>> but is that also part of the strategy of like you don't feel >> like it's taking up more space? >> I don't know. I don't know what they decided to make that wider. They have bigger people there. >> Well, they have greater volume of
traffic for sure, >> but this is not a mall. This is on Columbia Road. Um, so yeah, I think we I don't think this is out of scale of what Charlottesville could do, right? >> It's not super expensive to put a couple, >> right?
>> And some go up to the top again. >> I mean, I love this idea for Rosel. It's wide. Super wide. >> Isn't there one more above that? >> That was my first one. Oh, okay. Oh, there's one more below that from New Orleans which was just um you know a
less intensive approach, but it does use a different color of paint and some words >> and it's a little triangle and people don't park there. >> So, I I I didn't think I was going to have a response, but I texted Quinn last night and I I came up with a response
>> if you're if you're if we're ready for that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, so one, if you notice in um the staff updates, I last month we had the pleasure of the new um assistant
um city manager, Evan, >> um joining us and um I got a call or an email that next week to try to move forward with this idea of putting bike corral in the doctor's mobility hubs and
they're born new approved approved location. So, if you look in the staff updates, the examples include um at Autos by a crossing on Second Street uh on um at um this at at the standard by a
crosswalk at the Doyle at a crosswalk and the other one is right where JPA, West Main, and University Avenue all converge, not at a crosswalk, but um again, these are all the Docs mobility hubs. This was something that Natalie's
been talking about for a long time and and I I I had been asking essentially I've got 30 approved locations for docless mobility hubs. Can we just put crows in these? And the answer is like no. We had to look at them individually
before we put like a rack there. Um but just just know that there is the purpose of us putting something at those crosswalks was also to help daylighting. Like that was an intentional thing. Um and then putting a rack there will also help u with daylighting at the
crosswalks as well. Um and corrals include flex boats and such, >> right? >> Um so um however, over the past year and a half, several of us in this room have had meetings. Jyn's not here anymore, but
she's she's been one of the ones leading the meetings with CAA and the ARP on these walk audits and how do we like kind of like ingrain these walk audits into planners >> um who are designing um projects and
such, right? Like >> you know I I see the value in this and I'm like yeah let's do it. But I'm if I have the ability to like do a project, it's kind of like a oneoff and I don't really design the entire project or I'm not in charge of a consultant the entire
time. Like as of right now, things change. My job has changed in the past two and a half years. Um in related to the conversation we were saying earlier, there's been talk over the past two and a half years of when projects happen, they need to come through NDS. So that that is an
opportunity for different people in the workflow to to make comments and make sure that every our zoning is all checked off, our ADA is all checked off. Um we're complying with utilities, we're complying with traffic engineer, we're comp whatever it is, everyone has their
little abilities to check off a site plan. Like it would be really cool if everybody was just educated on these type of facilities that we could install, whether it's traffic calming or whatever you want to call it. And that's when we can just say this is when we
inst this is when we do this thing. Um and that's my response. We should do that >> essentially. And I feel like people and and you may have heard people say that's where we should be heading, but I can tell you that's that isn't happening
right now. >> And I'm not trying to be negative. I'm just trying to give you all like >> like what's happening. So fully support that. How can we get what would
we want more daylighting to happen and not just when new things go in? It seems like as Peter says, it seems like something that it the city is capable of doing. It doesn't feel like they live. >> Yeah. Um, would it help for example to
have a list of like the 20 priority locations where daylighting could do the best job potentially. Uh, that's a way to go about it. I think it doesn't hurt to have feedback from
the community to point us in the right direction. Um, I will say that um, >> bye >> bye. >> Um, looking at Locust Avenue again.
That's where I started thinking about like what were some missed opportunities and I know you all sent a letter. I didn't totally agree with like using Locus Avenue as an example of a missed opportunity because y'all were kind of focused on bike lanes and I as someone who lives over there and crosses over
Locust Avenue every single day and kids who go to school have to cross over the biggest thing is daylighting and traffic calming on that corridor. It's people going over Locus Avenue at sycamore at popppler at Hazel. It's it's dangerous. And if those there were neck downs and
traffic calming measures, Lord, you know, um, God forbid, like raised crosswalks, >> um, then >> bike lanes. >> Yeah. I mean, perhaps I'm not going to I'm not poo pooing bike lanes. I'm just letting you know that like like that
would have been really cool if like whenever the project coming through we said all right well let's in institute some of this stuff after that project was completed um that's what made me think about my response I guess is what I'm trying to say
>> um but it would to answer your question um you know I I did get a request um from Ben to like look at different kind of quick build projects and I gave him a response based on what people have provided me in the past based on things
that we didn't um install from last year's projects and some new ones that have bubbled up from me just kind of like being observant and things that I think are important. And then the the the the point was at some point we're going to sit down with traffic
engineering again. I think I mean I was told that James Freeze is bringing this meeting together and we kind of talk about this. Um but you know it's been several weeks now we had a snowstorm.
Um hopefully that happens but it doesn't honestly feel like we have like a process to like say for sure to the public this is how we do it. This is what I need from you to like move forward. Um, >> okay. And Josh,
>> okay, I think Tommy already covered some of this, but to put more of a point on it, um, you know, traffic calming is going to be case by case and talk to engineers and different departments and so on. Daylighting, as far as I can tell, isn't that way. It it can be a
policy and the policy can be you can't park within X feet of a crosswalk anywhere. That's the law in New York State. Go ahead. Sorry. >> You have that policy actually on the books. Isn't that what you >> I was just looking at like it's >> Sorry, it's based on state. >> Yeah.
>> And it's like it's uh 20 ft in both West Virginia. >> What? So like just just getting in compliance >> and parking um CPD traffic um does actually issue tickets for that. I've
literally seen them issue a ticket for parking too close to um an intersection or crosswalk forward. It's not just crosswalk, it's any intersection. Um but yeah, >> sorry Josh. >> Oh no, that's I sorry I missed that before but if that's already policy that
seems really helpful. It seems like it's not we aren't asking for a new fancy ID that's untested. We're asking for enforcement of rules on the books. >> So, but Josh, one of the challenges is we have parking spaces that are signed as legal spaces within 20 ft of a
crosswalk. So, that's a policy slashengineering conflict. And I don't know where the resolution is for because you don't want to have the police come out and say, "Well, it's a legal spot. It's got a sign right there." Well, you have to eliminate those parking places though, right?
>> Is what I'm asking for. >> That's what this is what I'm suggesting. >> The law is ri we have a good example of this. Um so on JPA and observatory um in and and uh Peter, you probably know this this spot what I'm about to
say very well because it um was a bus stop and uh they took it away and it became a parking spot. So for a couple minutes, x number of times throughout the day, yes, there was a bus blocking that section, but it wasn't a big car
the entire time. So like daylighting was never really an issue when it was a bus stop. When it became a parking spot, then a car was parked there and it became a major issue at that crosswalk. So I did get traffic engineering approval to take that spot away and we put a docless mobility hub there and all
those people were super happy that that happened. And yes, we needed some dockless mobility parking there, but it was honestly mainly about daylighting. >> Yeah, >> I like the strategy. >> Stacking functions is always the best approach.
>> And then you're not saying we we can't use this space. You're supposed >> So, can I to attempt to summarize a little bit of what um Peter and Josh were describing? I think there is a um there are opportunities where we can take advantage when like projects come up, but there's also
because there's something legally on the books for us to like have a a group of 20 places where we take away parking, right? >> And we just we don't even have to necessarily add striping if we don't want to. We just move the sign back, >> right?
We can we can down the line maybe add more striping or a bike corral or something, but literally just move the if there's a traffic sign, we just move it back 20 ft because that's how big the parking spot is, 7 by 20. It feels like it would be helpful to
have examples of where that's the case, like where where the signs conflict with the law and take photos, all of them, and send them to city manager council and city attorney and whoever. >> They really need to go straight to the
city. Well, look look look no look at um the law though in a little bit more closely because I it was my understanding it was not like midblock crossings would be different for example it's not it's 20 at a corner or an intersection >> the crosswalk it's in the turn radius
>> right correct and the reason why I say that is I remember Kevin Cox um flagged down a CPD officer um who was driving past on West Main after a car was parked, you know, where
Ace Street is on West Main. They were their car was literally in the middle of the crosswalk and there's there's signs telling them not to do it, but they were just parked there in front of the ramp and Kevin literally flagged him down and hustled him back and say, "Give this guy a ticket and and they gave him a
ticket." Um, but it took Kevin obviously to be doing that. Um but but uh it's him blocking the crosswalk. The the normal park legal parking spaces are within like 5 ft of that crosswalk and that's
legal technically if that makes sense. >> There's some research too but potential. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Awesome. Um, next item is
building on what we've been discussing last meeting and the meeting with all um where we adopted a work plan or a guiding document of topic areas we want to focus on this
year. not intended to be an exclusive list of issues, but it is intended to focus the mind and hold us somewhat accountable to our stated goals and aims for the year. Um, and we spent a lot of
time talking about what we want to do and I think now it's time to get to work and do it. Um, so with that in mind, those of you who have computer hopefully can see it. I have printed copies if we
will want to look at it. Um, oh, thank you very much, Meredith. Meredith has it up on screen. Um there are I think seven focus areas that we want the committee
to well the committee has said it wants to be involved in um and I think it's time to start strategizing figuring out we don't we we're not going to talk about all seven and today um I think one I want to
definitely make sure we cover is formalizing quick build process We've already been talking about that. That's something that has been the city is looking at it. Um, transportation is looking at it. Public works is looking at it. Traffic
engineering's looking at it how to improve that. And I know it would be helpful if feedback weighed in with what we want to see from the program moving forward. Um, so I'm just kind of opening it up to
ideas. um or um where we see kind of next steps coming in um where subcommittees may be helpful and if so who would be interested in
forming said subcommittees and Gwen feel free to add on to that if >> I'm so sorry I'm naging a little >> sorry to call >> was whole couple different directions. Um um quick belts I think I think we should
just >> focus on quicks. >> I think we should start there. I asked Kyle earlier this week if he would like a safer to school subcommittee and he was like yes but not yet. Um so I think we can get with Kyle about that. Um,
potentially having like an outreach committee could also be helpful. Um, as we think about like I mean it w it will be spring again um one day and we will be doing more uh events in the
community. The um bike month will begin really soon. There'll be lots of opportunity for getting on neighborhood association or neighborhood are they neighborhood associations? That's what they're called. Uh going on their calendars. Um, uh, so yeah, I think that
could be another slightly lighter lift for the people who are not as interested in talking about speed tables and neck downs, um, but who actually like being with people and hearing their concerns, that can be a nice place to
show up for the non-engineers potentially. Um, yeah. Um I'm also think well James and I have a little more work to do around getting making sure that our kind of calendar for the year is set up so that we are
getting the right uh staff in at the right time to be this is not a committee assignment but just as we think about like when it's helpful to have um for example public works come and talk to us or engineering um as we think about what
those subcommittees are up to. Um, that's what I got. >> You can put me on a subcommittee. Thanks. >> Yeah. Are we are we just advocating ourselves in >> is that what >> I mean if anyone interested in quick builds that's like that's just ongoing work. Um there's plenty to do. Uh
there's there's like kind of a research component of being on that subcommittee and and this is really all for the committee to decide like what do we want to do? Um but one part Tommy has asked for us to develop like how like some communities have like whole quick build
um like a whole program and if you are someone who a resident who has a quick build need or concern you can go and fill out a form and like request your quick build and it's very formalized. There's it's like a line item in the budget and so that's you know one
approach we can take. Um, I think trying to figure I think that's probably we're not there yet. Um, I do think, you know, it's going to require a little bit more coordination with just like how are we measuring the success of these things? How are we ensuring that
they are not falling apart? Um, how are we making sure they're getting replaced when they need to be or turned into harden infrastructure? I think that's everyone's goal is that they're not they don't stay quick builds. Um, so kind of working out some of the details, recognizing there are a lot of hurdles
to clear around just coordination and timing and money and all kinds of things. >> Um, but does anyone want to join? You sound like you're interested in >> Yeah. Yeah. Let's do it. >> Okay. You and Kevin, great.
>> Is that what document you most interested in? Um it sounds like that's our most like highest priority right now and I am very willing to work on it. So yeah, I
mean you can put me wherever you need. >> I think it is a priority right now. Um it's also the thing that we have the most experience and success with in the past year and a half. So,
it's kind of like our model for, hey, this works, let's carry on. >> Um, but there are a whole bunch of other things that if people have energy for are just as important. >> Yeah. >> I was going to say, oh, I'm sorry. The
advocacy, I'm happy to work with humans, right? It's my job on the dayto-day, so I see Ethan's got to say the analysis came first. Yeah. Hey, sorry. Um, are are we
inferring what the committees are or could be based on these things in the guiding document or I mean it it seems maybe like the first step is kind of taking this guiding document and
uh parsing it out into what the actual committees would be that would be working on these things. And then we figure out how we go about signing ourselves up for them or or I I don't know. I feel like I'm maybe missing something in what missing a prompt or something in this conversation.
>> Right. That's what I'm feeling too that I I haven't um presented this as effectively as I should have. Um and I think that's out of a hesitancy to like I don't want to say I think we
need the these three subcommittees, >> right? um who wants to join them. Um because I don't I don't know I'm not going to be on all the subcommittees and I don't know what all the subcommittees are going to be doing. Um
so in my head I was hoping that people would be like, "Oh, that really interests me. I can be on like it would be helpful to sit down with a couple of people or I'll just take that on myself and report back in a month or so um to
be more organic. But I understand like like Ethan's point is a good one that more guidance would be helpful. Um so you've mentioned quick build subcommittee outreach subcommittee. I also thought the whole repaving
discussion Yeah, >> could do with the subcommittee. Um, and we've heard mention that while it's not on the work plan, it came up this month that the snow clearing plan should
be revisited and advocacy for that may benefit from the subcommittee. >> Can I just say something? I've been talking a lot this I'm I'm make myself sleepy how much I'm talking but um I didn't get a chance to comment on defense um when he was talking about the
snow committee earlier and you reminded me of something just now >> I haven't heard many people talk about um what condition our sidewalks are going to be in after this um snow >> um >> perfect condition >> okay
>> great what you mean by condition >> well salt destroys concrete. >> Um, and >> and skid stairs >> and and we have contractors helping out who may not be as um gentle
uh with our government facilities as hopefully our public service employees. >> And do you mean the curb ramp detectable warning? >> All gosh, >> all of that. So, and then and then we're going to have another big 88 transition
update that's going to point to all these new issues that we have. Money is going to need to be raised and allocated to fix all these things. Is there something that needs to be done to help protect our valuable asset that is sidewalks
>> while snow events happen? And I I did there is I there is like a snow committee you know internally that I'm not part of but they asked for feedback and I mentioned that but um
>> but anyway I just wanted to you reminded me of that um when you were just talking about um >> I forget where it was but yeah >> so that I mean that could be a unintended consequence from fierce advocacy to you know get sidewalks clear or
something when maybe maybe a better solution is to slow traffic on the streets and chill out on like elacrity on the sidewalk clearing. I I know it like rocks people's worlds,
but you're showing there's a cost to some of the things that we advocate the most fiercely for. Um I don't want Yeah, I don't you I could continue that a little bit, but um I don't want to derail the conversation about the sub communities and such.
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> Um >> Yeah. And I I raised my question not as like a a criticism of the guiding document or anything like that. I mean, I feel like that's definitely on the right track, but I feel like that, you know, I'm coming at this from like
the nonprofit background. And so, typically like that would be the that would be the organizational plan or the strategic plan and then from that the the structure of the organization would come out and that's where the committees would be. And so I'm I'm
maybe I'm advocating for postponing staffing the committees until we have a list of committees that reflects kind of all of the different things that this document says we ought to be doing. So maybe having a a draft of that go out between this meeting and the next
meeting so people come into the next meeting with like a pretty clear sense of where their skills and interests might fit into that work plan with you know four to six committees maybe something like that.
>> I mean we could take the time right now and figure out what the committees are. >> I'd like that. >> Can we hear from I like that too. Can we hear from Josh? >> Sorry. Um, a a thing I want to resolve before
people commit time to committees is if we can get people to listen to the committee's work product. Um, not to be to be slightly cranky, we've had committee before and we had output
and I would say not all of the output went anywhere. Um, and if we don't have clarity about staffing and budget for quick implementation, I don't know how much time we should put into recommendations.
Um, I want us to be able to make recommendations, but I first want to have some confidence that someone will hear them. I I know NDS will, but NDS are not the ones who are putting things on the ground. Um >> perhaps the subcommittee's role would
not purely be recommendations but also strongarmming peoplehanding them to use a nicer term to you know actually lean on to first identify and then lean on the public officials who
need to be communicated with. >> Yeah, I think that's probably realistic. I I I just I don't want I'm I'm happy to have people here for the first time today. For example, I don't want to promise you all that you join a committee and make
recommendations and then people will go and implement them. Um I want to promise that, but I don't want people to be let down. I think making the subcommittees about advocacy first and then implementation after making some
progress on the advocacy side is probably less likely to lead people to be disappointed maybe or more honest about where things stand right now. Um but that's probably the truth right now. I I
I don't I think we should go ahead and do this. But I I want to be clear about like the first part of the work plan has to be get someone to listen to the second part of the work plan if that makes sense. >> Yeah. Maybe and I've mentioned this, but
just to like give an example for folks who um haven't been here the entire time or you know there was a quick build subcommittee. You all gave us recommendations. We've got like 10 to 20 build projects that have been approved
and it's two years later and they aren't on the ground. So this is outside of the urge of transportation um projects. So that I think that's kind of probably what Josh is speaking to. >> Right. >> And after that we had another round like
subcommittee had another set of thing because it the city had asked us for it. you guys had asked us for it and those have been equal, >> correct? >> Which is like perfect example of what Josh is talking about, >> right?
>> So it and again that project happened and went forward, someone died and and now now all those previous commit those um previous projects that you all recommended, we added them
>> into the urgent transportation list. So, they are baked into that as well. Um, but they haven't been installed. >> Um, we heard, James and I heard earlier this week a desire for for
accountability that that we as a public body, a group of residents, um, have a unique position to be holding city staff accountable to projects. I even jokingly was like, maybe we're the bicycle and pedestrian
accountability committee. But maybe that's actually what the quick build committee is. We just like take our cues from Josh's good uh digging and and uh many many emails and we just do the work
of like where are the quick builds, when will they go on the ground that have already been in the pipeline. And that literally could be the job of like every committee. Could just be the like accountability work. >> Um, and I'm not trying to be like negative and down on staff or anything, but I think it really is like sometimes
there's really good reasons why things can't happen, but we don't know what they are. Um, or we don't know how to ask for something different if plan A doesn't work out. >> So, you know, that could be one thing that the quick build committee if maybe that's all the quick build committee
does right now. Cypress, did you >> uh I >> I did. Sorry. Uh I do love that there's been a great focus on quick builds and I think that
it's done a lot for the uh safety and traffic flow and and ability to feel safe on the roads and being near the roads. So I don't want to minimize what that has done. Um, I personally like I just learned how to ride a bike last year. Uh,
>> the the streets were uh sometimes kind to me, sometimes not. >> Mhm. >> Um, but it's still a new skill I'm developing. I do walk almost everywhere uh if not take the bus or some combination thereof. So if there's a
call for people who are interested in working with certain so committees, I would want to do advocacy as from the perspective of a someone who's primarily a pedestrian or somebody who's using the bus. And tying back to that uh idea of of snow removal, uh most of the bus
stations and stops that I have seen in the last 2 weeks are horribly like still snowed over or I I like earlier today on my way in I had to or had to I watched as uh students and people uh also trying
to get on the bus were like clamoring over snow mounds uh to get to a spot that was slightly less impacted to then wait for the bus right up against the road. Um, and I've done that myself and it doesn't feel safe or uh, good. Uh,
and the bus driver certainly does like get real close to you uh, because they have to because it's a extra wide vehicle in a standard lane space. Uh, not to mention that if there's additional ice on the road or snow on the road that they have to also account
for that. sometimes dive into the other lane of traffic that's going in the opposite direction. Um, and so I I would be willing to speak from that perspective in in that committee. Uh, but one of the big struggles that I think we're facing
right now is it's really hard to prove a negative. And unfortunately, the negative that we're proving is that well, no one's dying because of the things that we're doing. And so the negative being the the zero deaths doesn't mean that there's it doesn't
feel like progress. It just feels like mitigation, which is really hard to to to notice advocacy without adding that that special special Josh factor of getting a little relentless with it.
>> Um so we can call it like that factor. We can call it being annoying. We can call it paining. We can call it whatever. We just have to do it. >> Yeah. >> And I think what's important about that too is then that Tommy has to do less of that. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. >> Like it makes Tommy's job easier. >> Well, because we can be loud and annoying in ways that Tom can't. >> Yes, >> I get that. I appreciate it. I also am not going to lie, there's
after a while it becomes evident that I'm I'm not I don't have the ability. You know what I'm saying? So, and I I will and we're going to wrap up here soon. Uh I am optimistic. I have been coming across as negative over the past few months, but I am optimistic that we have
the right people in the right place and we have a lot I think of material to prove that we have issues. >> Yes. So, like I think today has been a kind of a maybe at least from my standpoint depressing
uh meeting to talk about this stuff, but I'm hopeful that like, you know, we don't we're not going down. We were going up, I think, for a while, and it feels like we've been going down. I I'm hopeful that we haven't hit the bottom yet. We We're getting close, and
we're going to be on our way up again. and and I and I I know that there's good people like we we were just I feel lost and I'm I'm hopeful that we can it seems obvious to me that we we don't we're lacking direction and and we have people
who supposed to be providing that direction. >> Yeah. I don't think um this has only been like a depressing meeting that has just kind of got us down. I think and I I understand what you're saying the last
few months I felt like okay there's this problem and there's this problem and this isn't happening when but I felt like in that time and especially in that meeting in this meeting we've become more specific like okay what's the actual problem what's the actual hold up
and I feel like I've come away with a better idea of who I need to ask for what and where the avenues of success might So, I appreciate that and I hope you don't think that
this has just been a kind of a batch session. I guess it's it's felt to me like it's been somewhat productive. Not in the way that I thought it would be, but nevertheless somewhat productive.
It has given me action steps that I hope will be more successful than the action steps last more successful. >> That's why we have to wallow more in things that do achieve our goals. I'm looking at the minutes from 2014 bicycle advisory.
>> The city manager organizes volunteers to help shovel snow, but there have been challenges maintaining a list of volunteers and linking them with people who need help. Somebody figured it out this year. They figured it out. We can have the United Way do that. I don't know who figured it out, but be packed. >> Can I >> Can I vent about that?
>> Oh, no. >> I mean, no sign. >> I got to hear that in the hallway. >> Yeah, Mike got to hear. >> There's a group of us that have been saying for a year now we should be working on this. And then 3 days into the snowstorm, >> uh Missy Graves, who isn't in this world
at all, decides, hey, why don't we reach out to United Way, who's the director of um human services, and they're like, oh, great idea. Meanwhile, there's been a group of us for a year saying, "Why don't we work with the community?"
Meanwhile, the people who had to do that instead were told, "No, no, we don't want to hear you. You have to go out there and site people." And th those same people, by the way, you might have to talk to um that are business owners, but when they're are homeowners to say,
"We want to build a sidewalk in front of your yard," who are then going to say, >> "Right, >> well, you're going to sight your why do I want a sidewalk in front of my yard if you're going to um if it's my responsibility maintaining, you're going to sight me?" >> So, >> that's that's why we don't make it a
discussion, >> right? Like, >> no, no, no. We make it a discussion if we want to give if we want to get temporary construction easements if we want to and to make something not cost a lot then or >> it's always going to cost a lot but if we want to reduce cost and get like
moved utilities and all that we have to work with the homeowner >> right >> there's no way around that like you can still take imminent domain but like it's still going to be like a discussion with the homeowner >> right >> and I mean not every single project should be imminent domain
>> no it's expensive Yeah. And time consuming. If you can work with the homeowner, it's quicker >> and you want them to work with you. >> We are at time or past time. >> Thank you everyone.
>> Um does anyone have announcements or any >> uh I just not put in the email reach out to Meredith or I if you want to be a bike marshal um for the Pearl uh runwalk later this month. You've got five and a half hours to
submit. >> I wore my t-shirt for you, Tommy. >> My freedom of liberation t-shirt. >> Um to submit your comment on the Rick Street Ma West Main study. >> Yeah. And if you also on that note happen to have any pals in the downtown
business association who need a little educating about the benefits of protecting bike infrastructure for businesses to chat with them. >> So do does anyone know what the process was
or the association? >> Can I can we end the meeting real quick? >> Uh all right. >> Thank you guys. I'm going to end recording now. >> Oh, thank you.