TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

Thursday, July 21, 2009

Community Development Building, 51 Winburn Way

Minutes

Attendees: Tom Burnham, John Gaffey, Eric Heesacker, Julia Sommer, Colin Swales (Chair), Brent Thompson,

                   Matt Warshawsky, David Young

Absent:      

Ex Officio Members:  Derek Severson, Larry Blake, Nathan Broom, Eve Woods, Steve MacLennan. David                           Chapman

Staff Present:  Mike Faught, Jim Olson, Betsy Harshman

I.                CALL TO ORDER: 6:02 PM

II.              APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Sommer reported corrections to the minutes. Sommer moves to approve the minutes as corrected, Heesacker seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

III.            PUBLIC FORUM

IV.            ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA:

            The agenda was adjusted in the following order.

           1. Will Dodge Way traffic review

           2. Presentation by SOU on Mountain Meadows transit needs

           3. Presentation by RVTD on its long range plan

           4. Bike parking in the Central Business District

           5. Presentation by the SOU Summer School (Center for Social Ecology and Public Policy) on                  transportation issues

           6. Car Free Day

           7. 2009-10 Bicycle and Building Safer Communities mini grants – tabled due to time constraints

V.              BUSINESS

1. WILL DODGE WAY TRAFFIC REVIEW

Jim Olson provided a staff report on Will Dodge Way. The alley was posted for one-way travel in 1990. Today there are 4 new building and many more accesses (40 total) than 20 years ago, and most of the one-way arrows are missing. Traffic counts show that 36% of alley users now travel in the illegal (wrong) direction. Staff wanted to bring this issue to the Transportation Commission for further direction.

Warshawsky asked staff for a briefing on delivery trucks. Olson stated that trucks may stop and park in a loading zone and be actively unloading the truck under current code. He added that the Police and Fire Departments also have concerns regarding the alley.

Margueritte Hickman, Fire Marshall for the Ashland Fire Department, said that they need alley access for emergency vehicles. If someone with a parked vehicle is there and can move it immediately, that is okay. Her concern is that often there are parked vehicles, and no one around to move them if needed during an emergency. It is very difficult to back up a fire truck on Will Dodge Way and she would prefer to see the alley remain one-way. She stated that keeping people moving forward is a practical and safe component.

If the alley was closed to vehicular traffic, an option would be for building owners to install fire sprinkler systems in all of the buildings along Will Dodge Way. The cost for the fire systems would be the responsibility of the building owner.

Several business owners and residents on Will Dodge Way voiced their ideas and concerns, including: 

§        Ed Bemis, 140 Lithia Way – Shared concerns regarding deliveries, as well as parking, and suggested putting the 15-minute loading signs back up for now.

§        Pam Hammond, 632 East Main also spoke about the need for deliveries to be made in a safe way, and emphasized that there really needs to be some decisions made on this issue.

§        Bob Kendrick owns 3 businesses at 145 East Main, 90 Pioneer and 150 Lithia Way (also known as 153 Will Dodge Way. He shared his concerns, and feels that the biggest problem is people who leave their cars parked for an extended period of time.

§        Doug Irvine, 2113 Emigrant Creek Road commented on future plans for his property on Will Dodge Way.

§        George Orrego, 140 Lithia Way, spoke regarding the one-way pattern.

Following a long discussion and debate, Sommer requested that the Commission make a recommendation at this meeting. Faught determined that the issue is too complex to make a decision tonight. He would like to hear more feed back and return to the Commission at a later date with a recommendation from staff.

2. PRESENTATION BY SOU ON MOUNTAIN MEADOWS TRANSIT NEEDS

Danielle Mancuso, SOU Community Resource Center, noted the transit needs for the senior living in the Mountain Meadows community.

Arlene Rogers, Creekstone Way, shared her appreciation for the City’s support for seniors. She feels that more could be done in terms of transportation. Many of the places that seniors need to go are not on an RVTD route.

Madeline Hill, owner of Mountain Meadows, said that in addition to the seniors that need transportation services, they have about 100 employees that would benefit as well.

Laura Obrien, SOU Dean of Student Housing, and also a resident of Mountain Meadows said that they looked at common transportation needs of SOU and Mountain Meadows. She encouraged RVTD and the City to use them as a resource when developing transportation plans.

3. PRESENTATION BY RVTD ON ITS LONG RANGE PLAN

Paige Townsend agreed that funding for all social sectors is an issue. She encouraged participants to view RVTD’s long-range plan on their website.

4. BIKE PARKING IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

             Olson introduced Alex Amarotico’s proposal for dedicating one whole parking space in front of his                         business at Standing Stone to bicycle parking. Many of the employees bike to work, and Alex has                        offered bicycles as an incentive for them. Olson requested flexibility from the Transportation                                Commission while working with Armatico on this initial permit process. After discussion, Young                         motions to approve this specific project as a pilot program. Sommer seconds, motion passed    unanimously.

            5. PRESENTATION BY THE SOU SUMMER SCHOOL

            Students from the Center for Social Ecology and Public Policy at SOU shared the project that they had            worked on. They encouraged more one-on-one contact with the citizens during the TSP update       process. They interviewed residents, and talked about their ideas.

            6. CAR FREE DAY

            Steve Ryan requested liaison assistance and $50 to assist with funding. Faught authorized the expense.            Swales agreed to be the Commission liaison.

V.        INFORMATIONAL ITEMS & COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:

VI.            ADJOURN:  9:10 PM

Respectfully submitted,

Betsy Harshman, PW Management Assistant