MEETING NOTES DES MOINES AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (MPO) CENTRAL IOWA BICYCLE-PEDESTRIAN ROUNDTABLE (ROUNDTABLE)

May 17, 2011 12:00 PM

City of Des Moines, St. Etienne Room Des Moines, Iowa

Roundtable Attendees Present:

Marco Alvarez, City of West Des Moines Andrea Chase, Natural Heritage Foundation Dana Conn, Transportation Management Assoc. Dustin Delvaux, City of Bondurant Heath Ellis, City of Pleasant Hill Josh Heggen, City of Windsor Heights Jim Lane, City of Norwalk, Chair Loren Lown, Polk County Conservation Dayne Magneson, U.S. Army Corps Kris May, City of Mitchellville Todd Redenius, City of Ankeny Joe Spradling, HDR Engineering Stefanie Toftey, DART Carl Voss, Trails and Greenways Committee Ron Ward, City of Johnston Carol Williams, Story County Conservation

Roundtable Staff Present:

Zach Young, Associate Transportation Planner Luke Parris, Associate Transportation Planner

I. Call to Order
Chair Jim Lane called the May, 2011, Roundtable meeting to order at 12:00 p.m., at the St. Etienne Room, Armory Building, 602 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines, IA.

II.

Introduction
Participants introduced themselves.

III.

Approval of Agenda
Participants approved the May 17, 2011, Roundtable meeting agenda.

IV.

Approval of the Roundtables April 19, 2011, Meeting Notes

Participants approved the Roundtables April 19, 2011, meeting notes.

V. (A.)

Department of Justice Trail Usage Ruling

Loren Lown noted that the most important next step is to assess the trails. Mr. Lown informed the group that Polk County has completed preliminary assessments and are now waiting to see if Power-Driven Mobility Device (PDMD) usage becomes a problem on the trails.

Marco Alvarez noted that the City of West Des Moines is waiting to see if the PDMD use on trails becomes an issue. Mr. Alvarez noted that the City of West Des Moines has some concerns over how to approach the assessment of the trails. For example, should the trail be assessed as a whole or in segments? Alternatively, should it be assessed based on the type of trail? How to conduct the assessment is also a concern. Mr. Lown noted that Polk County has created an assessment checklist to aid in the process of assessing the trails. Mr. Lown pointed out that people do not expect to encounter motorized vehicles on the trails and therefore PDMD use on trails posses a significant amount of danger to cyclists and pedestrians. Andrea Chase noted that the American Trials website has published some good examples of policies concerning the assessment of trails. The American Trails website provides examples of how to categorize different types of PDMDs and provides some good models of how central Iowa jurisdictions could move forward with their trail assessments. Jim Lane pointed out that the role of the roundtable is to find examples of how to deal with the PDMD issues, share these examples with elected officials, and make sure jurisdictions are starting to work on the assessments.

V. (B.)

Smart Codes
Staff updated the roundtable concerning the use of Smart Codes to promote bicycle-, pedestrian-, and transit-oriented development in central Iowa. Staff noted that, seeing how Smart Codes are a divergence from business-as-usual, the logical next step is to educated local decision makers and the public about Smart Codes. Staff requested that the roundtable discuss how best to approach this process. Todd Redenius commented that the Bicycle and Pedestrian Roundtable could be a catalyst to promote Smart Codes within local planning departments. Mr. Redenius suggested that roundtable members talk to there planning departments and report back at the June meeting. Stefanie Toftey commented that considering the regional nature of transportation and land use issues it seems appropriate that the MPO be involved. Carol Williams noted that it is important to educate the public so they can take the issue before their City Councils. This way it is coming form the public and has a better chance of getting a positive reception. Discussion ensued concerning how best to educate the public on Smart Codes. Andrea Chase asked if anyone in the group was aware of what the City of Cumming is doing regarding Smart Growth. Ms. Chase noted that the City of Cumming is exploring how to integrate Smart Growth and sustainable practices in their community. Discussion ensued regarding what the City of Cumming is doing with Smart Growth and sustainable planning practices.

Staff updated the roundtable on the Regional Plan for Sustainable Development, noting the process would provide opportunities to educated local decision makers and the public on issues like Smart Growth and Smart Codes.

V. (C.)

Bike to Work Week

Carl Voss updated the group on Bike Month and Bike to Work Week. Mr. Voss lifted up several communities including Windsor Heights and Perry concerning the number of events they have sponsored. Mr. Voss noted that all the events are getting a really turnout. However, registration is lagging and registration is the only way to measure who is riding. Andrea Chase commented that perhaps the group should explore ways to make information on how to register more available at future events.

VI. (A.)

Bike-and-Ride Counts
Roundtable participants reviewed the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) and CyRide bike-and-ride counts for April 2011.

VI. (B.)

CONNECT Update Staff updated the roundtable on specific benchmarks within the Central Iowa Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan that staff is working on implementing. Staff informed the group about the interested expressed by CIRTPA members to purchase trail counters. Discussing ensued concerning the roundtables support for trail counters and how the data these counters would provide could be used to improve trails in central Iowa.

VII.

Other Items of Interest to the Roundtable

Marco Alvarez informed the group that the City of West Des Moines is installing bike lockers sometimes this week. They are installing three lockers that will accommodate up to six bicycles. Mr. Alvarez also commented that they have accepted bids for their central Iowa trial signage.

VIII.

Next MPO Roundtable Meeting Date

The next Roundtable meeting is scheduled for May 17, 2011, at noon.

IX.

Adjournment
The April 19, 2011, Roundtable meeting adjourned at 1:01 p.m.