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

January 18, 2011 12:00 PM

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

Roundtable Attendees Present:

Marco Alvarez, City of West Des Moines Kelly Canfield, City of Clive Dana Conn, Transportation Management Association Dustin Delvaux, City of Bondurant Josh Heggen, City of Windsor Heights Lisa Hein, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation Jan Herke, City of Urbandale Scott Hock, City of Urbandale Jim Lane, City of Norwalk, Chair Butch Niebuhr, City of Perry Jim Priebe, Warren County Conservation Chad Quick, City of Altoona Ruth Randleman, City of Carlisle/MAC Stefanie Toftey, DART Carl Voss, Trails and Greenways Committee Ron Ward, City of Johnston Carol Williams, Story County Conservation Gay Lea Wilson, Citizen Advisor

Roundtable Staff Present:

Dylan Mullenix, Senior Transportation Planner

I. Call to Order
Chair Jim Lane called the January 18, 2011, Roundtable meeting to order at 12:05 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 January 18, 2011, Roundtable meeting agenda.

IV.

Approval of the Roundtables December 21, 2010, Meeting Notes

Participants approved the Roundtables December 21, 2010, meeting notes.

V. (A.)

Update Unified Bicycle Ordinance Draft

Ruth Randleman explained the process for the ordinances development and adoption: The draft document was sent to the Roundtable at its December 2010 meeting;

Comments are due by January 31st; On February 7th, the MAC subcommittee will meet to revise the ordinance based on the comments; The draft ordinance will come back to the Roundtable in February; The draft ordinance will go to the MAC in March; and, Following the March MAC meeting, individual cities will take action to adopt.

Ms. Randleman noted it is ultimately up to each community to adopt, and each community may amend the ordinance from the final draft approved by the MAC. However, the MAC would like the ordinance to remain as close as possible to the final version seen by the MAC. Carl Voss asked if it would be helpful to have a draft copy at the Bike Summit. Ms. Randleman and Chair Lane noted it might be helpful to have the draft ordinance at the Bike Summit, as long as comments are made by January 31st. Discussion ensued regarding any proposed deadlines for communities to have the ordinance adopted. Roundtable members noted it is likely not feasible to provide a deadline for adoption, as each community differs in their process to approve ordnances. The Roundtable agreed it would be good for the ordinance to be adopted in as many communities as possible by May 1, which is the start of Bike Month. Chair Lane asked that Roundtable participants that work for local governments help get the ordinance before their city councils. Josh Heggen noted his concern with language in the draft ordinance related to bicycle registration. Ms. Randleman responded that the draft ordinance only allows for registration programs but does not require it. Discussion ensued regarding the need to clarify the language to ensure communities understand bicycle registration is not required. Chair Lane instructed MPO staff to send the Roundtable participants the latest version of the draft ordinance.

V. (B.)

Bike Tourism in Iowa

Chair Lane noted that Mark Wyatt attended the December meeting to discuss the assistance the National Parks Services has agreed to provide for trail marketing. The Parks Service representative will be at the Bicycle Summit as well. When the Roundtable held a marketing subcommittee meeting in October, the group agreed to meet again in January. That meeting will be pushed to February so that it will be after the Bicycle Summit. This subcommittee meeting likely will be February 8th or 9th. Carl Voss noted he will have the bike route origin/destination map done for the Bicycle Summit and will bring it to the February marketing meeting.

Chair Lane thanked Carl, and noted the origin/destination map will be one of the first marketing pieces used. Hopefully the Parks Service will help the group get some marketing efforts going in time for the summer when people are biking. Gay Lea Wilson asked if the group had made an application to the Parks Service for their assistance. Chair Lane and MPO staff explained that Parks Service has indicated they are available for a certain number of hours without the need for an application.

V. (C.)

Letters of Support for the Partnerships Washington, D.C., Trip Projects

Chair Lane noted the Roundtable traditionally has not provided letters of support for the bicycle-pedestrian projects identified for the Partnerships D.C., trip, but noted it might be good to do. Chair Lane asked for comments from the Roundtable. Ruth Randleman noted that the trip has been rescheduled to May 8-10th. Lisa Hein asked if this would be a letter from the Roundtable or from individuals? Chair Lane responded a letter from the individuals. Chair Lane added that Congress would be developing a new transportation reauthorization bill someday too and the Roundtable participants could help support keeping the Transportation Enhancements program in the legislation. MPO staff added that they have spoken with congressional staffers, and it is unlikely earmarks will be available in the near future. Congressional staffers have offered that input may be provided on more policy-level issues, such as the Chairs Transportation Enhancement proposal. Ms. Randleman noted the Greater Des Moines Partnership has also discussed meeting with the federal departments, such as the Department of Transportation, in addition to the members of Congress. Discussion ensued about the development of a form letter for Roundtable participants to use. Chair Lane asked Ms. Hein if she would develop a form letter and to send it to the MPO staff. Ms. Hein agreed.

VI. (A.)

Bike Iowa Month 2011

Chair Lane asked if there is any way the Roundtable could see who participates in Bike Month activities, possibly by community? Carl Voss responded that that information is available. Mr. Voss added that several communities have approved funding for Bike Month, and that the Bike Month organizers would like to have events in each community over the course of the month.

Stefanie Toftey noted she had previously helped organized bike events in Raleigh , N.C., and one popular event was a local leaders bike ride that featured city councils, state representatives, and other elected officials. Mr. Voss noted a similar event is scheduled for May 16th. This event formerly was Congressman Boswells ride, but they have changed the name so that it does not become affiliated with one political party. Ruth Randleman added that the Mayor of Des Moines has a ride, and perhaps other mayors should join in. Lisa Hein added that she likes the name local leaders ride.

VI. (B.)

2011 Iowa Bicycle Summit

Chair Lane reminded the Roundtable that the Iowa Bicycle Summit is scheduled for January 28th and 29th. Carl Voss added that Des Moines and West Des Moines are working on their bike plans and will be holding public meetings in the next few weeks.

VI. (C.)

Bike-Ped Connections Update

Chair Lane commented that the Roundtable previously would have a map of missing bike-ped connections. The Roundtable has not reviewed a map like this in a while, and asked for the Roundtable to update the map of missing connections. Discussion ensued as to how a map of missing connections would be different from the one Carl Voss is developing. Mr. Voss clarified that the Bike Collective is working on two maps one of the central Iowa trails system, and one of bike-route loops with origins/destinations. Chair Lane asked for the MPO staff to help collect information about bike-ped connection gaps from the Roundtable members.

VII.

Other Items of Interest to the Roundtable

Lisa Hein alerted the Roundtable that House File 45 in the state legislature targets removing funding from the REAP program. This could impact communities or organizations that have received REAP funding but have not spent it. Ruth Randleman added that House File 45 proposes taking way Great Places funding, which has funded bike-ped projects. Ms. Hein added that House File 45 also prohibits the Iowa Department of Natural Resources from acquiring land for the next several months. Chair Lane asked for Roundtable participants to let the Roundtable know of other legislation that comes up during the session that impacts bike-ped funding.

VIII.

Next MPO Roundtable Meeting Date

The next Roundtable meeting is scheduled for February 15, 2011, at noon.

IX.

Adjournment
The January 18, 2011, Roundtable meeting adjourned at 12:55 p.m.