TRANSPORTATION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE JUNE
19, 2007
491 E.
PIONEER AVE. TUESDAY,
AT 5:30
HOMER,
ALASKA CITY
HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Session 07-05, a Regular Meeting
of the Transportation Advisory Committee was called to order at 5:58 p.m. on June 19, 2007 by Chair
Marquardt at the Homer City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E.
Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.
PRESENT: COMMISSIONERS ZAK, MARQUARDT
COUNCILMEMBER STARK
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER SMITH
PLANNING
TECHNICIAN ENGEBRETSEN
CALL TO
ORDER
ZAK/STARK – MOVED TO APPROVE TO
AGENDA
There was no discussion.
The Agenda was approved by
Consensus of the Committee.
None.
None.
ZAK/STARK – MOVED TO APPROVE THE
MINUTES AS WRITTEN.
There was no discussion.
VOTE: YES. NON-OBJECTION.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
None.
None.
None.
A. HART – Homer Accelerated Roads and Trails Program Memorandum
from Planning Technician Engebretsen dated April 10, 2007
Planning Technician Engebretsen
stated that the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commissioners have approved the
Draft HART document with a few minor corrections concerning typing errors. A
Memorandum will be included with the submitted document addressing the
Commissioners concerns regarding issues and concerns for the following:
1.
Longer Trail Maintenance terms; Winter Care
2.
Need Design Criteria Manual for Trails
3.
Need for Footpaths
STARK/ZAK - MOVED TO APPROVE THE
DRAFT HART DOCUMENT AS WRITTEN.
There was a brief discussion
regarding subsidizing private developers with public funds for construction of sidewalks
and trails.
VOTE: YES. NON-OBJECTION.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
1. Senior
Access Trail. Connecting the Senior Center to Pioneer Avenue
2. School
Trail from West Homer Elementary to Homer Middle School
a. Phase
one: West Homer Elementary to Forest Glen Drive
b. Phase
Two: Forest Glen Drive to Homer Middle School
3. Beluga
Slough Trail. Rebuild and widen Beluga Slough boardwalk.
4.
Fairview to Reber Trail. Construct 2500 feet of trail from
the current end of Fairview Avenue across City property to connect Reber and
West Hill.
There was a brief discussion on the trails that were
listed on the Memorandum. It was noted that the list was not a prioritized
list. Priority was recommended for the Senior Access Trail.
VOTE: YES. NON-OBJECTION. NON-OBJECTION.
Motion Carried.
A.
Review of Design Criteria Manual for City Roads
Chair Marquardt commented on this
as an ongoing document developed back in the 1980’s. In speaking with local
architects, and Carey Meyer there is a need to review and address some issues.
STARK/ZAK – MOVED TO POSTPONE
FURTHER DISCUSSION UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.
There was discussion regarding a
better time frame and possible date change of July meeting to have all members
of the Committee involved with the review of the manual. Copies of the manual
was requested from staff.
VOTE: YES. NON-OBJECTION.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT
Motion carried.
B.
Homer Area Coordinated Transportation Plan submitted by
Homer Senior Citizens
A brief discussion regarding the
status of this document. Comment was made by Councilmember Stark that this
document was adopted by City Council in May. It was agreed by present committee
members that no further action was required on this item.
A. Safe Routes to School – Pamphlet submitted by Planning
Technician Engebretsen
Planning Technician Engebretsen
reported the pamphlet was created by the State to implement a new program based
on a federal program. Currently the State has two AmeriCorp volunteers and one fulltime
person. Planning Technician Engebretsen believes the plan eventually is that
each district, or borough will have a Safe Route to School plan and grants will
be available to help fund local plans from the State. It may be useful with
getting some of the trails constructed locally in the future.
Lou Stewart commented that moving the Senior Access trail to the top of the list was a good move, but wondered if any of the committee members were familiar with the school trails that were on the list. These trails were very important as they dealt with safety issues. Mr. Stewart asked the Committee to focus on the creation and/or construction of these trails. Construction of the Phase One, West Homer Elementary trail would divert children from the main thoroughfares. It is a simple trail. He is hoping that the Committee will recommend implementing construction of this trail as soon as possible to get the kids off the street. Mr. Stewart commented that the trail is very short, the first 100 feet is on City property, and 50 feet is Borough property.
Chair Marquardt asked if there was an existing
trail, Mr. Stewart replied that the children currently cut across private
property, which the owners are not happy. Further discussion was conducted
regarding details of where the trail is currently and what easements were
currently in place; if any future improvements were going to be made to Forest
Glen Drive and the issues that the Borough has with children walking next to
main highways.
Committeemember Zak stated that in the future the
Committee should pay close attention to the design of the trails and that they
need to be designed not to funnel kids onto or next to the highway or any busy
road. Councilmember Stark recommended that the School Trails on the list be
prioritized.
STARK/ZAK – MOVED TO PRIORITIZE
PHASE ONE OF THE SCHOOL TRAILS AS PROJECT NUMBER TWO.
Planning Technician Engebretsen
stated that from a staff perspective this was already a priority. Chair
Marquardt commented that he felt there would be enough funds to complete both
projects. There was no further discussion.
VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion Carried.
Planning Technician Engebretsen
thanked former City Clerk Mary Calhoun for helping with the draft HART document
and the committee for their work on it and that it was a positive step for the
City.
Doug Stark reminded staff that
page numbers were needed on the agenda in the packet. He requested from Staff a
copy of the Design Criteria Manual.
Chair Marquardt thanked Mary
Calhoun and Julie Engebretsen for all their hard work on this document. He knows
how much this means to both women as it was very important to them as
members of the community. He is looking
forward to the discussion on the Criteria Manual. He apologized for his
tardiness to the meeting.
Comments of the Committeemembers
None.
Renee Krause, Deputy City Clerk I
Approved: