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

 

STAFF:            DEPUTY CITY CLERK KRAUSE

                      PLANNING TECHNICIAN ENGEBRETSEN

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

ZAK/STARK – MOVED TO APPROVE TO AGENDA

 

There was no discussion.

 

The Agenda was approved by Consensus of the Committee.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

 

None.

 

RECONSIDERATION

 

None.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

A.                Synopsis of April 17, 2007                                                                       

 

ZAK/STARK – MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE: YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

VISITORS

 

None.

 

STAFF & COUNCIL REPORT/COMMITTEE REPORTS/BOROUGH REPORTS

 

None.


 

PUBLIC HEARING      

 

None.

 

PENDING BUSINESS

 

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.           

 

2.                Trail Priority List - Memorandum from Planning Technician Engebretsen dated April 11, 2007

 

STARK/ZAK – move to change trails position as listed in Memorandum. Change list to reflect the following:

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.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

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.

 

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

 

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.

 

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE

 

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.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CITY STAFF

 

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.

 

COMMENTS OF THE COUNCILMEMBER (If one is assigned)

 

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.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CHAIR

 

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.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business to come before the Committee, Chair Marquardt adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Next regular meeting is scheduled for July 17, 2007, at 5:30 p.m. in the Homer City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

                                                                

Renee Krause, Deputy City Clerk I

 

Approved: