Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee
Minutes of the Wednesday, February 8, 2006 Regular Meeting
Tucson, AZ
Committee members, staff and members of the public introduced themselves. Donna Aversa was introduced as the new representative for Oro Valley.
Melissa Antol passed out a corrected revised agenda, and Richard Corbett passed out the attendance sheet for the January meeting, which had been inadvertently omitted from the draft minutes. Dick Schaffer noted he was in attendance at the January meeting.
A motion to approve the minutes of the January meeting, as corrected, was made by Steve Bresler, seconded by Russ Clanagan and passed unanimously.
At this point, Vice Chairman David Bachman-Williams arrived, and Dianna Tolton relinquished the Chair to him.
Attorney Dave Diebel of the City Attorney’s Office handed out a script of the PowerPoint presentation he normally gives, and proceeded to go through and explain it. The points he made included:
Member of the public Bill Katzel asked how the Law Enforcement reports and response could be handled, if the above (#3) is literally applied. A discussion ensued, and it was concluded that the way the Law Enforcement reports and responses to audience questions have been handled are okay.
Diebel continued:
Member Roy Schoonover said that based on this statement (#5), there was no reason to keep the presentation of the RTA advocates off the agenda, and asked that it be placed on the April agenda.
Member Diana Tolton asked Diebel about how the agenda comes into being - is there any particular legal requirement(s) for this? He responded that so long as the agenda is published and posted sufficiently ahead of time, it meets legal requirements. There are no particular requirement(s) as to how the agenda is evolved/developed.
Member Donna Aversa asked if Diebel could stay and observe Law Enforcement reports and responses to audience questions. He said he could, but cautioned that he had to leave at 7:00 pm. Based on this, the Chair decided to jump ahead to Agenda Item 4, and then come back to complete this item (#3) afterward.
Tucson Police Sergeant Tim Beam reported that the number of
bicycle-motor vehicle crashes was way up for last month (January), with 36
total. He also cited the case of the cyclist who was badly injured and had no
identification as a good example of the importance of carrying identification.
Pima County Sheriff’s Sergeant Karl Woolridge reported that
there were six bicycle-motor vehicle crashes in unincorporated Pima County in
January. One was a nine year old cyclist who rode into the street and was
struck; The second was a seven year old who was riding on the street and swerved
into the path of an overtaking vehicle; The third was a cyclist riding with
his/her head down who rode into the back of a parked car; The fourth was a
cyclist who was cited when s/he failed to yield and collided with a motor
vehicle at an intersection; The fifth was a right hook on Sabino Canyon Road
where the motorist was cited; and the sixth was a sideswipe on Sunrise near
Craycroft, where again the motorist was cited (for violation of ARS 28-735 - the three-foot passing law). He
went on to add to Sgt Beam’s exhortation about carrying identification while
cycling.
Member Brian
Beck asked about a case in Pinal County in January where he heard of a cyclist
falling into overtaking traffic. Sgt Woolridge said he was not sure of the
case, but would check. Vice-Chair David Bachman-Williams cited the case of a
teacher who was riding with four students, and who was involved in a crash,
without a helmet! Member Steve Bresler
stressed the quickness with which the unidentified cyclist was identified, due
to Perimeter Bicycling’s use of their El Tour de Tucson records. Member of the
public Bill Katzel mentioned the availability of free bicycle registration
through the University of Arizona Parking & Transportation Services
(621-1800) for anyone.
3. Open
Meeting Laws – Up-Date (continued)
In response
to Member Donna Aversa’s question, Attorney Dave Diebel of the City Attorney’s
Office stated he saw nothing wrong with the way Law Enforcement reports and
responses to audience questions had been handled.
He then
continued with his coverage of various aspects of the open meeting law:
6. There can be no discussion if there is no
quorum;
7. Agendas must be posted publicly
twenty-four hours before the meeting date, in four different public locations;
8. Votes taken must a) have a quorum of the
membership present, b) be for an agenda item that was posted ahead of time, and
c) pass by a majority of the quorum present;
9. Do not use ‘sub-sets’ of the Committee to
get around the quorum requirement – such as a phone tree, or an E-mail exchange/chain.
He did say that information without opinions/positions can be sent out (i.e.,
drafts of reports, motions, etc. just remember that no discussion/deliberation
should take place this way);
10. Sending out materials ahead of time by
E-mail is permissible (such as draft minutes);
11. While the Committee cannot take a
position on a ballot issue or lobby, it is permissible to have presentations
for information, even if these are advocate presentations, such as the RTA. The
key is to not have a public debate/deliberation on such presentations.
Mr. Diebel thanked the Committee for the opportunity to
share this information, and invited anyone with questions or concerns at any
time to contact him (791-4221).
Pima County
Boards & Commissions staffer Robin Brigode was ill and unable to make her
part of the presentation.
Pima County Staffer Steve Anderson suggested a future agenda item on Fantasy Island, noting that the BAC Chair is a member of the Fantasy Island Committee.
Member of
the public Bill Katzel stated that lawyers will stifle public interaction. He
urged the Committee to not let lawyers run the BAC. He went on to assert that
the BAC is an advocacy organization. Several Members spontaneously voiced their
disagreement with this statement.
6.
Rillito Shared-Use Path – Campbell to Alvernon
Member Diana
Tolton introduced Pima County Parks Principal Planner Steve Anderson, who
presented the results of their recent study to establish a new cross section
for the river parks linear parks, and the shared-use paths therein.
They have a
standard now to make the paved path for wheeled use at least 12 feet wide (up
to 15 feet), and a decomposed granite path for walking/running at least eight
feet wide (up to 10 feet), with six to eight feet of landscaping on both edges
and in between the two paths.
They are
also now building walking and cycling paths on both sides.
Mr. Anderson
stated that he would be producing a brochure to promote better understanding of
the Julian Wash Pathway. He then introduced a member of his staff, John Spiker,
who explained the eleven projects that will complete the Rillito River Park
between Campbell and Craycroft.
Spiker
related plans to place more signs identifying access point to the river parks,
as well as more access points, most in conjunction with new developments
adjacent to the rivers. He shared that Flood control projects have been making
big contribution to river park additions, and that several pieces of property
that are really too expensive to develop may be acquired to provide access
points and/or nodes.
Anderson
stated that the Pantano Wash would be developed in many locations in the coming
years, with a combination of developer participation and bond funds.
He went on
to state that the Santa Cruz, Grant to Camino del Cerro, is being studied for
development, but faces big challenges due to the very large sand & gravel
pit near the confluences of the Rillito, Santa Cruz and Canada del Oro.
Member Brian
Beck asked how the BAC could help. Anderson responded that a resolution of
support would be helpful.
7.
BAC Reports/Announcements
City Bike Coordinator Melissa Antol announced that TDOT has identified funding to overlay and restripe the intersection of Grant/Tanque Verde/Kolb to provide a designated area for bicycles traveling (south) west thru the intersection. Work will start in the next month or two. She also announced that the City would try to restore the Santa Cruz path funds through PAG’s March TIP amendment cycle.
PAG Bike Coordinator Rich Corbett announced that Bike to Work day preparations are coming along well, and that he and Melissa Antol have arranged many prizes for the Bike to Work day event – he reminded everyone to be sure to register to be eligible.
Bill Adamson asked about, and Matt Zoll responded that the shoulders for Sahuarita Road were included in the 2004 Pima County bond issue, and covers from La Canada east to Alvernon.
Roy Schoonover said that in his recent meeting with Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckleberry, it was suggested that the Sahuarita Road improvements be considered as regional in scope. He also explained the plans to 1) develop a brochure highlighting all the improvements scheduled for Julian Wash, 2) improve Kolb Road to include bike lanes, 3) improve Mission Road for five miles south of Los Reales Road (shoulders to San Xavier Road, and pavement rehab for the remaining distance), and 4) work on getting shoulders on Mission Road from Drexel south to Los Reales.
Member Dick Schaffer announced that the Saguaro National Park (west) Cactus Forest Road will be closed for re-construction this summer, June to September.
8. Potential Items for Future Agendas
·
A letter of support for implementation of shoulders on Sahuarita Road
·
A letter of
support for repaving of Mission Road (shoulders from Drexel Road to San Xavier
Road, and pavement restoration south of San Xavier Road)
·
A letter of
support for Kolb Road (Valencia to Voyager RV Park) bike lanes
·
Aviation-Barraza
Pathway connection, Pathway connection concerns
·
Motorized
bicycles, concerns as to legality, & status
·
Fantasy
Island update
9.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 pm
Bill Adamson, Pima County
Donna Aversa, Oro Valley
David Bachman-Williams, Pima County
Brian Beck, City Ward 2
Steve Bresler, City Ward 1
Rosemary Carmody, Pima County
Russell Clanagan, Town of Marana
Steve Cohen, Pima County
P. Wayne Cullop, City Ward 4
Jean Gorman, City Mayor’s Office
Dick Schaffer, Pima County
Roy Schoonover, Pima County
Diana Tolton, Pima County
Steve Anderson, Pima County Parks
Melissa Antol, TDOT
Sgt. Tim Beam, Tucson Police
Richard Corbett, PAG
David Diebel, City Attorney’s Office
Nancy Ellis, Oro Valley
Connie Fairchild, City Clerk’s Office
John Spiker, Pima County Parks
Sgt Karl Woolridge, Pima Sheriff's
Matthew Zoll, Pima County DOT
David Crow, citizen
Eric Gonnason, citizen
Jim Gorman, citizen
Jim Jordan, Green Valley citizen
Bill Katzel, citizen
Norm Land, citizen
Eric Post, citizen
Jonathon Seely, citizen
Mary White, citizen