City of Bloomington, Indiana Board of Public Works, 1 Sep 2020

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From YouTube: Bloomington Board of Public Works, September 1, 2020

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meeting agenda: https://bloomington.in.gov/onboard/meetingFiles/download?meetingFile_id=7519

A

All right I'll call to order this regular meeting of the board of public.

A

Works this tuesday september 1st of 2020.

A

uh First up, we have messages from the board. Do we have any messages from the.

A

Board this morning, I just saw this morning that indiana has.

B

Been lifted a hot spot along with three other states, and so I.

B

Just want to tell everyone to be safe, as numbers are increasing to be.

B

Safe and be well.

A

Thank you. Next we have petitions and remonstrances.

A

uh That is an opportunity for anyone who would like to make public comment on an.

A

Item that is not on the agenda this evening. Do we have.

A

Any public comments on anything not on the agenda.

A

Under the consent agenda is the approval of minutes for august 18th of 2020.

A

Approved noise permit for 2020 lotus world music festival on saturday.

A

September 26th of 2020 resolution 2020-46 approved renewal of.

A

Mobile vendor and public right of way for swackin, llc and approval of the payroll register.

A

Do we have any items that need to be removed from the agenda this evening.

A

Seeing none is there any public comment on any of the items within the consent.

A

C

Again, if anyone would like to do public comment for any of the items in the consent agenda, please raise a hand or make a chat function.

C

Use the chat function.

C

I'm not seeing any here kyla all right, seeing none is there a motion on the.

A

Consent agenda: I know that we approve the consent.

B

Agenda, second, all in favor.

A

Motion passes next up. We have new business.

A

First, under new business is resolution 2020-37.

A

Approve order to remove structure at 1209 west.

A

D

Yeah, this is mike arnold from housing, neighborhood development.

D

So this is one you tabled um two weeks ago.

D

Because there were some issues, some legal issues being ironed out. I.

D

Don't know if daniel's on or not to talk about those.

D

We do have daniel.

D

Do you want to talk about any of the legal update fire, so you just want me to.

D

Go through uh mike, if you want to, if you want to go ahead and go through.

E

Kind of just first the basis for the request, and then I'm happy to provide an update just on the legal situation after okay, okay. So this is a property.

D

That we started orders on in march of 2018.

D

For orders to repair for a rough structure and a.

D

Deteriorated roof on the house as well as a deteriorated roof.

D

um That was uh on a covered porch. um We did orders.

D

We didn't get any response or any work done.

D

So um that was in march of 2018 in december of 2018, we requested right of.

D

Entry from the owners that took a little while to get.

D

Addressed and signed and okayed by the owner.

D

Which happened in march of 2019, then for the most of the rest of 2019. We.

D

Tried to schedule time for contractors to look at the.

D

Project to get bids, we did this at least I think five or six times and could not.

D

Get any bids for the for the work to be done as a result, the.

D

um The order to repair expired so we started to do a new order to.

D

Repair and we got notice from our contact from one of the children of.

D

The owner and said that the owner was deceased and the children now owned the.

D

Property, we did a walk-through of the property.

D

And made the decision that we were going to do orders to remove on the property and orders to remove.

D

Required that the board uphold a resolution for the order.

D

C

uh Daniel would you like to give the board just a quick update on the legal status. Anything from the last meeting. Knowing we uh didn't take action, then sure so part of the concern of the last meeting was.

E

Just a question- and it was raised by the attorney- who I believe represents the decedent's spouse and- and that was a question about.

E

The ownership that came up- I don't know if they're here or not.

E

Tonight but I can I've been tracking that case and it's in the style of an eviction proceeding at this point.

E

It doesn't seem that there's been any kind of counter claims for.

E

Title um from from the perspective of the legal department and from hand.

E

The ownership really doesn't matter at this point. Both parties.

E

Who have a claim or interest in the property have been made aware of the.

E

Order to remove um whether it's going to be the children.

E

Or or the spouse, that's going to end up being responsible for it. They can decide that, amongst themselves,.

E

um That doesn't really change whether or not the.

E

Order to remove can be approved at this point.

E

And so we would ask, and I believe that it would be appropriate at this time to.

E

Move forward, if there's other questions, I'm happy to answer that as well.

A

Thank you, questions from the board. I do have a question.

B

If um I guess the order to remove is for october.

B

Is that when it has to be done by october, the the current.

E

If they don't yeah, okay go ahead. Oh this is a yes.

E

The current order is october, 1st, okay and if they don't remove, then then.

B

The city puts a lien on the property. Is that the way this proceeds? No um mike, do you want to talk about kind of.

E

The next steps we would take at that point.

D

Yeah, so the next step, if, if we don't get removal by.

D

um The owner or owners, then the city would move forward with.

D

Contracting someone to do the removal for us in in accordance with what we set up on the order to remove.

D

uh Then we would send a billing statement to the owners and if they don't pay the the billing, then the city would pay that.

D

Through the unsafe fund and put a lien on the property.

B

Okay, that's what I wanted to know. Thank.

A

You any other questions from the board.

A

Are there any public comments on this.

A

A

All right, seeing no public comments is their emotion from the board.

B

I know that we approve resolution 2020-37.

B

The order to remove structure at 1209, west 11th street.

A

Second, all in favor, I I motion passes.

A

Thank you. Thank you. Next, we have resolution.

A

2020-44 approved right-of-way encroachment agreement for.

A

1100 north crescent road.

F

Property located at 1100 north crescent road are requesting approval for a.

F

Recently installed safety railing as part of the union at crescent.

F

Crescent development project the owners have worked with city staff regarding.

F

The addition of safety railing to the project after realizing their um is a two foot plus drop off along the sidewalk. That.

F

Was installed along the south side of 14th street.

F

The request for encroachment includes a 66 foot, long black powder coated railing.

F

Bolted to the side of the sidewalk, the owners worked with city staff again.

F

For the approval and type of railing and sus specific mounting for the railing and staff recommends approval of the.

F

Encroachment agreement.

A

Thank you, questions from the board on this item.

A

Seeing none any public comments.

C

I don't see any kyla. Is there a motion from the board.

B

I know that we approve resolution 2020-44.

B

Right-Of-Way encroachment agreement for 1100 north crescent road.

A

Second, all in favor, hi hi motion passes.

A

Next, we have approved street closure request from kreider and kreider on.

A

North gates drive from september 14th of 2020 through october 28th.

A

Of 2020. good evening, this is paul kerberg with.

G

Playing transportation um criterion kreider is requesting a.

G

Full street closure on north gates drive from west jonathan.

G

Drive to west season drive, kreider and kreider.

G

Has been awarded a contract from the monroe.

G

County board of commissioners for the profile, parkway extension.

G

Project and this closure will allow them to.

G

Construct a roundabout at gates, drive and season and profile.

G

Parkway and they will maintain access to all the.

G

Adjacent businesses and all the businesses have been.

G

Notified criteric rider is requesting the closure.

G

From september 14th 2020 to october 28th, 2020.

G

We've reviewed our maintenance of tactic plans and we recommend approving the.

G

A

Thank you, questions from the board on this item.

A

Beth, did you have a question? No, I don't have a question.

A

Thank you. Okay. Any public comment on this one.

C

I don't see any kyla okay, seeing no public comment. Is there a.

A

Motion on this item can I move approval of the street.

A

Closure request from crider and kreider on northgate's drive.

A

From september 14 2020 to october 28th, 2020.

A

All in favor aye aye motion passes next up. We have approved.

A

Change order number four for the west allen, traffic calming project.

H

Good evening, everyone, this is russell white with city planning and.

H

Transportation, this is a change order for the west.

H

Allen, street traffic calming project just to refresh memories. This is the.

H

Project where uh two raised crosswalks and one speed.

H

Hump was installed on west allen, street between south adams and south strong.

H

Drive this change order is necessary to.

H

Reconcile the original estimated item quantities with the final.

H

Placed item quantities in order to reconcile.

H

The contract there were seven items that needed to be adjusted. I won't.

H

Go through all seven of them unless there are specific questions, but what this change order will result.

H

In an increase of 1 289.75.

H

If approved, it will adjust the total contract sum to 215.

H

732 and 84 cents staff has reviewed the final item.

H

Quantities and recommends approval for change order. Number four, and if you have.

H

A

Any questions from the board on change order number four.

B

When will the project be completed.

H

The project is actually completed. This was just a final payment where they were.

H

Getting their uh the last bit of money and there was a.

H

Slight difference in what was estimated as the project was being done, and what.

H

Actually was put in and that's where those seven items came up, so it is completely done at this time.

B

All right, thank you and if I may just add a comment there, you.

C

Know, beth and and to the board. You know we we.

C

Often get in positions where we're closing out projects with some change.

C

Orders right at the last uh change orders uh to close out projects.

C

And uh you know russell correct me if I'm wrong here, but you know these estimates and such on the uh bid docs and on the engineering.

C

Documents and such those are going to be estimates and then.

C

As we do the project management and the engineering inspection in the field, you.

C

Know having that kind of check and balance with the contractor, saying: hey here's what we put in uh us doing: the inspection, whether hired or.

C

Internally and that's where some of that just gets worked out on the um you know in those conversations of um and the engineering.

C

Inspection, so just a little more background there.

A

Thank you other questions from the board.

A

Are there any public comments? I don't see any all right, seeing no.

A

Public comments is there a motion on this album.

B

A move: approval of change number four for the west allen, traffic calming.

B

Project, second, all in favor.

A

A

Next up a proof, construction, inspection, contract with shrewsbury and associates.

A

Llc for downtown alley's repaving project.

I

Good evening this is roy ayton, with the planning and transportation department.

I

This project will improve the downtown alleys and the.

I

Square blocks between college walnut, 6th and 7th.

I

Between walnut and washington, 6th and 7th.

I

The improvements will include resurfacing, replacement.

I

Of alley aprons and some minor drainage improvements, shrewsbury.

I

Associates llc was selected from to perform the construction inspections.

I

For this project, the compensation for these inspection.

I

Services is set at a not to exceed amount of six hundred 74 six dollars and eighty cents.

I

uh The staff has reviewed the agreement and we are recommending approval for the.

I

Inspection contract.

A

Thank you, questions from the board on this item.

B

No, no, I don't have a question.

A

In the public comment on this item, I don't see any.

C

I don't see any racist hands or uh chat funk.

C

Chats uh for public comment, seeing no public comment is there a.

A

Motion on this item, I move approval of the construction.

A

Inspection contract with shrewsbury and associates llc for.

A

Downtown alley's repaving project second.

A

A

Next, we have a word contract for downtown alley's repaving project.

I

I think this one is mine again, this is the downtown alleys repaving project.

I

uh Yesterday, monday august 31st 2020 at the virtual meeting, the board of public.

I

Works uh city staff opened sealed bids submitted for the downtown alleys.

I

Repaving project this project would reconstruct the alleys once again between 6th and 7th street college to washington. The project will include new, concrete alleys and.

I

Improvement to the alley aprons also with this project, there's a.

I

Maintenance of traffic plan they'll utilize phasing for the construction.

I

Order to minimize the impact of the neighboring businesses, additionally, temporary closures of.

I

Sidewalks and alley entrances may be used in combination with walk-arounds.

I

And detours, depending on the area and the impacts to.

I

The pedestrians the board received two bids for the.

I

Project one bid was from river town construction, llc.

I

In the amount of nine hundred and eighty four thousand two hundred forty seven.

I

Dollars and fifty cents and they received the second bid from.

I

Enb paving llc in the amount of six hundred and sixty.

I

One dollars and two hundred six hundred sixty one thousand two.

I

Hundred dollars, uh the staff has received the bids and.

I

Is recommending awarding the contract the.

I

Emb paving llc and an amount not to exceed 661.

I

A

Thank you, questions from the board on this item.

A

How did this compare to what you were expecting in terms of.

A

I

We had an engineering estimate for the job. uh We were all.

I

Kind of wary walking into the job with what we had for an engineering estimate.

I

This bid did come in at 17 over the estimate.

I

And the reason we had a hard time estimating the project was.

I

uh Because it's a little bit different than most concrete jobs.

I

And the fact that it's in an alley- and they have to tear out all the existing.

I

Infrastructure and everything in their very confined space, and then they have.

I

To come back and put concrete into a confined space, so we had a hard.

I

Time, estimating, uh even though the bid is at 17 over the.

I

Estimate we are comfortable with our estimate comfortable with the bid amount.

I

For this project, when do you plan to start the alley.

B

Project uh yeah, if approved, we would like to go.

I

Ahead and give a notice to proceed uh so hopefully we can get construction.

I

Started by the end of this month or earlier, and then.

I

What we would like to do is we'd like to finish the block directly north of the courthouse by the end of this year.

I

And then we believe some of the construction may go next year.

I

For the block to the east, between walnut and washing or yeah, well, not in.

I

A

Does the um alley apron work, help with accessibility.

A

Issues like crossing or anything like that.

I

uh After construction yeah, the they will replace the ramps coming into them.

I

And then make it, everything will be ada accessible.

I

uh For the pedestrian access routes, um so yeah in that sense, there'll be an.

I

Improvement uh during construction with the walk-arounds and the detours and.

I

Things like that it'll be a little hard going, but after the project's completed.

I

It'll be a big improvement.

B

Is there some cool lighting back there in the eyes uh beth? It does not include.

C

Lighting but we've actually added some lighting in both of these.

C

Blocks in the past uh six months or so.

B

Okay, good, oh all, right! Thank you! That's essential! I think in the allies.

C

I'll just add, if I may um adam wayson here, public works director.

C

You know I want to just thank roy and his.

C

Efforts on this um we've got a lot of projects that we're juggling with.

C

And getting this out to bid and everything was a heavy lift.

C

So appreciate roy's efforts. I want to also say.

C

You know getting excited about alley. Projects is not something that.

C

You know the average person probably really thinks about, but uh when I think.

C

About our downtown, the improvements we've made on kirkwood.

C

Improvements like these, where.

C

Not only put you know some good pavement and concrete.

C

Back down, it'll improve accessibility. You know we're.

C

Looking um free other than a block north of the square.

C

um You know the north-south alley will remain open to vehicles at all time.

C

Currently, the east-west alley isn't passable by cars just.

C

Based on the amount of trash cans, dumpsters grease bins,.

C

But as we get this project wrapped up, um you know it's an activation project so.

C

We're talking with some of the businesses about you, know, beautification and artwork and.

C

You know making it more pleasant uh as a possible walking area. You know I can.

C

Tell you the the east-west alley is one of the worst alleys we've got from a cleanliness perspective.

C

Right now, with some of the tenants and some of the.

C

Restaurants and we're working with with them very closely to say, hey you.

C

Know we need we want to keep these things. These alleys clean- and you know, projects like these- will.

C

Really highlight what you can make of downtown alleys and.

C

We're excited about that.

A

um We aren't reviewing any kind of maintenance.

A

Of traffic or uh any changes to the right-of-way, this.

A

Evening, when do you think that that will come to us.

C

uh Right yeah, actually, with this with this approval, the board's approving.

I

Their contract to do the reconstruction work at the same time, you are improving.

I

Kind of the maintenance of traffic plan- that's kind of why I wanted to put it in.

I

The staff report, just to give you a heads up that okay yeah with this approval, you will be approving the closure of the alleys.

I

At the phase and then the temporary closures of the sidewalks.

A

Do we have um any idea of what the sidewalk.

A

The alternate pathways are going to be for those sidewalk closures.

I

In the project, right now, as it's phased through.

I

They'll they will, in a closing at the alley entrance is the sidewalks.

I

We have put into the project walk-arounds.

I

For each of those, so in the bid there's actually a walk around that.

I

They have to maintain. I know that the contractors have already asked.

I

Whether or not they could eliminate a couple of those walk-arounds.

I

We told them at this point no, but we will look at them.

I

As we go on, I think there may be opportunities for.

I

Some temporary closures, real quick, but as of right now, the plan is that there.

I

Will be walk arounds uh and what I, what I'll say too, is I'll.

C

Commit um you know with any requests that would uh be to remove.

C

The walk, arounds, we know the importance right now and the focus on that in the downtown, especially you know we want to provide those safe.

C

Access ways and pedestrian walkways, we will before we.

C

Would approve any um reduction of walk-arounds or removal.

C

Of walk-arounds I'd make sure to do a staff report to.

C

The board or ask for you know, get the board involved at that time and um given all the focus conversation there, that's.

C

Certainly something we can commit to.

A

Thanks and you I think you said this earlier, but what is the.

A

Expected time frame like when do you expect that this project will wrap up if.

A

Everything goes as planned: the contract itself is for 120 calendar.

I

Days so once we issue the notice to proceed, which will hopefully be within two weeks, they will have 120 days to.

I

Complete the project that will take them up through november.

I

30Th then, the project may winter out by.

I

Contract they're allowed to kind of lay off the project and then begin again in.

I

April first, so it depends how hard they come in at.

I

It maybe they can get all of it done beforehand, but the contract itself will be for 120 days, which will probably take.

I

Them up through may of 2021.

A

And we don't anticipate any impacts on the.

A

Some of the temporary uh components we have going on right now.

A

Like the the loading zone, um 15 minute parking or the.

A

Little parklets seating, parklets yeah um there there could be um there might.

C

Be some impacts to that those are only um you know. Grazie will be, I think, we're.

C

Going to put a parklet there and grazie requested one and got their.

C

Application approved so there may be some slight.

C

Modifications but overall I don't see a major impact there.

A

Okay, thanks and I just had a question about.

A

um The comment adam about like some trash bins and other things that are.

A

Located in the alley for local restaurants and businesses, like.

A

Have we communicated with them on temporary replacement or.

C

Yeah so um we've been, you know back in.

C

The fall of last year when we first started our shoot summer in fall of last.

C

Year when we first started having these conversations uh about the the projects so we'll begin, you know the uh part of.

C

The shrewsbury contract that you approve just some of that outreach and assistance and, on you know the on the ground kind of coordination um day-to-day between the contractors and.

C

The businesses you know shrewsbury will play a key part there, but.

C

Over these next couple weeks, we're going to be pulling folks together.

C

Roy mentioned the phasing you know so the way the concrete is going to need to.

C

Be poured, you know we'll be closing certain.

C

Sections of the alley you know we may close the west section of the alley.

C

And so all the trash bins that are there are going to need to go to the eastern.

C

So there's going to be a lot of coordination.

C

You know nobody really gets deliveries in those alleys.

C

At this point, it's more of just container.

C

Placement and such- and you know just to further that we've come up with a.

C

Registration system for all of the containers and carts that go into the.

C

Alleyways we've been really yesterday was a.

C

Painful monday, with the tenants in one of the buildings leaving.

C

Pile a pile of trash, unlike I'd, seen before.

C

So we are, you know, with the registration of the.

C

With the registration of the carts and everything we can identify, if we have.

C

You know, folks that aren't keeping things clean and we have every right to.

C

Tell them that they are not allowed to keep those in the right of way.

C

uh We don't want to get to that point. We want to get to a you know, point where.

C

Everybody's keeping things clean, um you know uh as part of this, you know.

C

With you know, power washing the backs of buildings and removing graffiti and and really you know, making it a showcase.

C

Type alley, in the sense that um you know if it's, if it's, if these.

C

Improvements are made, and then they start. It starts getting trashed with uh heaps and piles of.

C

Illegal dumping, because that's what it is.

C

We'll handle that swiftly and continue to be on that.

C

So, thank you all right great. Thank you. Adam.

B

Thanks adam for that update, that sounds really good.

B

Keeping in touch with the business owners to keep the alley clean.

C

Yeah I'll tell you, the business owners aren't the major problem right now.

C

Okay, you know: we've had a couple instances in the past, where you know some of the restaurants just needed a reminder, but uh it's the tenants. uh It was just moving and.

C

There were more amazon, prime boxes and 55-inch.

C

Large screen tv boxes than anyone ever needs to illegally dump in an alley.

B

Okay, all right, thank you.

A

Any other questions from the board on this item.

A

Any public comment item.

C

I don't see any all right, seeing none is there a motion from the.

A

B

I knew that we award the contract for downtown allies, repaving project to enb.

B

Paving for 661 200. a second all in favor.

A

A

Next, we have approved extension of lower cascades conversion pilot project to.

A

June 30th of 2021 all righty. um This is.

C

Going to be oh paul is here: I'm here: yeah paulo is running late in a board.

C

Meeting for parks- and I thought I was gonna.

J

I had him all cued up and then I was done and you were very focused. So I just.

J

Remained muted and videoed down so not to distract, but thank you.

J

Here you go I'm here, so thank you very much.

J

um I am here uh this evening to recommend approval of extending the time.

J

Frame for the lower cascades road conversion pilot project.

J

uh To june 30th 2021 uh just a little background on this.

J

Project this is this particular park. Is one.

J

Of several public amenities that have benefited from bicentennial funding.

J

Back in 2018, lower cascades park trail was.

J

Identified as a spot, that would be great to add to our network of trails.

J

For connectivity, we have additional projects underway in.

J

Lower cascades and back on march 3rd, this board.

J

Approved a pilot road conversion project where we took a portion of the.

J

Road and have said it shut it down and.

J

Encourage people to access this road for either biking or.

J

Walking or running just to use it in a different.

J

Way, of course, with any pilot project, it was.

J

Important that we collect feedback, and so at the same time that we.

J

Launched the pilot project back on march 13th, we.

J

Also launched and they published a survey um encouraging the community to go down and use this particular.

J

Piece of uh the road that is now part of the pilot to experience it and.

J

Give us our feedback and what their experience was as far as.

J

Accessing it um parking were they visiting other.

J

Places in the park why they walk this particular part of the trail. It's important to note at this point that.

J

um None of us could have predicted that cobit 19 pandemic would hit.

J

Exactly at the same time, in fact, the community was shutting down.

J

Days before this pilot was scheduled to launch, but we.

J

Went ahead with the pilot and actually saw.

J

Have seen across the parks department, an uptick of people seeking.

J

Outdoor spaces for physical activity during the pandemic, all throughout the.

J

Pilot as well, uh we have been in addition to.

J

Collecting the survey results we have been in communication with several residents, particularly in district two 2.

J

Sharing the pilot project sharing the survey.

J

Listening to their feedback, we have also been doing.

J

Downloads of the survey on a monthly basis and posting that, on the park's.

J

Website and responding to comments um that we were getting, whether it was how.

J

The barricades were placed not enough signage, just improvement, so.

J

We've been trying to make improvements along the way.

J

Some of the feedback we also received was that this was maybe not a great time.

J

To run a pilot project that um the community um basically shut.

J

Down schools were out the traffic patterns.

J

Were changed up and um some of the feedback was.

J

How how reliable was this such a good time to do it? um We stand by.

J

The the use, the increased use that we saw and.

J

uh Giving the community an additional outlet to be physically active.

J

But having listened to that, um we are here, and this is what brings us here.

J

Today, we would like to extend this pilot project we're still in the pandemic. We are still.

J

Making very cautious decisions about staying home and staying in place.

J

And we at the parks department continue to see a lot of people.

J

Accessing outdoor spaces, and so we would like to extend this pilot.

J

Project to june 30th of next year, we would.

J

Continue the survey that is in place and run a parallel survey um specifically.

J

Directed at people who normally drive through the park again referencing.

J

Back to the feedback that we received from either constituents or on the.

J

Survey, there are a number of people that draw.

J

Use this part of the road in the park to get from.

J

Point a to point b: they don't stop necessarily and use the.

J

Park but they use it to access other areas of the community and.

J

So um we would put together and run a parallel.

J

Survey put signage out and really drive those.

J

People who drive through the park to fill out that.

J

Survey and continue to report back to this board on those.

J

Survey results and continue to respond to.

J

Feedback that we're getting um we I've shared.

J

I'm going to actually share my screen, hopefully successfully.

J

um I don't know who the host is adam to allow me to share my screen.

C

Paula, if you just want the pictures, I can probably share them. Oh, that was.

J

Great yeah, if you could, um I put together some.

J

Slides of additional signage that we have put up just.

J

uh Recently, in the past week we uh got some feedback from a citizen who.

J

Had trouble finding parking so we added some parking signs to the barricades.

J

I think there was some uh miscommunication people.

J

uh Thinking that the parking lots were closed down in lower cascades and indeed.

J

uh Parking lots have been open um the whole.

J

Time so I draw your attention to the.

J

First slide: we can make it perfect. um This red sign is this is at.

J

The north, I'm sorry this should be at the.

J

South um entrance, but just indicating that.

J

There is extra parking um under the overpass, so we were getting.

J

Feedback people accessing the park from the south. They would see these detour.

J

Signs and they'd be right upon the barricade and not know where to park.

J

And this sign encourages people to keep on going and there's parking under the overpass and you can access the pilot.

J

Portion of the project from the south end, um if you go to the.

J

Next slide adam: this is on the north entrance uh again.

J

We put this new sign up just to indicate that, yes, the.

J

Road is open to the to the playground, parking lots and that.

J

Means that if you also are renting uh the sycamore shelter.

J

Or the um waterfall shelter you uh can, the parking lots are open and you can.

J

Access them that way, and then the final one and you're gonna.

J

Have to the finals like and now adam when I.

J

Looked at it, they were all. I didn't do it. I don't know what.

C

Happened, don't blame me, but if you could just turn that sign.

J

Around this is the sign uh that is up. That explains the.

J

Project and there's also a qr code taking people directly.

J

To uh the survey- and certainly we would update this so that.

J

uh People who wanted to fill out the I drive through the.

J

Park survey would have uh access to the survey as well.

J

um And you can take that down adam. um We did do a.

J

Survey um poll just uh over the weekend at the end of the month.

J

And just some highlights from the survey to date, we've had 328 people.

J

Respond to the survey.

J

The majority 76 percent uh have no problem.

J

Accessing the park and finding parking the park is visited mostly on saturdays.

J

And sundays, we continue to get some feedback on.

J

Safety, the most recent one was motorcyclist.

J

Cited going through the pilot portion of the road- and we um are.

J

Working with uh staff on that some additional signage, because we do not.

J

Want motorcycles on this part of the pilot and then in.

J

Addition and you can keep paging down.

J

We are continuing to see an upward trend in people wanting.

J

This pilot, um the the rope, the full row closure.

J

And that's a little bit more at him and you can see the graph here.

J

So the blue line um on the graph trending that um people do.

J

Want the full closure um and the.

J

Bright red line, uh people who do not want the closure.

J

And then we have some people who are neutral, some that mostly do not want and.

J

Once they do want, um but, as you can see, it.

J

Continues to be popular, but again with all of the factors I'll.

J

Go back just quickly and review the fact that it was.

J

Covered and the community usage of this park changed a little bit.

J

We would just really like to continue the pilot and continue to collect.

J

Survey information and run this parallel survey as well to get some feedback from.

J

People who again access the park um just drive through.

J

The park and I'd be happy to answer any questions for several members.

J

Of our team, this is a team effort with planning and transportation.

J

By comped, our department, dave williams and jess.

J

Klein our health and wellness coordinator, so we would be happy to take.

J

Any questions, thank you. Questions from the board on.

A

B

uh Thank you paul. I appreciate your uh updating us on the motorcycle situation.

B

How do you plan to create more barriers so that.

B

Motorcycles cannot drive through well. That is something that we're that.

J

We're looking at we've also looked at the municipal code um regarding motorcycles in.

J

In these areas uh it may be with signage, but.

J

In the past you know two days I have contacted several city staff.

J

And we're addressing that situation. Okay, thank you.

A

And we'll take uh a few more board questions and then, if.

A

uh You're, a member of the public wishing to comment. If you will please.

A

Either um raise your hand in the zoom function.

A

Or um put in the chat that you're interested in making public.

A

Comment that'll help us um bring you up so that you can make your comment.

C

Yeah, thank you paula right now, I've got carol. Canfield will be up first uh paul.

C

Kern ii and mark stosberg third right now.

A

Okay um with uh the survey and this sort of parallel.

A

Survey that's happening. um I know when we spoke at the meeting.

A

Earlier in august there were some questions about.

A

The um question about people's preferences.

A

As to how the roadway um would be either converted or not, and there was.

A

Some ambiguity in the wording of the question.

A

Do you know um what the what the main question or questions will.

A

Be on the parallel survey.

A

And what that might look like for those who.

A

Are planning to take that survey sure um I do.

J

I do have a draft um and one of the questions is: how do you mostly interact.

J

With penn state's park before the beginning of the road.

J

Conversion pilot project and they can mark drove a car or.

J

Motorcycle um to the park to do something drove a.

J

Car motorcycle through the park for enjoyment, I used it as an alternative route or if they jogged or I'm just they've,.

J

Never visited the park before the pilot um project. um How would you.

J

Categorize the impact to you of the road conversion pilot um and they.

J

Can respond from very negative to very positive and.

J

Then we have a second uh section reference. Your answer to the.

J

Previous question: how would you categorize the impact to.

J

You of the pilot on the scale from negative to very positive. Please provide.

J

Some information about why you chose the category that you selected.

J

And is there any other information about the pilot project? You would want us to.

J

Know and then in email from.

J

Blue ridge, neighborhood association, recent meeting.

J

Putting a question in there like do you want it close or do you want it open.

J

And just a black and white question that way.

J

um So again, this is in draft, but I'm very much.

J

Targeting people who drive through the park.

J

And use it to get from point a to point b.

A

Great thanks, I know the neighborhood associations and probably.

A

Some district communications will be uh the ways that you get. This survey out.

A

Are there other ways you plan on ensuring that drivers get it since it's.

A

A little bit more difficult to you know potentially scan a qr code or something.

A

While you're driving through the area are there some ways that you all plan in.

A

The parks department to share it with motorists specifically yeah. We have a.

J

Pretty comprehensive social media marketing.

J

Plan and um have been successful in communicating.

J

A lot of our projects and getting feedback right now, our master.

J

Plan process is underway and we're using it to drive people to a survey so.

J

um We would give that to our community relations team to.

J

To get it out on social, um also on our website um out to the.

J

Neighborhood association's um neighborhood, you know through their.

J

Newsletters and all of that we would do a comprehensive.

J

Suite to make sure the information got out.

A

Other questions from the board at this time.

A

All right, uh we will go ahead and move to public comment.

A

And um adam has been tracking uh those requests.

A

Again, if you are interested in making public comment- and you have not yet.

A

Made a comment in the chat or raise your hand in the zoom function.

A

Please do that, so we can make sure to open up your mic for comment.

C

I've got carol canfield, they use this account she's ready to go.

K

Can you hear me okay? Yes, yes, we can okay, great.

K

uh First of all, I want to thank paula for coming to our neighborhood.

K

Association meeting and uh listening to what we had to say there.

K

I appreciate the fact that you're doing an additional survey to address.

K

The concerns that we had, we are stuck in blue ridge in terms of.

K

Getting out of our neighborhood when we have game days or other city events, it's the only way we can get.

K

Out of our addition, because both dunn and walnut are backed up, is to go down.

K

Through cascades, if we want to get anywhere in town or to.

K

Any other part of town unless we want to drive all the way.

K

Seven miles north and take sample road and turn around and come back.

K

I'm thinking that this is not the time to be doing this experiment, we still.

K

Have the covet mandates in place? It's not a realistic.

K

Situation, it really doesn't address the situation.

K

Honestly, of course, you're going to have greater attendance at the parks because.

K

Other things are shut down, so what's left to do except go to the park.

K

And I you know that's great, but it's not realistic in terms.

K

Of when our town is at its peak during ball game.

K

Times during other events in the city that bring traffic to bloomington.

K

And we simply have to have a way to get out of our addition and.

K

If you close cascades we're stuck.

K

Maybe a different time when, when we're back open, again and non-coveted.

K

Going um that would be the time to do this project, but right now, you're not.

K

Going to get honest, realistic answers, thank you.

K

A

Adam, do you want to bring the next person up.

C

uh We've got paul kern up. Thank you. Can you hear me.

L

Yes, sir, okay, excellent, I uh I guess the question I've got is um because.

L

We're going to do these two surveys. What would paula envision? The survey.

L

Looking like, if the answer was, the answer would.

L

Result in the lower cascades going open.

L

Not staying closely going open, what kind of data would she would she be looking.

L

At for that, what what scenario would that be?

L

That's what I'm trying to find out, there's only one question that says: whether it's open or not. Would that be the one that would be because I'm not sure that would really reflect the sentiment of.

L

Because there's so many other data, I'm not sure so I'm kind of unclear about.

L

J

um Well, paul: there is uh uh questions on a room on the survey for.

J

People to comment um and that's been very helpful.

J

In the the survey draws at downs that we've been doing to date,.

J

We've had a lot of people um take the time to actually.

J

Write some comments and give us feedback that way.

L

So for that to happen, then you would have to have an overwhelming number of comments. That would that would say I want the road open. That would be the way it would work if the if the the data would show that people want the.

L

Road open. That would be it through the comments.

L

And that one click right and we'll be looking at.

J

At all of the data that comes in and evaluating it and.

J

uh Looking at the numbers and the graphs and the comments and.

J

And all of that I don't know if that's answering your question, but you know.

J

As I said, we're we're putting this out to get get the feed back. I can't.

J

Say what's in it to blend in way or the other, and I want to say something to the.

M

Board I've listened to paula talk on several occasions. Not only is the question ma'am sorry.

C

Can you please state your name for the record linda kern, linda kern,.

C

Okay, thank you and I've spoken to paul on several.

M

Occasions and I've had training in the how to make a.

M

Survey not only is the question completely misleading and really poorly written, but she read aloud how she would.

M

Indicate this is a positive response and literally, if someone said I like the.

M

Bloomington parks department, she read that as an answer to close the.

M

Road, and so I think the board needs to actually look at her data and how she's interpreting it and not allow her to.

M

Interpret it for you, because she's not doing so in an.

M

Accurate way, we thank you for your comment.

C

uh Next up, we've got mark stars, uh mark stosberg, hello,.

C

I'm yes mark you're up yeah hello, I'm mark stossberg. I volunteer on.

N

The bicycle: pedestrian safety commission we've gotten a number of updates about.

N

This project, mostly positive, I'm also a.

N

Parent I've biked to my kids, with my kids to this.

N

Park uh before I've also visited it since.

N

The closure- and I can tell you personally, there's a big difference in.

N

The comfort level- it's was so much less stressful. We.

N

Noticed slowed down and lotus notice a lot more details when we.

N

Were able to get through that section on our bikes without the.

N

The traffic and for us on a bike, this went from having zero comfortable.

N

Ways to get there to having some way to get there, so that made a big difference. I I think I also agree with the surprise of the.

N

Timing, it wasn't known that the pandemic was going to happen.

N

And it does make sense to collect more information and from a feasibility.

N

Perspective, it does seem to make more sense to keep it open.

N

To extend the trial and to shut it down and reopen it at another time.

N

C

Thank you mark. um I don't see any other raised hands.

C

Or any other comments in the.

C

um We did have uh mallory, who mentioned speaking to this matter,.

C

Yep I got mallory uh mallory, you should be unmuted. That's.

C

This is mallory with uh planning and transportation. I believe.

O

Yeah, that's. That is correct, um so I just wanted to speak on behalf of the.

O

Survey instrument, which was provided- I am.

O

um On the group of uh city hall staff that is working on this project- and I.

O

Worked with the survey creation and basically.

O

The evaluation of the overall project and, in addition to the.

O

um Survey instrument that we provided to kind of gauge the thoughts, feelings and.

O

Perceptions of people who who are interested in the project who.

O

Had gone out to see it, um we've also been taking counts.

O

Of people who have been visiting the trails, walkers and cyclists.

O

And we have been um gathering that data since the trial started.

O

And so what we would like to see is an increase.

O

In people walking and biking so that we can see.

O

You know how are these patterns um changing over the course of the year.

O

As well as how do they compare with the other trails that we are seeing.

O

Around town for which we have counters, so um that also lends a little bit of.

O

Nuance to our decision making, and so that's something that we're looking at.

O

As well, thank you so malory. How might.

A

Like if we extend this, um you know we're getting into the winter.

A

Months, um I know we're extending it to june, but there will be several months in.

A

There that I assume folks won't be utilizing the the.

A

Parks, because of weather, um can you speak to how that might.

A

Impact those numbers.

O

Right well, we may see um we may see dips um like we see with many of the trails.

O

um When uh there are inclement weather.

O

Situations, however, um when the pandemic started, we thought that we would see.

O

A dip in the amount of people that were on the trails in bloomington.

O

Because of the students being gone, however, that has not been the case. We've.

O

Seen a rise in the level of people who are on the b line, and so because of you know, social distancing practices.

O

Being the order of the day, um it seems that uh people are going out.

O

To spaces where they can walk more frequently, and um we would expect to see those patterns resemble what we're seeing at.

O

Lower cascades park.

C

uh Kyla, I don't see any other requests for public comment either in.

C

The raise hand, function or the zoom check.

A

All right, thank you, uh and just for sort of closing clarification.

A

um This request is to continue the study, so this is not a request to make a.

A

Decision on uh the closure of the road permanently.

A

um But rather a continuation of the study given.

A

The circumstances that we've encountered and the desire to.

A

Modify and improve the survey process. um You know targeting drivers in particular.

A

So that's that's what we're here to decide this evening.

A

um Any uh final questions or other comments from the board.

B

No, I think I just say like I love the idea of.

A

Like expanding our pedestrian and bike um access routes, I think that's great.

A

I do think it's weird that it's you know during a a kind of unforeseen.

A

Pandemic and we might get some skewed numbers.

A

um But I do think, since we don't have those lard events.

A

That truly impact a lot of those drivers that use this.

A

As an alternate route, um hopefully that's.

A

uh Not as impactful to them during this time, um so I think.

A

Yeah I like the idea of expanding this and getting more information.

A

um And you know hopefully at that in june, we'll be able to have a little.

A

Bit better of an understanding of um what those folks that use this route.

A

uh For with their cars, um how they feel about.

A

It um so yeah, I think I'll I'll be voting in.

A

A

Thank you uh with that. Is there a motion on this item.

B

I move that we approve extension of lower cascades conversion.

B

Pilot project to june 30th to 2021.

A

Second, all in favor.

A

Motion passes. Thank you. Thank you.

A

Next up, we have uh installation of flooring at.

A

Fire training and logistics center good evening. Everyone adam wasted again.

C

Public works director for the city of bloomington, um pretty straightforward forward. One here we solicited quotes for.

C

uh The installation of some new flooring at the fire department.

C

At one of the fire department stations we received back three.

C

Quotes on that from I'm trying to get to it, I apologize.

C

Moriarty floor coverings, bounds, floor flooring and.

C

Hoosier um color and tile uh and.

C

Scrolling to a blank screen hang on.

C

If jackie didn't put so many legal documents in here.

C

It would be easier to scroll through uh so yes, this is the agreement with.

C

Hoosier floor covering they were the low quote for the installation of flooring.

C

At the fire, training and logistics center, uh their low co quote came in at eight thousand six hundred and eighty nine.

C

Dollars: eighty eight cents uh morary was eleven thousand one.

C

Hundred and eleven dollars, 66 cents and bounds, flooring was 11 855.

C

Dollars and 44 cents, uh so we were respectfully request.

C

Approval of awarding this to hoosier floor covering.

C

Inc doing business as carpets plus color tile.

A

Thanks questions from the board on this.

A

Item beth, did you have a question? No, I don't.

A

No all right any public comment on this.

A

C

I do not see any showing up in the chat and I do not see any hands raised and.

C

We've had most of people leave the meeting, so I think we are good to go with no public comment.

A

All right, uh seeing no public comment. Is there a motion on this item.

B

I'm moving approval of a contract. Go ahead, go for it.

A

Go for it! Okay, I move a pool contract with hoosiers.

B

As carpets plus color pile for installation of flooring at fire,.

B

Department, training and logistics center for 8 689.88.

A

Second, all in favor, aye aye motion passes.

A

Next up is staff reports and other business.

C

uh Just very brief staff report this evening wanted to mention some ongoing.

C

uh Projects and um just kind of uh you know brag on.

C

Ourselves, a little bit our our street department's been busy busy.

C

Busy of the last several weeks and months and throughout this covid.

C

Situation but we've been working every day, we've gotten.

C

More paving and more projects done than we have in years past because of traffic.

C

Being down you know, the kirkwood project went really great, but then you know we've done some paving here around campus.

C

We've got 10th street we've got washington street we've gotten the north side of the square, we're down on rogers by the new.

C

Switchyard park we've gotten out to park ridge, east.

C

We've gotten up to the northwest side and just over all the effort to the.

C

Street department just want to thank joe van dievender, danny bittner, herb.

C

Kinzer mike stinson and all the crews down there, um they've really been getting after the summer.

C

And I think it really shows with uh not only the quantity of work but the.

C

Quality of work, they're doing you know we often in public works.

C

You know have policy discussions, whether it's with city, council or others about.

C

You know investing in you know new infrastructure.

C

And you know things like protected bike lanes and.

C

um New side, paths and things- and you know.

C

Public works fully in support, um you know, but a lot of what we do is the.

C

Maintenance side: um you know we don't build as much as we.

C

Maintain and um you know, we've been having some really interesting discussions with the planning and transportation department.

C

Their staff, as well as you know, the um as part of the 2021.

C

Budget proposal, the engineering division of planning and transportation.

C

Would break out into its own actual department, um which many.

C

Many cities do, and so um just want to you know not only.

C

Brag on our efforts, but let let everyone know you know roast.

C

uh Implementing transportation plan you know at the compressing those guiding.

C

Documents and and being part of those conversations, although you know public works, may not actually build those out as the responsible city department, um but do fully appreciate those efforts, and I.

C

Think the cascades project is a a really good example um of.

C

You know us all working together. uh One thing we've seen.

C

From whether it's the strong towns uh um group, that's a really a good resource.

C

For public officials like myself, and whether it's.

C

The ap, the american public works association or other.

C

uh um Professional organizations, you know with covid.

C

Opening up more um traditional car, centric roadways to alternative uses.

C

Is something that professionals across the country and world are highly.

C

Suggesting at this time you know you can see that with the.

C

Parklets, the lower cascade project etc, and I think you know it's neat- to see.

C

It's exciting to see how it's working, it's it's great, to get the feedback, and you know in the end, it's trying to balance all.

C

Those perspectives, so I just appreciate the way the board is.

C

Able to have that conversation this evening and and in an ongoing way. um You know when someone like me gets excited about ali.

C

Projects, it's you know, probably uh you know a little.

C

Nerdy, but at the same time it's the fun stuff that we get to do so. I appreciate everything from the board just want to say, thanks to all the.

C

uh 100 plus employees of the public works department.

C

And uh thank them for all their efforts and.

C

You know we're just trying to continue to stay safe and stay healthy and.

C

Keep doing what we do so. Thank you very much.

A

Thanks, thanks to everyone, who's been working on the projects and.

A

I can say I'm equally excited about the alleys adam.

C

Oh you're you're turning into one of those public works folks.

A

All right next up is claim.

A

Are there any questions on claims from the board.

B

A

Is there a motion on claims.

B

I move approval of claims, 1 million one hundred sixty nine thousand eight.

B

Hundred twenty seven dollars and thirteen cents.

A

Second, all in favor, aye aye motion passes.

A

If there's nothing else on the agenda this evening, I will call for adjournment.

C

Thank you and I just want to say I love the parks. I mean, I think the parks are.

B

Just phenomenal in this town and every especially the new switch yard and the.

B

Number of people that are using it every time, I'm down there, just lots of people there, kids, using it families it's it's a.

B

Marvelous addition to our city park system.

B

This is all right, kiddos love it I'm sure they do. It's marvelous, I'm just.

B

Like and the the kids the other day when it was really hot in the splash pad or whatever they call.

B

It it was really wonderful, seeing this these kids and they were just having a great time splashing around in there.

B

It's great that's a project we'll be proud of for many years to come. I think.

C

So absolutely it's great. Thank you. Thanks.

B

For all your updates, this is good thanks. Everybody have a.

A

Great year, thank you bye. You actually knew for adjournment. I did. I did we're now, officially yeah. Okay, all right great! Thank you. Thank you.

M

Yes, okay, thank you. Thank you.

P