City of Bloomington, Indiana Board of Public Works, 4 Aug 2020

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From YouTube: Bloomington Board of Public Works, August 4, 2020

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meeting agenda: https://bloomington.in.gov/onboard/meetingFiles/download?meetingFile_id=7407

A

I'm going to go ahead and call to order this regular meeting of the board of.

A

Public works. This is tuesday august 4th of 2020.

A

Up, we have uh messages from the board neighbors. Do we have any messages from.

A

B

I'd like to thank everyone, who's out working every day and be safe and stay.

B

Well, thank you.

A

Thanks beth: next we have petitions and remonstrances. If anyone is.

A

Here to talk about uh an item not on our.

A

Agenda um now is the opportunity to do so as.

A

A reminder we do have some items and staff reports and other business that we.

A

Will open up for public comment at that time?

A

So if there's anything uh not on the agenda and not on staff.

A

Business that you'd like to make a public comment on now, is the opportunity I'm going to. I just had to admit a few.

C

More folks, there kyla um that were in the waiting room for the.

C

Meeting so if you could just mention um once more sure.

A

Now we're at the time for uh petitions and remonstrances, which.

A

Is an opportunity for public comment for anything that is not on our agenda. This.

A

Evening, as I um mentioned, we do have several.

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Items on our new business, but also items under.

A

Staff reports and other business uh specifically the lower cascades.

A

And a september closure on 10th street. So if you wanted to make.

A

Public comment about either of those items we will be taking public comment.

A

During that staff report time, but if you have public comment not on.

A

The agenda now is the opportunity to do so.

C

Again, if you could just please uh add to the chat function or do a raised hand.

C

C

I didn't see any prior kyla, I'm not seeing any at this point.

A

All right, we will go ahead and uh move on. um We have title six enforcement.

A

uh Up at this time, do we have anything under title six enforcement that has.

A

Come forward no seeing nothing. uh Next is the consent.

A

Agenda under the consent agenda is the approval of minutes for july 21st.

A

Of 2020 approve extension of temporary right-of-way requests from wdg construction group at north college.

A

Avenue from railroad overpass to west 14th street.

A

Through august 14th of 2020 and then approval of.

A

Payroll, do we have any items that need to be removed from the consent agenda.

A

Seeing none do we have any public comment on any of the items within the.

A

Consent agenda.

C

I'm not seeing any here.

A

All right, seeing no public comment. Is there a motion from the board on the.

A

Consent agenda: I knew that we approve the consent.

B

A

A

Motion passes next step under new business. We have resolution.

A

2020-36 approve request to seal unsafe structure.

A

At 1306 west kirkwood, I believe that's going to be mike. Arnold.

D

Where's mike's ipad.

E

Can you hear me yep go ahead mike, so this is a vacant property.

E

um We sent out orders to seal for more than 90 days.

E

um We've had some complaints that people are getting into the house that are.

E

Not authorized to be there, we sent the order to.

E

Two separate people who we have reason to believe have some.

E

Interest as ownership, um they, the orders, were sent.

E

To this address, that's the only address we have for the owners, so likely will be.

E

Returned but we did post the orders as well. The windows are open.

E

There's a back door, that's open people are coming in in and out freely because it's an order to seal for more than 90 days. We need a.

E

Resolution signed by the board and that's what we're requesting tonight.

A

Thank you, questions from the board on this item.

A

Is there any uh public comment on this item.

D

I don't see any in the chat, I don't see any hands raised.

C

I don't see any kyla. Thank you. Seeing no public comment. Is there a.

A

Motion from the board move approval of resolution, 2020-36.

A

The request to seal the unsafe structure at 1306, west kirkwood.

C

Dana has made a motion uh to for the uns to seal the unsafe structure. Beth are.

C

You able to second yeah second sorry about that. That's, okay,.

A

All right, we have a motion in a second all in favor.

A

Aye aye motion passes. Thank you thanks. Next, we have approve addendum to.

A

Contract for preliminary engineering services with american structure point.

A

Inc for adams, street sidewalk and intersection project.

F

Good evening, this is neil copper playing a transportation department.

F

This is a project to construct sidewalk on the east side of adams, street.

F

From paterson to kirkwood, it also installs physically protected bicycle.

F

Lanes it resurfaces the street and it also replaces the traffic signal.

F

Equipment at the intersection of atoms and kirkwood.

F

We're actually wrapping up construction on that now. American structure point was.

G

Our design consultant to do preliminary engineering during the.

F

Scoping of the design contract, we did not anticipate.

F

Anticipate the retaining wall would be necessary, but during design it came up.

F

That it was necessary, so this is indented to add 5075.

F

To that existing contract for those wall services for a new contract not to.

F

Exceed amount of 155, 175 staff recommends approval and I'd be.

F

Happy to answer any questions.

A

Thank you, questions from the board on this item.

B

Neil, when will this project be completed right now, the main thing we're waiting.

F

On is actually powering up the new signal equipment.

F

That's coordination between our contractor and duke that has taken a.

F

Little bit longer than expected, we are hopeful that it will be this week.

F

That that is online and then there's a couple uh just odds.

F

And ends to wrap up, but it's at that point it'd be substantially.

F

Complete pretty much done. Okay, thank you.

A

And we discussed uh during the work session that.

A

The the new approach with the new design request.

A

The cost for that revised design on our existing contract.

A

Would be uh significantly less than the cost of the.

A

The wall that had been recommended initially.

A

Is that correct, correct the kind of the redesign.

F

um You know, we've got a price tag here of five thousand dollars, but you know we.

F

Were saving tens of thousands of dollars in the original design on that wall.

A

Thanks any other questions from the board on this item.

A

Is there any public comment on this item.

H

I don't see any thank you. Seeing no public comment. Is there a.

A

Motion from the board, I move that we approve the addendum to.

B

Contract for preliminary engineering services with american structure point inc for adam street sidewalk and intersection.

B

A

Next is approve easements and rights of way to cbu.

A

For repairs of gordon river culvert adjacent to.

A

Bfd headquarters, that's bloomington fire department headquarters.

I

uh Hi good evening chris wheeler with city legal, I'm here.

I

On behalf of the city of bloomington utilities department this evening and.

I

This item on the agenda is to grant a temporary.

I

Easement and permanent easement across that piece of property under which the.

I

Jordan, river culvert runs right behind the.

I

Bloomington fire department, it is for the purpose of permitting.

I

City of bloomington utilities and its contractors to get on the property to do.

I

The work that will be necessary to not only.

I

Broaden the size of the culvert itself, but to straighten some segments out. I.

I

Don't know if this particular section of the culvert's being.

I

Straightened out, but uh that's the purpose behind this and.

I

The reasoning for the permanent easement uh is that.

I

It'll be a little bit larger because of the fact that the culvert is now going.

I

To be a little bit larger itself, so um we are asking and recommending that.

I

The board approve the temporary and permanent easements that will allow for.

I

This particular uh public work to uh be performed.

I

And I'm happy to answer questions. Thank you. Questions from the board on.

A

A

Beth, did you have any questions on this item? No, I don't no thank you.

A

Okay, thank you. Is there any public comment on this item.

C

Oh, I don't see any in the chats and I don't see any raised hands.

A

All right is there a motion from the board on this item.

B

I move that we approve temporary and permanent easements and right-of-ways to.

B

Cbu for repairs at jordan, river culvert adjacent to the bloomington fire.

B

Department headquarters.

A

A second all in favor.

A

Motion passes next up is approved, easements and rights of way to cbu for.

A

Section of jordan river albert adjacent to waldron hill buskirk park.

I

Hi, this is chris wheeler with city legal again, and my story will sound.

I

Awfully familiar, this is the jordan river culvert.

I

Improvement project that the city of bloomington utilities is performing.

I

We're jumping down a couple of blocks to the.

I

To the park down there on third street between 3rd and smith, avenue.

I

On on lincoln, the culvert does run underneath the park and we are asking.

I

For temporary and permanent easements so that city of bloomington utilities and its contractors can get on the property.

I

Stage materials and do the work necessary to do these improvements for.

I

This public work I'm happy to answer questions.

A

Thank you, questions from the board on this item.

B

uh Will the park be closed during this.

B

Construction of the redo that evening segments of the park will need to be.

I

Closed because there will be an open ditch, so, yes, it will have fencing and signage and all of the things that are necessary.

I

To make the work zone safe, but I don't know that the entire.

I

Park would need to be closed because there.

I

Are portions of the park that just won't be touched? Okay, all right! That's right! Thank you.

B

Chris did uh the parks board have to review.

A

This, or does it go before another uh city body aside from public works.

I

Well, parks board reviewed. Well, I'm sorry parks board did not review this, uh but members of parks did.

I

Review what we're doing here um this particular the easements themselves.

I

Only get approved by this board, there will be a memorandum of.

I

Understanding between city, bloomington utilities and city of bloomington parks.

I

Discussing you know who's going to pay for what.

I

Repairs to things that got torn up in the park.

I

You know what kind of signage needs to be up to make the construction area.

I

Safe, assuming that there are going to be areas of the park that remain.

I

Open, so those types of particulars will get hammered out and fleshed out with.

I

Parks and those types of things will get approved by the.

I

Parks board. Thank you. Other questions from the board.

B

Is this to be temporary and permanent? Also, that's.

I

That's correct: these are temporary. This is a temporary easement and a permanent.

A

Easement, are there any public comments on this.

A

H

I do not see any in the chat, I do not see any raised hands.

A

Thank you. Seeing no public comments. Is there a motion from the board on this.

A

J

um I move approval of the temporary and permanent easements.

J

And rights of way to cbu for repairs of the jordan river culvert.

A

Adjacent to the waldron hill buskirk park.

B

Second, all in favor, aye aye motion passes.

A

Thank you very much. Thank you. Next is a proof pilot project for pick.

A

Up drop drop-off zones and downtown corridor, and this is from august 1st of 2020 through september 30th.

A

C

All right there we go got kaisa unmuted hi. My name is kaiser goodman, I'm the.

K

Special projects, manager for the department of economic and sustainable development um and I'll be speaking about a couple.

K

Of kind of related projects tonight the first one is the.

K

Implementation of temporary pickup drop-off zones in the.

K

Downtown quarter and the goal of doing this.

K

Is to mitigate some of the effects of the fact that covert recovery has not.

K

Gone as planned, obviously, a lot of downtown restaurants.

K

And retail establishments have started doing a lot more business.

K

In a carryout or curbside manner and our goal.

K

Is to best serve both residents and local businesses.

K

With the goal of stimulating uh economic growth, downtown and also.

K

Complying with health and safety guidelines about the local and state.

K

Level um and providing more convenience for.

K

Both the businesses and their customers, so the basics of.

K

This plan are that we have 32 zones in the.

K

Downtown quarter each zone comprised of one to two.

K

Parking spaces and each of these parking spaces that is.

K

A denoted for pickup drop-off has 15 minutes of free parking um people.

K

Cannot park for longer than that, but they also do not need to pay the meter.

K

For those 15 minutes- um and these spots, um like I said, there's 32.

K

Zones for a total of 58 parking spaces as most of the zones are two spaces, but.

K

A few of them are just one, and they are located primarily near.

K

Restaurants, but also outside of retail establishments,.

K

Like adam said, this is a pilot project, and so the goal was to implement it.

K

Concurrently with what the city council has already approved, as the intermittent closing of kirkwood.

K

For two blocks on the weekends, hence this pilot being proposed through.

K

September 30th to start with, and it will be evaluated.

K

As we go along, um this has already had some.

K

Tweaks made to it, based on feedback from the chamber of commerce.

K

Downtown bloomington inc and individual business owners.

K

And at this point the zones have been implemented.

K

By parking and public works is there any further information that would be.

K

Helpful on this topic.

A

Thank you any questions from the board on this item.

B

I just wonder if you've let the public know that this is happening, or is it just going to be that they get there and find them available and use them.

K

Yes, there was a press release that was put out on monday.

K

um Okay and the information has also been disseminated to downtown businesses.

K

It was we disseminated the information prior to implementation through dbi.

K

In the chamber and then once it was implemented, sent out the final plan.

K

There's also an interactive map that was sent out in the press release.

K

um In which dbi and the chamber have so that one can see.

K

The exact locations of the spots and what businesses they're near.

B

Okay, thank you. I can put that in the chat. If that would be helpful.

K

That would be good, thank you, and you have mentioned that there will also.

A

Be like demarcations at the uh parking spots too, there's like laminated signs.

A

That will denote 15-minute parking.

A

Yes, yes, the signs on all of the affected um meters, indicating that it is.

K

15 minute free parking.

A

Will there be any kind of sleeving on the meter.

A

To prevent people from trying to park there for.

A

Longer than the 15 minutes and paying the meter.

C

So, with the signage that we've got up and the way we've done, the 180 day order.

C

And such these are now officially just 15 minute zones.

C

Until so, you know we tend not to bag the.

C

Meters themselves um and we're monitoring pretty closely.

C

With the parking enforcement staff making sure the signs are staying up and such um so, we definitely have the ability to issue a ticket. If people are there for longer et cetera.

C

um And if we start to have more problems or people are paying anyway,.

C

We would then look to maybe try to bag. The meter itself.

A

Great thanks and that anticipated my other question, which was.

A

uh Are we able to uh give citations through parking operations.

A

uh In order to enforce the 15 minutes, yes, since we updated with a 180-day.

C

Order through the staff and then took the official act, the further official action through the board of public works. This.

C

Evening, yes, we would be able to.

A

And uh just a point of clarity, though, the.

A

Spaces may be adjacent or near to certain businesses.

A

The spaces are available for use for any any quick. You know pickup drop off for.

A

15 minutes, regardless of whether you're going into the business that's directly.

A

Adjacent to the space, absolutely 100, correct, yeah uh they're, all pretty much.

C

All of them are located close to mid block so that it it.

C

Serves the whole block and such, and that was part of the.

C

Decisions on where the locations would be and such so yes, absolutely if you're.

C

If it happens to be right in front of say, michael's uptown cafe, but you're.

C

Picking up from bloomington sandwich company, we, you know it's available to.

C

A

Great. Thank you other questions from the board.

A

Beth, did you have a question.

C

I don't, I think I heard her saying no, she didn't.

B

No, I don't think, is there any a public comment on this item.

C

I don't see any.

A

All right, seeing no public comment. Is there a motion from the board.

B

B

Zones in downtown corridor august 1st through september 30th.

A

Hi, second, all in favor, aye aye aye motion passes.

A

Next, we have approved pilot project for parklet program in downtown corridor and.

A

This is also august 1st 2020 through september.

A

30Th of 2020. yeah- I will be speaking to that.

K

As well um and I do want to clarify that the.

K

Suggested implementation of date of this project is actually august.

K

5Th, which is tomorrow as this project, has not been implemented yet.

K

um So the rationale behind the parklet pilot.

K

Is similar to the rationale behind the pickup drop-off zones.

K

As many restaurants have transitioned to a lot of carryout.

K

um There's also a strong interest in expanding outdoor dining since their.

K

Limitations on indoor dining in dining outdoors is considered to be.

K

Safer during the pandemic- and we also.

K

Anticipate that, with the return of the iu students, there will be an even greater influx of people who are.

K

Wanting to dine in restaurants- and that may be restricted again by.

K

The limitations that are currently placed on indoor dining.

K

And so the definition of the parklet is a parking space that is.

K

Converted into outdoor dining, and so there are two um aspects to this.

K

Proposal, the first is that the first parklets on.

K

North college avenue would be implemented tomorrow, august 5th.

K

And they would be located basically on the west side of north college, which.

K

On the west side of the square, and we would be looking at the two.

K

North most parking spaces, which is outside of social cantina and smoke.

K

Works and the south, the four south most parking spaces, which is outside of the tap the inkwell and the orbit room, leaving the five parking spaces in the middle of.

K

The block which are adjacent to the retail establishments, such as goods for cooks and jail waters as regular, muted parking.

K

I do also want to note that those five spots include the ada.

K

Accessible space for the block, so that would not be removed.

K

And the proposal is that this is implemented tomorrow,.

K

By public works and the fire department, placing the orange water filled, barriers.

K

Around the two spots on the north end of the block and the four spots on the south end of the block, um the extent of the responsibility of.

K

The city would be doing an initial sweeping of those spaces and setting up.

K

The barriers all other implementation, such as.

K

Setting up the outdoor dining furniture, the patio furniture.

K

Maintaining cleaning and making sure that all of the necessary permits are.

K

Gotten such as an alcohol permit to sort of alcohol in.

K

That space or making sure that one's insurance extends to that area.

K

Is the responsibility of the restaurant? I also want to clarify that the.

K

um Sidewalk itself will not be impeded, so we want to make sure that we're.

K

Complying with ada guidelines, and so the dining will not be contiguous.

K

With the restaurant, it will be in the parking space itself, leaving the sidewalk open for ada compliance purposes.

K

The second aspect of the implementation is.

K

Following the implementation of the first part clips tomorrow,.

K

An application would go live online. This is a google forms, application.

K

And it would allow downtown restaurants to.

K

Apply to have a private outside of their restaurant in the spaces. Some of some.

K

Are all the spaces adjacent to their restaurant and for each application that is submitted? They will be considered on a.

K

Case-By-Case basis taking to into account the availability.

K

Of parking in the area, the parking needs versus the outdoor.

K

Seating needs safety and feasibility, and the recommendation is that these.

K

Additional parklets be implemented on a bi-weekly basis um with the first being august, 19th and september 2nd and september 16th.

K

And that is simply for the ease of public works and the fire department. So.

K

That um they aren't constantly having to go out and and make adjustments to the parklands on a rolling basis. But rather.

K

That, if there are multiple additions to be made, but they can do them all once every two weeks.

K

um And this was an idea that was brought to us by um some of the.

K

Downtown businesses and it is based on and modeled on what.

K

Many other kind of peer communities have done in the face of cohort to expand outdoor dining options.

K

The other consideration I want to mention specifically since we just.

K

Talked about the pickup drop-off zones is any block in which parklets take up.

K

More than a third of the total parking spaces will have any pickup drop-off zones in that block, removed.

K

For example, the block of north college will not have both pickup drop-off zones.

K

And the parklets, because that would um cut down too much on the regular metered.

K

Parking are there any questions.

A

Questions from the board on this item, I do um since this is happening tomorrow,.

B

Have the restaurants involved on the west side of the courthouse? Have they all gotten their permits? Have you checked to.

B

Be sure if they're all permitted.

C

Beth, I can we we reached out to them today to make sure that everybody was.

C

Ready to go for tomorrow and we've not heard anything back that anybody.

C

Isn't so isn't? Okay all right! Thank you. I also want to add that we have spoken.

K

With the retail establishments in that block and made sure that we're meeting their needs as well.

A

I assume it's up to the restaurants themselves to monitor like.

A

Proper safe distance of tables and such as well right yeah. So um yes, the.

C

Absolutely the onus comes to the business owners. You know the restaurant.

C

Owners to assure that the proper social.

C

Distancing and physical distancing requirements per.

C

The state and county health mandates are in order.

C

I do know that the health department is taking phone calls on.

C

Reports where that's not occurring and that they're following up with any.

C

Business that they're getting reports about to let them know of what they've.

C

Been what's been brought to them, so, yes, the onus is on the business owners and.

C

Then you know with follow-up from health department as needed, and we've really, I will say you know with whether it's the.

C

uh Closure of kirkwood or the um you know this. This parklet program.

C

And etc, we're really stressing with the business owners and the.

C

Downtown business, retailers group and everything the importance of the.

C

Physical distancing, you know, we know we recognize. We have a lot of.

C

uh Returning students coming over the next few weeks and.

C

Really making sure that you know we're supportive of their business needs, but.

C

That they're also very much in compliance with all the.

C

Proper public safety protocol public health protocols at this point in time.

C

And we're going to monitor and we'll make sure we're following up as well.

A

Awesome. Thank you.

A

Other questions from the board on this item.

A

Did you say that they could file an application through esd.

A

That we're business today.

A

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

A

Is there any public comment on this item? I do not see any in the chat if anyone.

C

Has any public comment on this to either post to the chat or raise their hand via.

C

The zoom function.

K

I will also share the draft of the application.

K

In the chat should that be helpful.

A

All right, seeing no public comment. Is there a motion board.

B

I move that we approve the pilot project for the parklet program.

B

In downtown corridor august 5th, 20th excuse me 2020 through september 30th.

B

A

All in favor aye aye motion passes.

A

Next, we have award construction contract for south.

A

College mall road.

D

Hello, this is roy. Here we go, am I there yeah good hope you're here? Thank you.

L

Adam yeah, this is roy ayton with the plane transportation department. Yesterday, during the uh work session, the board opened up sealed beds for the repaving of south.

L

College mall road from east 3rd street to east moore's.

L

Pike part of that project will also be repairing some of the curb ramps.

L

Installing bike lanes on college mall, road.

L

And uh doing the other signals, the other striping for the project.

L

The board received two bids on the project. The first bid was from e and b.

L

Paving for 494 thousand nine hundred fifty dollars and the.

L

Second bid was from milestone with at five hundred fifty five thousand.

L

Eight hundred seventy six dollars and thirty cents. uh We we have.

L

Reviewed the bids and we are making a recommendation to.

L

Award the contract to enb, paving for.

L

Four hundred and ninety four thousand nine hundred fifty dollars.

A

Thank you, questions from the board on this item.

C

I'll just add to what roy said: we're very excited where the bids came in.

C

We are expecting that this paving project may go into.

C

It may start next spring, there's a shortage of subcontractors that can do.

C

The final lane markings and both contractors had told us that.

C

Both contractors, that bid had told us that so this is likely to be one where we encumber the funds in 2020.

C

And perform this as a very early paving project next spring.

C

And if anything changes there we'll make sure to keep the board up to speed.

C

uh I guess the other thing to add there. It was very important still to get this.

C

Project out to bid to meet our in-dot requirements, um and so that that was one of the big.

C

Things is to get this under contract and so appreciate. Roy's work.

C

And all the staff's work to get this under contract.

C

That's all I have.

J

Did you have a question? Is there any public comment on this item.

C

I don't see any in the chat, I don't see anybody doing the raised hand.

D

A

All right see no public comment. Is there a motion on this item.

B

I knew that we award the cons and construction contracts of the south.

B

College mall road project to enb pavilion for 494.

B

A

Second, all in favor, aye, aye.

A

Message beth: did you cast your vote in favor.

C

I unmuted you beth. Oh it's muted, again, yes, okay, we have.

A

Three votes in favor motion pass great thanks. Next up is staff reports and.

A

Other business and under staff reports and other business, we have parks and recreation staff report on extension of lower.

A

Cascades pedestrian closure, all right, paula.

C

You can jump right in all right. Thank you very much uh good evening.

M

Thank you. I'm paula mcdevitt, I'm the director of the city of bloomington.

M

Parks and recreation department- and I'm here this evening to give the board an update on the laura cascades pilot road conversion project.

M

I'd like to go ahead and attempt to share my screen.

C

You should have that ability, goodness hang on.

C

Well, there we go. Is it up it's trying? Yes, now it is all right.

M

C

I won't lie paula. I was very proud of myself earlier when I shared my screen.

C

For a short moment,.

M

Okay, so everyone can see just confirm that you can see the pilot.

M

Project um map, while I give my update.

M

um Just a little bit of background on the project uh back on march.

M

3Rd, this board gave approval for the lower cascades.

M

Pilot road conversion project and this pilot project converted the old state.

M

Road 37 north through lower cascades park from a.

M

Two-Lane road to a bicycle and pedestrian only trail. This particular project is one of seven.

M

Publicly amenity improvement uh projects being funded by bicentennial.

M

Bonds issued back in 2018 and that.

M

Those amenities are to extend and expand and integrate.

M

Bloomington's network of trails, biking trails.

M

And provide a safe and accessible destination.

M

For people visiting the park, the uh pilot project has a couple of goals.

M

That I would like to review uh the first one was to provide a much.

M

Needed bicycle and pedestrian connection from miller showers park on the city's.

M

North side, along gourley pike to the ferguson dog park, griffey lake.

M

Trails and cascades park trail. Another goal is to re-integrate the.

M

Park's divided space and reinforce its identity as.

M

A destination and then a third goal to pilot removing motorized vehicles from.

M

The road to establish a safer environment for.

M

Cyclists, hikers runners, playground, users and other park.

M

Visitors, the pilot project started march 13th.

M

And a little bit further along in the report, I will.

M

Be addressing the impacts of covid on the pilot because it happened right at.

M

The same time, but at this point in the pilot project.

M

We're about 20 weeks in to the pilot project, and I would like to.

M

Introduce dave to kid who's also on this call.

M

As she is a member of the team who designed the survey and has been doing.

M

Survey polls that we've been posting on the park's website to keep the.

M

Community update on updated on the survey responses, I would.

M

Also like to mention that this pilot project is a team effort.

M

From staff members, not only from the parks department.

M

But from planning and transportation office of the mayor.

M

And public works so at this point, I'd like to turn it over to david who's.

M

Going to share a screen, I believe great. Yes, thank you, hi everybody.

N

N

So, as paula mentioned, my name is dave taked, I'm the director of innovation.

N

And for the lower cascades project there were a lot of different data.

N

Points that we collected, some of them were just.

N

Out of curiosity, how are people getting to the park? What days are they.

N

More likely to come.

N

What kinds of things are they visiting while they're? There.

N

But most importantly, the the two data points that we wanted to.

N

Collect were, would you revisit the park during the course of.

N

The pilot so a graph that you're seeing is the the.

N

First of those data points- and this is over.

N

Time so we actually launched or people had access to the survey.

N

Before the pilot launched, and so these nine.

N

Responses at the very beginning, at the before pilot stage,.

N

Refer to those folks who took the survey before experiencing the pilot, so you can.

N

See that that sentiment on what they return to.

N

The pilot is is low because they they hadn't, experienced it. So, starting with the first period in in.

N

March after people actually had the experience.

N

Of the pilot itself of the road conversion.

N

Then you can see that sentiment went way up and.

N

People began to see the value of it experienced the value of it. It was no.

N

Longer theoretical and over the course of the survey or.

N

The survey period so far the pilot so far.

N

Sentiment has remained really high on people. Definitely.

N

Returning and we're now, this chart shows through.

N

The end of july, which is a partial period,.

N

This next graph shows, in response to the question of, would you.

N

Like for the road conversion to continue- and I find this one really interesting.

N

Because, prior to the pilot again, the idea of the road conversion.

N

Was really theoretical and you can see that definitely do not.

N

Want is very high, but once.

N

People who actually visited the site began to experience the pilot. Then we.

N

Saw the sentiment flip so that the people.

N

Who definitely did want the pilot to continue the road.

N

Conversion to continue really increased and stayed fairly.

N

Steady through the course of the pilot so far.

N

We also asked people just to provide comments so that we had rich context.

N

For why they were responding to the different questions that they were.

N

And we began to tag them according to these different.

N

Categories overwhelmingly, the response in the comments has been.

N

Positive, you can also see that there are a high.

N

Number of negative, and also some safety and improvement.

N

Issues as well as accessibility issues, so within the accessibility.

N

Tagged comment items it's all about concern.

N

For the people who are less likely to use the.

N

The road conversion right now- and these are people who.

N

Were enjoying the park when it was accessible by car.

N

N

So some of the the comments are on the screen. There improvement.

N

Suggestions varied and I won't go through all of those.

N

But I would like to note that a number of the.

N

Negative issues were also tied to safety issues.

N

And this is because there's a perception that, with the road closed.

N

That emergency vehicles would not be allowed to use the road.

N

And that patrolling is is limited. There are also a couple of comments.

N

About that the street isn't being swept, and so.

N

There's there's a little bit of debris there. This is all.

N

The data that we have collected to date just to give you a sense of what people.

N

Who have experienced the pilot are saying about it.

N

And how that compares with people who thought about the pilot in a theoretical.

N

M

Great thank you david um and now just to um address the period that, when the.

M

Pilot started, which, as I mentioned, was march 13th right when covet hit.

M

And the community started to shut down, we proceeded.

M

With closing this section of the road, I will say over time, we have made.

M

Improvements to the barricades and our signage down there and that again.

M

As we do the data polls from the survey and are going through the comments.

M

um We are addressing security um needs and comments, and initially.

M

There was a lot of feedback about the barricades, and maybe it was a little.

M

Confusing as to where you could part, so we continue to respond to.

M

That feedback throughout we are doing a lot of communication.

M

To really drive people to experience this pilot project and.

M

Hopefully, go and experience it and fill out the survey versus.

M

Not experiencing it and filling out the survey, we really want to get people down.

M

There we have signage on the barricades.

M

Themselves, and also on the shelter houses um that have a qr code, the sign does explain the pilot project.

M

And a qr code that people can go directly to the survey.

M

As they're finishing their walk and complete the survey right where they're still in the park- and I would also like to emphasize that.

M

All the parking lots are are still open. The parking lots next.

M

To the sycamore shelter and also the two parking lots on either side of the.

M

Playground, the small gravel parking lot that you drive over.

M

What I call the makeshift water slide that one is closed, because that water.

M

Slide falls right practically in the middle of this pilot.

M

Section um so currently, since the weather changed and.

M

uh Kids are in in that on that water slide.

M

There is no longer a car people, interaction occurring and I think.

M

We've all uh are aware that for all these years.

M

There would be that you know pausing or pulling the kids off the water the the slide, so cars could come across so um actually.

M

In some of my walks down there um that water slide is still being used and I've.

M

Actually seen kids with their towels out on the pilot.

M

Section of the road um enjoying that whole space um so again.

M

That just addresses the communication driving people to our website. We've kept.

M

That updated throughout with the map that I put up, but also.

M

These monthly data polls, we are posting. Those survey results as.

M

Well, now getting back to covid.

M

Parks in general and trails have experienced.

M

A incredible increase in the number of people's visit.

M

People visiting our parks and using our trails as.

M

An outlet people are seeking opportunities for physical activity.

M

And within weeks of cobit occurring, our parking lots were overflowed.

M

At several of our um trails, this particular pilot project was a.

M

Sort of an unforeseen extra space where people could get out.

M

And enjoy the pilot, and indeed we've seen as david.

M

Mentioned the number of surveys that have been turned in.

M

To date, we've had a number of people use this 283 people at least have used it.

M

And filled out a survey but at the same time, the other side of the coin, with.

M

With kobit is that the pilot has uh not been subject to the normal pressures.

M

Of how this road was used so with mccsc shutting down north high school.

M

Obviously, not in session the iu student population.

M

Exiting in march, and and not returning until.

M

Here in a few weeks, so we have had feedback.

M

um That this was a peculiar time to have run.

M

The pilot project, but again on the parks side of the coin.

M

And getting people out using our trails it it was a welcome relief.

M

Outlet to be able to do that, um so the team in in discussion and again.

M

Listening to the feedback that we've had um from uh constituents who live in.

M

In that area, um we hear that that it was an.

M

Odd time um so with that, um while we're not asking for your.

M

Approval today, because we want to give plenty of time for.

M

For our ideas to to resonate and for people to think about.

M

um But what we would like to do is come back in september.

M

And asked for an extension of the pilot project through june of 2021.

M

um Hopefully, no one knows how back to normal we're going to return or.

M

How quickly that's going to happen, but we do know our population numbers are going to increase here in a few weeks um that.

M

Would give us the fall season winter and a spring? We would continue to.

M

Collect the data with the current survey that we have.

M

But I'm going to have dave to give just a brief.

M

Update on our thoughts about running a parallel.

M

Second survey: at the same time, that would allow people who.

M

Normally, access the park via vehicle um a chance to respond so I'll. Let dave.

M

To expand on that a little bit right! Thank you! So, as paula mentioned.

N

We wanted to collect the data with the current survey.

N

Really to track sentiment of after people have had.

N

The experience of the pilot project itself.

N

But we know that there are a lot of people who are.

N

Would normally access this section of road.

N

By car and they're being impacted in many other ways, some of them positive.

N

As as paula mentioned, that this is now a space.

N

That has a lot of abilities that it didn't.

N

Used to have with the road closure, it also is a.

N

Closed road, so it's having that impact on people as well.

N

However, with most of our population gone and lots of the study that preceded.

N

The pilot mentioned the stressors of this being used as a pathway.

N

For north high school for mccsc bussing for an alternate route for game days,.

N

And we want to make sure that we have an opportunity to capture that information.

N

And also the impact that people are feeling whether they are.

N

Using the road closure or whether they are.

N

Unable to complete their former behaviors because of of the pilot.

N

So this second survey, if the the extension is approved, would capture.

N

What is the impact of the pilot product on your.

N

Day-To-Day experience and allow us to again track sentiment, but also.

N

Highlight any blind spots that that we may have.

N

And round out the the picture of the data that we're collecting.

N

And I'm happy to answer any questions about data.

C

Well great uh yep kyla go ahead. uh Are there um questions adam? Did you.

A

Want to add anything to this I was just gonna just remind folks. I.

C

Think it's important to know you know the board's not taking any official action this evening. This is kind of a staff report um we'll be coming back to the board. um You know at a later meeting to actually.

C

Ask for formal uh formal action from the board, um but.

C

Appreciate paula and dave to all their efforts on this. It's been.

C

You know trying to navigate all the different things right now, so um if you do have public comment, I do ask that you, let us know in the.

C

Chat function or raise your hand and then follow kyla. If you want to go.

C

To board questions, uh I've got a few people that would like to offer comment great, we'll go to we'll go to board.

A

Questions first and then we'll open it up for public comment, go ahead.

B

I don't have a question, I have a comment. I just want to thank.

B

You all the team for for the work that you've done on this.

B

And I really appreciate the way that you have communicated with.

B

uh The public with the survey and the signage.

B

And I think that's really important and um thanks again for all of your work.

B

It's been a great project.

A

One question I had uh have there been any.

A

um I know there's been a lot of news about this.

A

Project and of course, uh all of that kind of came out right before.

A

The pandemic uh hit, and so there's probably been.

A

Not as much news in the sense of you know the news cycle being taken up by.

A

Other uh critical public health needs, but I.

A

Wondered if there have been um efforts to try to.

A

Reach out to people who may not be um taking the survey.

A

Because they're out, you know in the in the path, but they may be some of.

A

Those who are impacted by the change in traffic flow has there.

A

Been like when, when people were noticed in.

A

The neighborhoods um nearby has there been any effort to.

A

Get some of their feedback right now.

M

Yeah I'll answer that, and uh I see sue is on this call.

M

We have been in direct communication throughout this pilot project with.

M

District two: I have attended sue's monthly.

M

Meeting and I see several of those participants here.

M

Tonight and absolutely we have made an effort to be transparent and.

M

Communicate and answer questions and respond.

M

All along the way.

C

I'll just add, you know one thing: I've been hearing from paula.

C

You know week in and weekend on, this she's been going monthly and.

C

I really applaud her for sticking with that and making sure she's getting that.

C

Full feedback, so thanks, paula.

A

Yeah, I just wanted to say that I have heard some folks that have gone down.

A

There and really enjoyed it, um and I do really appreciate that.

A

Because I was reading through some of the comments on the survey and.

A

um I appreciate that you guys are going to send out another survey.

A

Because, based on that feedback um to ask them different questions, so.

A

I do appreciate that I think that's important.

A

How many of the and I know that you've already addressed some of the.

A

um Changes that you've already taken uh based on some of that feedback, but.

A

In terms of like the extension of that we'll be seeing next meeting.

A

How many of the changes that we've heard and the feedback do we expect.

A

To be able to make during that extension extension period, for example, like.

A

There were a couple people that said the signage, even though there.

A

You mentioned paula that there's some good signage there and some qr codes and.

A

That's great, but folks that are like driving up to it might not see it if they don't get out of their car.

A

um That was one thing that I noticed. um Accessibility like are there? Is there.

A

Anything that we could do during that extension time frame that we.

A

Can do to help with accessibility, um so I.

A

Was just wondering if you could either now or over the next couple weeks.

A

uh Get us information on what we plan to do differently in the.

A

Extension period, yeah I'll jump in here. To start um you.

C

Know you know we we are we're reading through those comments, we're trying to understand them. Like the idea of the street sweeping you know, we've got some pretty heavy.

C

Barricades in place- and you know, if we're going to make this a longer term,.

C

Thing we'll coordinate and get down there with a street sweeper, somehow get the surface cleaned up. You know, as far as accessibility there.

C

It's accessibility. It depends on how they're defining it.

C

And such you know, if it's, if it's an actual accessibility issue within the.

C

Site, yes, we can definitely uh work with parks and others to you.

C

Know try to address any accessibility site issues within the.

C

Site parameters. But if it's more of an issue of.

C

um You know that you can't drive straight.

C

To all the parking lots are still open and such so.

C

Allowing people that accessibility is still there if it's accessibility.

C

Through the park, it'd be a vehicle, that's a completely different topic. Obviously so paul, I don't know if you have anything.

C

You want to add or yeah I'd like to add definitely we're reading through those.

M

Comments and that jumped right on there we can certainly do it. um You know cleaning up the the sweeping of the street and and that, um but I also would like to mention that.

M

Parks is also working on design and.

M

I know that uh I believe dave williams, maybe he's.

M

Exited the call um we are under design um for for construction of an accessible.

M

Trail from the sycamore shelter, all the way back to the waterfall, shelter and.

M

That is under design and we're doing a creek improvement.

M

Project at the same time, that is slated for next spring.

M

Early summer, so that will definitely address some of the accessibility issues.

M

um You know that the one parking lot, as I mentioned that has been closed down, is the gravel lot on the.

M

Other side of the water slide and um it's within yards.

M

Distance from the small playground, the small parking lot on the south side of.

M

The playground to the waterfall shelter, which is I.

M

Think there's some comments about that more difficult to get to that waterfall.

M

Shelter, we also have um an inclusive recreation.

M

Coordinator amy schreik on staff, who does consult with us and would.

M

Definitely bring her in to take a look at some things that we.

M

Can do for the extension period, so absolutely dana will take that under.

M

Consideration and make that part of our report when we come back to you in.

M

September awesome, thank you.

A

All right any other questions from board members at this time.

A

Okay, hearing none uh adam: do you want to go ahead and.

A

um Let the public comment uh open up.

A

Oh you're, muted, ah I will take care of unmuting everyone.

C

Is ironically, what I was saying: um I've got greg alexander up first, then it will be carol, canfield, paul kern and then council, member scandalary.

C

Again, trying to limit comments to three minutes: maximum, maybe five minutes but.

C

um Greg alexander you're up first hi thanks.

O

uh Hi I'm greg alexander. I was there on the first day of this. I.

O

Think, because that was the first day that the school was closed and I wanted to take my kids to the park and.

O

It is just it is awesome. uh I was on a bike with a trailer taking them and.

O

It was amazing how much less stressful it is not having traffic always riding.

O

On my butt um and the unsafe, passing behavior has.

O

Obviously been completely resolved, but that wasn't even the best part. The.

O

Best part was about a month later, when I got a bicycle for my eight-year-old and he was able. You know he was.

O

Just brand new to riding a bike, and there was no way I would have had him on.

O

That road normally, uh but with the road, closed.

O

There it was, it was great, you know when he was new to the bike. He rode all the way up about. I don't know what three or four.

O

Miles from my house to griffey lake and that that was amazing experience for.

O

Him um my six-year-old, I don't know you all.

O

Probably your kids are smart, but my kids are morons. I let my six-year-old just.

O

Run in the street there- and it's just it's amazing- that he's.

O

He's you know, I'm not afraid for him in the park anymore. It is.

O

It's um I I want to bring to the attention that.

O

You know for if you're walking up there, there really are no alternatives.

O

uh Like last year, this time, the this part of this.

O

Road was closed for um some sort of utility work.

O

And there was nothing I wound up uh taking my.

O

My bike, trailer on on kinser pike, which was just.

O

uh An unbelievable nightmare um to take my kids to the park.

O

So you know I understand, drivers are upset, they're gonna have to go a half mile, maybe even some of them a mile out of their way.

O

But I was willing to go two miles out of my way.

O

um And there just simply isn't any option you simply I I live so close to.

O

That park that it it is walking distance. My kids have been.

O

Able to walk that distance for for six years, but they haven't, walked to.

O

That park until just a couple months ago- um and I just want to urge you guys to.

O

Make this permanent just as quickly as you can, because the moment you make this.

O

Permanent, they have some money budgeted and they need to start using.

O

That money to improve the approaches because, like that bit.

O

Of uh of I guess, it's old 37 that goes up.

O

To it like uh from the south from miller showers park,.

O

That needs a sidewalk that needs, I don't know what it needs, but it needs money.

O

Is what it needs, and also um along kinser pike between.

O

Clubhouse drive and the the north high school.

O

That that's a project, that's ready, but it needs money and we can't decide to.

O

Spend that money until we free it up and decide we're not going to waste 2 million or whatever building a side path along this route.

O

And it really, it just drives home how poorly.

O

Behaved: the drivers are there. If you look on the pavement at where there is a parking lot right by the playground.

O

Just in that very short stretch of pavement, there's a huge tire mark from.

O

Someone just burning rubber for no reason, you know and you get north of the playground and suddenly it is it's a.

O

Speedway people are going 30 40 miles an hour, even though the speed limit's supposed to be 20. and suddenly, I'm afraid for my kids again, and we really. We just need to do something about this.

O

But um thanks for your attention greg, thank you for your comments.

C

uh Next up next up, we have carol canfield, I'm working at.

C

Carol, unmuted and carol is unmuted carol. Would you like to.

C

Offer your public comment. Yes, my concerns are that closing the.

J

Road during a pandemic and making the decision on the permanence of that closure seems ludicrous.

J

At this nothing's normal, whether the decisions made at the end of december or.

J

Whether it's extended to the end of may it just.

J

Doesn't make any sense anyway, we look at it, and would we not be better.

J

Served to table this until we are in a more normal situation, with value games back in place.

J

See how move-ins are going? um Why not spend that time? Revamping the survey and.

J

I am glad to hear there's a second survey coming out.

J

But with truly neutral questions not meant to sway in any particular.

J

Direction uh we need to reopen this road and do.

J

The project another time when we can get honest answers. This is not the time.

J

This road is the only means we have to get out of blue ridge.

J

On days when traffic is backed up on dunn, north walnut kinser pike,.

J

We don't have any other options. We can't get anywhere in this time. If we don't go.

J

Through lower cascades, we really need this road to be open.

J

Please, for the sake of the people who live on the north side open. Thank you all right. Thank you for your comment. Carol.

C

uh Paul kern up next, I'm gonna lower your hand and I'm gonna unmute. You.

C

Oh shoot: where did paul go.

C

I just had paul yeah he's still there. I can.

A

Oh there, it is there, it is all right, hello, hear me yep, but mr.

C

Curtin you're ready to go okay. Well thanks! um You know I wanted to.

G

Address the the closing, because um um we.

G

Met with sue on on august 1st just a couple days ago, and she.

G

Told us about this meeting and I just put that up on next door just to let.

G

People know um that this meeting was occurring and.

G

um Because we were talking about surveys, this was a completely I didn't put.

G

Anything in the thing other than uh that this was when the meeting was.

G

And I got 27 comments back most of them saying that they don't want.

G

The road closed and there's no question in the.

G

Survey that says I would like this. I would like.

G

Old cascade, close permanently agree or disagree.

G

There's nothing in the survey I put this out just as a just as a.

G

Neutral comment I I just said this is when the meeting is.

G

And sue kind of went over a couple of options that we're doing, but.

G

That that questionnaire, that I gave and it wasn't even a questionnaire- I got an.

G

Overwhelming response to people who do not want the road closed and I don't.

G

Know if the survey that we're doing right now, I know the survey we're doing right now is fantasy. The the most question they.

G

Say is: do you want to have a multi-purpose road?

G

They don't say, do you want to close the road.

G

Agree: disagree there's nothing there in the survey that says that.

G

And are we planning on putting that question in the next survey.

G

I mean I'm gonna. I've got an overwhelming number of people who said.

G

They don't want it closed and then what concerns me is I I I don't.

G

Care if it gets closed or not close, but I think this you know the will of the.

G

People or the people have spoken or whatever, I'm not sure we're touching.

G

That, because these people are all in neighborhoods, like carol canfield said in the north part of the town, and they.

G

Feel like this is going to be an incredible drag arm and I was just.

G

Surprised how many people responded just off that.

G

Comment and if we don't get it, if we don't get something down in the survey.

G

That says that the road will be closed. Are you okay, with that? I don't know how.

G

The survey is going to get everybody and I do want to add. I was at the.

P

Meeting where paula spoke- and there were comments that said, we.

P

Like the park system, I think the park system is great and she interpreted that.

P

To mean close the road and that's literally not what they said.

C

I'm sorry who was that just giving a comment? Oh it's, my wife, okay.

C

uh Ma'am, what was your name just for the official record, linda.

C

Linda kern, okay, thank you. That's our! I don't care if 90 of the people say.

G

They want the road closed, then let the will of the people be there, but let's at.

G

Least, get a survey that shows what people want and they don't want and.

G

If the second survey is going to have a question like that in it, so where people.

G

Can actually directly answer it? I'd be okay with that, but otherwise I I.

G

Can't trust the survey great um kyla. Are you? Okay? If we allowed.

C

Dave to to offer a response, I believe she was looking to respond. Yes, that's fine. Go ahead.

N

Yeah I want to go into the survey questions just so that everyone is aware.

N

Of what the the questions that are being asked are there um we ask.

N

How people are getting there, whether they're able to find parking, whether.

N

It's easy and convenient what they enjoyed, how likely they are to return, um how safe.

N

They perceived them to be, and then the final question before.

N

Just general comment is a range of between.

N

Do you want the the road to remain closed and the range is from.

N

Definitely do not want mostly do not want.

N

I don't care either way. I mostly want it to.

N

And I definitely do want it to and we wanted to capture that range.

N

As opposed to a binary, yes or no, because as humans, that's how we.

N

Feel things is, we've got a range of emotions about them.

N

And there are somebody who are on those polar.

N

Ends but there's also, as we've noted, a number of people who are.

N

In between I'm not sure if paul was at the beginning of the meeting today,.

N

But I did show the graph and I because I've got.

P

We took the survey, that's not what the question said. The question said: do you.

P

Wish to continue, no, it didn't even say: do you wish to continue it said, would you like a family-friendly.

P

Multi-Purpose road- and there were people- we talked to.

P

Who thought multi multi-purpose meant cars included.

P

It did not, it wasn't on a continuum it was. Do you want to continue to have a.

P

Multi-Purpose road or was it I I don't. I don't think that.

N

That was our survey then, because we.

N

We we have, I mean I can bring up the actual survey and show the.

N

The final question, but the the final question before the comments is.

Q

We took the survey and paula showed us. The survey.

G

Paula showed us what she took to mean supportive.

M

The survey results that I share are the city survey.

M

That has been part of the pilot project from the start.

M

There's only one survey and that's the one that that david.

M

Is referencing, are you saying I bet apollo? Are you saying there is a.

G

Question on the survey that says yes, I do want to have this road closed on a.

G

Permanent basis, I don't think, go ahead, paula, please no.

M

There's this question that dave does referencing before the.

M

Comments where it's a continuum of responses that people can answer but.

M

This is what this this meeting is is about is to to hear.

M

The public comment and the input and we'll be you, know designing this.

M

This second survey, so you know taking notes.

M

And taking this all in the survey we took and the ones you read.

P

To us never mentioned, do you want the road closed on a continuum or any other way.

N

um I'm going to read the exact wording of the.

N

Of the question that we have uh on a scale from one to five, how much.

N

Would you like this road segment to continue to be a family-friendly, friendly multi-use trail.

G

That's not do you want it closed.

N

Available definitely do not want. The other end is definitely do want.

P

You didn't make it clear that it's about closing the road to traffic.

P

Car traffic- okay, all right um so dave to thank you for your.

C

Information, mr mrs kern, thank you for providing it. Would you like to offer any.

C

Other public comment at this point in time.

C

uh You got our point. We really. I appreciate that.

G

Thank you yes and again, we'll be taking this. This is not.

C

Up for official action this evening, this is up for the discussion that we're having. So I very much appreciate everyone's input.

C

um I believe council member scandalary would like to wrap up the public comment.

C

I don't see anyone else that has said they'd like to comment at this point, so council, member scandal, larry.

R

Thank you all very much. um I'm sue scandaluri, I'm the city council.

R

Representative for district 2 on the north side, so I obviously have.

R

More than a sporting interest, and how often this turns out a couple.

R

Things I want to say, first and foremost, thank you to paula and to her team.

R

Paula has given up what three saturday afternoons now. I think.

R

To spend time in my constituent meetings and to field questions and to pour over.

R

Maps- and I am grateful for that on behalf of my constituents, so thank.

R

You for taking time to do that um two.

R

Two general concerns that I have. um um First of all, I think you've heard a.

R

Little bit here about survey, construction um and again just for the record that question.

R

11 kind of the pivot question about whether this is a go or no go.

R

On a scale from one to five, how much would you like this road segment to.

R

Continue to be a family-friendly multi-use trail just to put a finer.

R

Point on this, I think it's fine, that it's a likert.

R

Scale, I think it's fine, that we have a continuum of responses. My concern with that question is, I think,.

R

As linda kern said, it doesn't explicitly say and we're going to close the road to do it, and so, let's not shy away from that. I mean if.

R

That's the case: let's actually do that.

R

And then a comment actually is much to carol and to ralph shaw.

R

And to the currents too, um please feel welcome to share those next door.

R

Comments um with paula or with her team as well.

R

Because I've skimmed them, but I would encourage you, as a blue ridge, neighborhood association, to share that. um So again, if we move forward with a.

R

Pilot period, I would really encourage us to revisit this survey.

R

um And if I may say, remove be more clear.

R

In what we're actually asking and proposing.

R

A bigger picture item so kind of roman numeral. Two for me.

R

One of our concerns- and I share this with paula- is that.

R

We've gotten weird data um we're in the middle of covet 19.

R

There are in a way, more people going to parks, because.

R

They're working from home and they can- and there are fewer people going to.

R

Parks because there are fewer people in bloomington right now, um no matter how you slice it. This is weird data.

R

I think I do agree that more pilot time is needed.

R

But I question whether or not it's right to do that now. This is not a normal year.

R

Iu is sort of starting up, but everyone's leaving again at thanksgiving. If we make.

R

R

Traffic patterns are going to change, there are no event, weekends.

R

Per se that will disrupt traffic on the north side in the way that some of the.

R

Residents have talked about, so we don't really test it. That way.

R

So I know it would give us an opportunity to gather more data.

R

But I question whether or not that data would be useful.

R

Because it's still all covered influenced and it's not happening during.

R

A normal time, um so I would encourage us to do a.

R

Couple things: first of all, if we go ahead with a pilot, please rework the.

R

Survey um second, please give some thought.

R

um To postponing this pilot, maybe you know and maybe revisiting it next.

R

Year, surely, by next year knock on wood, um we will be back to more.

R

Normal patterns in bloomington and I think we'll get.

R

Better data, if we want to make a data driven decision, let's get good data um and then I would also encourage us.

R

One of the things that kind of struck me about the survey and I didn't connect these dots till today. The survey speaks in terms of two.

R

Options it's a toggle switch either. The road is converted.

R

And it's a multi-use path or nothing happens at all.

R

And it stays open and cars continue to use it. It doesn't explore.

R

Any other possibilities. So what if we were to refine the road.

R

And add a multi-use pat protected path along the.

R

Side of it or somewhere else in the park to get north south.

R

We've only treated it as a binary option and I don't think that's.

R

Necessarily the case, so I would encourage us to consider that as well.

R

But thank you especially to residents of blue ridge and fritz terrace.

R

um Who have been with us tonight? I appreciate.

R

All that you're doing too and again thank you to paula and to parks.

R

um You have been great about staying in touch with constituents and I thank you.

R

C

Great, thank you councilmember um kyla. I guess I would turn it back over.

C

To you at this point um and.

C

You know I I I just. I appreciate everybody offering their public comment.

C

um You know one uh thing that staff would be considering as we.

C

You know bring forward a recommendation and and uh discuss this more with the.

C

Board at a future meeting as to you know whether or not we want to shut.

C

The uh if, if we were to change the pilot project.

C

Or open the road and reclose the road, I I that that is one thing I have concern.

C

About but we'll you know address that as we would um you.

C

Know continue in these conversations, so I do appreciate everyone's.

C

um Comments and uh and and input here, kyla.

C

Would you like to go ahead and take uh back over.

A

Sure I'll go ahead and take over and I think um you know I.

A

I have a comment and I wasn't sure if maybe some other.

A

um Board members may also want to just chime in with a closing comment.

A

As we wrap this up this discussion up for this evening, knowing that this is.

A

Something we're going to continue to talk about and see again.

A

um I uh I share the concerns that adam just expressed.

A

um In for a couple different reasons, I think that.

A

You just saw tonight we made some approvals of changes in use of.

A

Right-Of-Way, because of the current pandemic- and I think that we are seeing.

A

A lot of park, activity and use right now and traffic is diminished in many ways.

A

Compared to what we would normally be experiencing, so I agree that we need to see the data when traffic is elevated, so you know I.

A

Think the pilot will need to address how we gather that data um right now.

A

Based on what I you know have learned, I I would be.

A

Concerned about the idea of reopening um this road right at this.

A

Time so that's just a thought that I have that I'd welcome some more.

A

Conversation about, if that's something that uh is con is considered. um Is there any other board member comment before we.

A

Close out this topic, tyler, are you talking about? Maybe.

A

Extending it beyond the december, so don't.

A

Don't not extend it but extend it longer, so we actually can collect.

A

Some more normal data yeah. I think I think we need. I think we need to be.

A

Able to collect the data, and I also think that right now is an unusual time.

A

When the the need for for park space and walking space and uh the fact that.

A

Traffic is depleted. All of those factors, in my mind,.

A

Make it a good time to allow people to use this.

A

um Roadway for for walking and multi-use.

A

Purposes uh other than driving um and.

A

At the same time, you know trying to figure out how we can.

A

Feel like we're moving forward with the best data.

A

During some high traffic times- and I think you know, unfortunately, the future.

A

Is extremely unknown right now, so we don't know when we're.

A

Going to see increased traffic, we do clearly have.

A

Events that happen in the spring that do increase traffic and if any of those.

A

Events would take place, you know into the spring semester. We.

A

Might be able to gather that data without the pilot having to extend.

A

Across a fall term, so it's just all something to to think.

A

About, but um I I just I, I echo um adam's concerns.

A

About having a reopening of the roadway and then another pilot closure of the roadway and what? What.

A

That might create.

C

And just uh you know kind of um last comment from staff on this.

C

And um you know, obviously, we've got uh time to consider. We've got time to get.

C

The new survey out we've got time to take comments on the survey and how it's.

C

Written um and so that that's the one good thing.

C

We've got here and I do want you know all the members, the public that have.

C

Spoke tonight to know that you know their comments are being heard and that we'll try to make some adjustments as needed and um yeah and and really you know- um have have this be as open and.

C

Transparent and everything is possible, so I appreciate everybody's comments. um uh Kyla do we.

C

Right we're not taking any formal action here. We do have other items on the staff.

C

Report, um yeah I'll, let you wrap this up, how.

C

You'd, like all right, I will get my packet back in.

A

A

All right, the second item under staff reports and other business is.

A

Requests from core planning strategies to discuss september closure of 10th.

A

Street for placement of crane, I'm going to just handle this one on.

C

Behalf of josh schism with core planning strategies, our project manager for the.

C

Parking garage projects that are taking place in bloomington right now.

C

With the trades district garage construction ongoing.

C

It's likely and it's planned, that a request for a september closure of 10th.

C

Street will be coming to the board in order to facilitate the placement of.

C

A large crane, so some the crane can properly move giant panels.

C

Into place- and so we will be just uh that.

C

That closure is between um uh shoot. I can't think of the new.

C

North south madison and rogers on 10th street, um as.

C

What will be requested so uh we'll come back with a more formal request, but just.

C

Wanted to get that out there for uh from a staff report perspective.

C

Outside of that, I will, uh I will um not make any other further comments as a.

C

Staff report this evening, other other than to just say, thanks to all the.

C

Staff in public works and throughout parks and rec police fire utilities all.

C

The various city functions that are ongoing. I just applaud all of our staff.

C

Members and employees and for all that is.

C

uh Taking place in these trying times, so, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

C

uh Oh, I think we lost kyla, oh uh dana, uh and we still have a bath.

C

uh Oh kyle is back.

C

Ayla's back I'm back; okay, all right! Sorry that I missed! I I'm.

A

Guessing I missed that update, uh it was riveting.

A

All right: uh well, someone else hasn't already taken the reins: uh we've got.

A

Approval of claims.

C

Yes, I'm happy to answer any questions on claims.

A

Are there any questions from the board on claims.

B

A

Is there a motion on claims.

B

I move that we approve claims: 2 million 334.

B

A

And if there is nothing else here on our business.

A

I will call for adjournment. Thank you. So much all have a great evening.

B

Thanks, thank you.

S