Morgantown Pedestrian Safety Board Meeting

at Public Safety Building – Training Room 1 on April 10, 2017

Monday, March 13, 2017

Location: Public Safety Building – Training Room 1

Time: 4:30 – 5:30 PM

Date: April 10, 2017

 

Meeting Minutes from Last Meeting March 13, 2017  

1. Introductions

Members (Quorum Present): Matt Cross, Stan Cohen, Kim Hartsell, Dan Shook, Jimmie Simmons, Jay Redmond, Jen McDonald, Jessica Bladow, and Bill Reger-Nash

Ex-officio: Bill Austin and Lt. Matt McCabe

Guest: William Blosser

Absent: Gypsy Denzine, Christiaan Abildso, Jan Derry, George Lilley, Maria Smith, Ella Belling, Damien Davis, Amy Boggs, Dwight Harshbarger, Bob Anderson, Regina Mayolo, Drew Gatlin, and Frank Gmeindl

 

1. Approval of February 13, 2017 Minutes. Motion by Stan Cohen second by Jimmie Simmons, Passed by (unanimous voice vote).

 

1. New Business

· Matt Cross passed out a partial paving list from the city for this coming paving year. Jay Redmond commented that there are 57 streets being paved for $2.3 Million, covering somewhere around 12 miles total.

o Note that the full paving list is online.

o The city still aims for a 10-year paving schedule where everyone should be able to expect their road to be paved every 10 years.

· WVU marketing campaign for "Distracted Dave", Dan Shook's project from his Distracted Behavior Task Force

o They are just about ready to build a “Distracted Dave” Phone Costume to bring awareness to distractions at various events downtown and around the university

o Want to add pedestrians/walking on the suite in some form – is there a logo or phrase we could send to Dan? (Stan Cohen & Matt Cross to look and send any findings to Dan Shook)

§ Potential Slogan: “Walk More, Safely” (is this trademarked?) (check one of Christiaan’s emails – it should be at the bottom)

o NOTE: Dan Shook is planning on sending the specs for the costume out this week

o Side Notes:

§ April is “Distracted Driving” Month

§ Billboard slogan is probably going to go out soon (not likely enough time to have the local schools participate in a “Distracted Dave” billboard slogan competition) à there might be other ways to get local schools involved though (through plays, events, etc.)

· DST (Daylight Savings Time) adjustments, community walking programs for the warm season

 

1. Old Business

· Ped plan priority list – not discussed

· Sidewalk improvement incentive still available? – not discussed

· Membership:

o Matt Cross couldn’t find Mary Gutmann’s contact information

o Margaret Stout mentioned that she is willing to have her name removed from the membership list since she is unable to attend the Monday evening meetings

o Bill Reger-Nash made a motion to remove Mary Gutmann from the membership list, Second by Jessica Bladow, Passed by unanimous voice vote.

o Stan Cohen made a motion to remove Margaret Stout from the list, Second by Bill Reger-Nash, Passed by unanimous voice vote.

§ Bill Reger-Nash commented that all members are valuable to our committee; they just can’t attend our meetings. Matt Cross mentioned that the members recently removed from our Board can remain on our mailing list, in case their availability changes.

 

1. Reports

· Mountain Line Maria Smith: absent

· WVU Kim Hartsell: Upcoming Evansdale campus activities: (1) Ag. Science building to be demolished over the next couple months; therefore, a lot of truck traffic in next couple months. (2) This summer, there will be at least 5 lights installed around the quad which is the lot between the Annex building and Allen & Percival Hall.

· Rail Trail Ella Belling: absent

· MPO Bill Austin: Bill Austin mentioned that there is a Federal Program called the “Everyday Counts” Program – for improving transportation infrastructure. There is a Safe Transportation for every pedestrian Initiative, and there are $100,000 grants are available for these initiatives that the MPO can apply for (it’s a demonstration type of project). Funding could be applied to concurrent crossing. Bill is looking for the Ped. Board to suggest innovative approaches/ideas for pedestrian projects. Kim Hartsell suggested that Bill could potentially incorporate the Civil Engineering or Landscape Architecture departments at WVU (West Virginia University).

· City Engineer Damien Davis: absent

· City Council Jay Redmond: Have approved lights (~72 total) on High Street and Wall Street. These will be installed by the end of the summer at the latest. At the last city council meeting, he suggested that the council either fix or revise the sidewalk ordinance (so it will serve a purpose). Damien hired an outside consulting firm to create a plan for the city for the next 10 years. The intent is that the sidewalks will be paved at the same time or before the street pavement gets implemented. Note that there is a clause in the paving contract this year to pave within 1 week of milling. Paving season this year will be quite a large project in comparison to previous years. Also, there is a bike ramp to be installed on third street (which is one of the steepest streets in the neighborhood).

· Police Lt. McCabe: nothing new to report – Jay said there are 10 policemen in the pipeline right now.

· Traffic Commission Matt Cross: nothing new to report

 

1. Action Items

· Stan Cohen & Matt Cross to look for logo that was on T-Shirt/banner that was produced a few years ago and send any findings to Dan Shook

· Bill Austin to send link to EDC website (he mentioned that he would send it to Kim Hartsell specifically)

http://www.morgantownwv.gov/government/advisory-boards/pedestrian-safety-board/