HomeMy WebLinkAboutTBMinutes_2008_09_16Transportation Board
Brookings, South Dakota
September 16, 2008
OFFICIAL MINUTES
The Brookings Transportation Board was called to order by Chairperson Jeff
Weldon on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at 2:00 PM in the City Hall meeting room.
Members present were Michael Forgy, Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks, Rob Jones, Dean
Kattelmann, Robb Rasmussen, Terrell Spence, Tyler Luckhurst, Art Conners, Teresa
McKnight, Jerry Raabe, City Clerk Shari Thornes, City Engineer Jackie Lanning, and
Weldon. Roger DeGroot, and Dennis Falken were absent. Brenda Schweitzer was
also present.
Item #2 – (Conners/Luckhurst) Motion to approve amended minutes from the August
19, 2008, meeting. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED.
Item #3 – (Forgy/Kattelmann) Motion to approve the agenda. All present voted aye.
MOTION CARRIED.
Item #4 – Safe Routes to School Grant Program – City Manager Jeff Weldon said the
grant application was approved for $93,871. Weldon said he will accept the grant
for the City, and a resolution of acceptance will come from the City Council. The
plan will need to be fine-tuned as certain dollar amounts must be spent in certain
areas according to the comments received. Weldon suggest that Matt Vukovich
and Amy Dunkle be on the subcommittee that does the rewrites. Rasmussen and
Weldon felt there was a question on local matching dollars and whether they were
necessary. Weldon felt the winter could be spent working on the plan so it is ready
for next spring. Robb Rasmussen felt the committee should begin the next round and
apply for funds available in November asking, this time, for the items that weren’t
previously funded. Rasmussen thanked City Engineer Jackie Lanning and Parks
Director for their help. Lanning also commended Rasmussen for the work he and his
staff had done on the grant application.
Weldon explained to the Board that after the first of the year, a new staff
person, Director of Community Development, will be hired by the city. Weldon said
this will be one item he is handing over to the new person. Adding this employee will
greatly help with the work load for the city manager and the city engineer.
Item #5 – Report from bike lane designation subcommittee – Tyler Luckhurst and
Rasmussen had handouts that discussed bike lanes. Luckhurst said SDSU will do their
part if the city brings bike lanes to the campus. He added that SDSU supports a
master plan. Rasmussen said he is working with Thunderhead Alliance to bring such
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training to SDSU. Rasmussen agreed that the new Community Development Director
would work well with this board. When working on the bike lane designations,
Weldon asked Rasmussen if he felt it necessary to hire an engineer. Rasmussen said
possibly, but we should use our own resources first. Weldon agreed to get people
with a passion for this issue and use community resources. Then possibly hire an
engineer by the hour if necessary to look over what has been decided by the
resources. Luckhurst said he would also like Dean Kattelmann to work with the
subcommittee. And Lanning suggested Frerichs also. Kattelmann said his main
concern is SDSU’s connection with the city and how to get the bicyclists and the
walkers working together without congestion. But first, he said the most important
thing is to get the connectors together between the city and SDSU. He said painting
on campus is done in May, and he would need designations before that time.
Weldon suggested the group sit down with a city map and work it out. Luckhurst said
there is a need for a master plan. Rasmussen said education is also needed for it to
work.
Item #6 – Discussion on draft final report – Weldon said he would like comments on
the content of the existing draft. Brenda Schweitzer said when looking at expanding
some of the areas, the fixed route is feasible only if in association with campus drop-
offs. BATA runs 18 stops 3 times a week on a fixed route circulator system.
Weldon said he will work on the section of financial considerations. Schweitzer
added that for a fixed route system, community involvement is needed to secure
funding. Demand/ response is more practical now for the community. Schweitzer
said if fixed route system were tried, she would suggest having a hub location at
SDSU (probably the student union) for the drop-off. Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks said
concerns must be taken regarding the mobility impaired passengers. She felt
discussions were necessary to address those needs. Schweitzer said 13 of her 17
buses are accessible now. Rasmussen suggested having fixed routes available for
those with disabilities, and if needs are not met, then use the demand/response
system.
Weldon asked for more comments on what may have been omitted from the
draft. McKnight suggested including the Innovative Campus with at least one stop.
Rasmussen said he had a copy of the 2003 study by Downtown Business, Inc. that
would help them. Regarding safe rides, the SDSU Association and community transit
must collaborate.
McKnight commended Weldon on the document. He said he wants a helpful
document for planning in the future. McKnight asked what time frame the
document was to cover. Weldon said two to five years, but he would like to take the
document one step farther, possibly 10 – 15 years. Spence said the document must
allow for priorities to change. Thornes felt the report should be on-going and not a
final report. Rasmussen suggested having an annual report instead of a final report.
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Weldon said he wanted a culmination of what has happened since the on-set of
the committee. Thornes said that with all the growth in the city, she felt that more
citizen input was necessary. Weldon suggested the annual evaluation be a short
term analysis on a long term basis. It was suggested to have a terminology or
definition section in the report. Spencer asked if the annual report needed to
coincide with the city’s schedule. Thornes said annual reports for all volunteer boards
are due on February 15, and applications for a subsidy need to be in by June 1.
However, that date may need to be changed.
Rob Jones said the needs on the medical side would be a departure and
loading areas. This would also include the clinic. The emergency room is being
redesigned. Thornes said there is a lack of disability parking in the dialysis area.
Art Conner said the Senior Center will be doing a phone survey of their
membership this fall. He felt more seniors are using the services of BATA than before.
Schweitzer said many seniors also get rides to the library.
Jerry Raabe felt the report was very well written. He felt the needs of the
disabled are being met by BATA on the demand service. He added that a transit
system keeps people in the community.
Michael Forgy felt the report brought out the balances between experimental
services and what is presently here. He suggested experimenting and use what
works. Weldon wondered if the community would be ready to use carpool/vanpool
system . However, a large number of employees going to one place at one time
would be necessary for success. Schweitzer said it is a good idea to keep on the
books but hard to accomplish now. Thornes asked for the final report to be sent to
members electronically.
The meeting was adjourned.
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Diane M. Spencer, Secretary Jeffrey Weldon, Chairperson