HomeMy WebLinkAboutTBMinutes_2009_07_21 1
Transportation Board
Brookings, South Dakota
July 21, 2009
OFFICIAL MINUTES
The Brookings Transportation Board was called to order by Chairperson Robb
Rasmussen on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 2:00 PM in the City Hall meeting room.
Members present were Terrell Spence, Nancy Hartenhoff-Crooks, Rob Jones,
Michael Forgy, Dean Kattelmann, Jerry Raabe, Teresa McKnight, and Rasmussen.
Jeff Weldon, Art Conners, Roger DeGroot, Deanna Santema, and Tyler Luckhurst
were absent. Brenda Schweitzer and Mike Mullaney-BATA, and City Clerk Shari
Thornes were also present.
Item #2 – (Spence/Kattelmann) Motion to approve the minutes from the June 16,
2009, meeting. All present voted aye. MOTION CARRIED.
Item #3 – (Crooks/Raabe) Motion to approve the agenda. All present voted aye.
MOTION CARRIED.
Item #4 – Officer Kurt Roland, Brookings Police Department – Officer Roland
reported on the bicycle seminar he and Officer Fey attended in Vermillion. He
stated that there were 40 hours of training – 30 hours on the bike and 10 hours in
the classroom. He said statistics are staggering, and they show that bikes are very
successful in crime fighting. The Safe Routes to School grant paid for one bike and
equipment, and Sioux River Cyclery paid for the second one. Roland felt the
bicycle patrol had already made a huge difference in Brookings and gave
examples. He said bikes have been used in Brookings before, but now with the
new training and equipment, the program is very beneficial to the community. He
praised the Safe Routes to School grant for making the bicycle program a reality.
He also explained how the officers plan to be involved with school children
coming to and going home from school. Roland added that SDSU could benefit
from such a program but didn’t believe the college had a bicycle patrol. He said
they have two older bikes but no formal training. He felt the program would be
very well on campus. Rasmussen stated that the success of the program depends
on the training. Roland agreed. He said they were trained by the International
Mount Bike Police. Spence asked if bicycles have lights and sirens. Roland said that
equipment is available; it is very expensive, but their two bikes do not have them.
He said the bikes are equipped with a silent clutch which is a necessity for police
bikes because there is no sound when approaching a situation. Roland said the
cost of his bike was $1250 with $300 - $400 worth of extra equipment. Roland said if
it were possible, he would like to see two more officers and two more bikes from
2
the next grant. He said he and Officer Fey are working with the staff at the local
schools so officers will be involved and visible when school starts.
Funding Applications – In his absence from the meeting, City Manager Jeff
Weldon prepared a letter for distribution to the Board stating his transportation
funding recommendation to the City Council (attached). He recommends
$60,000 to BATA, $5,000 to Safe Ride, and no funding to the Volunteer Service
Bank. Brenda Schweitzer, BATA Director, stated that asking for an additional
$10,000 was to cover costs of extended service hours after 10:00 PM. Rasmussen
asked Schweitzer to see if the Convention Visitors Bureau would consider funding
to BATA as many of the persons using the service would be in town for conventions
and meetings. Kattelmann stated that he supported Weldon’s recommendation
and understood the budget constraints Weldon must deal with. Rasmussen
agreed with Kattelmann. Raabe said BATA is trying to increase their hours of
service, and he could see their need for an increase of $10,000. City Clerk Shari
Thornes said the company that is now servicing the hours after 10:00 PM may soon
not be available. Schweitzer said the extra dollars she is asking for is to help cover
the expenses incurred in increasing hours of service as no wage increases will be
given to her employees. Hartenhoff-Crooks asked Schweitzer about her charter
company agreement. Schweitzer said her services must be offered to everybody.
If she has a request to transport a wedding party or a tour group, her services must
be available to everyone. Her customers cannot control the ride. And no alcohol
can be present on the buses.
Because four of the eight members present were to abstain from a vote, a
straw poll was taken. Kattelmann and Rasmussen supported Weldon’s
recommendation of $60,000 for BATA. Forgy, Jones, McKnight, Raabe, Spence,
and Hartenhoff-Crooks recommending funding at $70,000 for BATA. McKnight said
she supported BATA but could understand the budgeting problems.
Members present agreed unanimously with Weldon to recommend $5,000
to Safe Ride. Agreement was also unanimous with Weldon on recommending no
funds to any new entity as the Volunteer Service Bank.
Schweitzer explained to the Board that half of the cost of funding the Safe
Ride program comes from her BATA budget. She said that BATA supports and
assists other programs from their federal funds.
Item #6 – Way-finding Signage – Rasmussen felt a GPS component should be
considered in way-finding signage. He highly recommended and encouraged the
concept. He also said the city should watch what SDSU does so there is
coordination. McKnight felt that SDSU had set a very good standard to follow. She
added that the downtown area looked very nice.
3
Thornes said that when work is started on the signage, she would like the
Historic Preservation Commission to be involved as they want to coordinate historic
sign colors in the city with same colors that historic signs have statewide.
Kattelmann felt goals and objectives for the next year should be addressed.
Rasmussen said it will be on the agenda for the next meeting. Rasmussen said he
would also like Kattelmann to report on the signage program that SDSU is
presently working on. Kattelmann said he could do that at the next meeting.
Item #7 – Scheduling next meeting – The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday,
August 18, 2009 at 2:00 in the City Hall meeting room.
The meeting was adjourned.
____________________________ _____________________________
Diane M. Spencer, Secretary Robb Rasmussen, Chairperson