Finance Committee Minutes
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COUNCIL COMMUNITY PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MINUTES September 29, 2016 The City Council Community Planning and Transportation Committee of the City of Norman, Cleveland County, State of Oklahoma, met at 5:00 p.m. in the Conference Room on the 29th day of September, 2016, and notice and agenda of the meeting were posted in the Municipal Building at 201 West Gray and the Norman Public Library at 225 North Webster 48 hours prior to the beginning of the meeting. PRESENT: Councilmember Allison, Clark, Hickman, Karjala, and Chairman Holman ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Mayor Lynne Miller Ms. Brenda Hall, City Clerk Ms. Sara Kaplan, Retail Marketing Coordinator Mr. Steve Lewis, City Manager Mr. Angelo Lombardo, Transportation Traffic Engineer Mr. Shawn O’Leary, Director of Public Works Lt. Jeff Robertson, Police Department Lt. Marcus Smallwood, Police Department Ms. Jeanne Snider, Assistant City Attorney Item 1, being: CLEVELAND AREA RAPID TRANSIT (CART) RIDERSHIP REPORT INCLUDING SAFERIDE AND EXTENDED SERVICE FOR THE MONTHS OF MAY, JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST, 2016. Mr. Taylor Johnson, Planning Intern with Cleveland Area Rapid Transit (CART), highlighted CART Ridership Reports for May, June, July, and August 2016, and said ridership continues to grow with a 16% increase from last year. He said year-to-date (July – August) ridership is 128,676 passengers and CART attributes this increase to added service on Main Street, Alameda Street, route adjustments to the Research Center on Highway 9 (providing lunchtime rides to Campus Corner), and encouragement to use the Park and Ride locations at Sooner Mall, Bethel Baptist Church, and Lloyd Noble Center. CARTaccess ridership has increased 19% year-to-date and CART approved 11 new applications in August; however, CART continues to encourage riders who are able to ride the fixed route free of charge. CART participated in a Rehabilitation Resource Fair at the Norman Public Library on July 28, 2016, and answered questions regarding the bus system as well as distributed pens, rider guides, and t-shirts. He said Mr. Doug Myers, CART Director, and Councilmember Clark will participate in a “Read and Ride” event on October 22, 2016, where Councilmember Clark will read out loud to children while riding the Alameda/East Norman route at 10:00 a.m. CART also participated in Bike to Work Day in May where they showed off their “Share the Road” advertising bus wrap that reminds people to allow three feet between their vehicle and bicycles on roads. Mr. Johnson said there have been some temporary route changes due to ongoing construction on Lindsey Street and the Imhoff Creek Bridge. He said temporary bus stops have been located west of Berry Road Community Planning and Transportation Committee Minutes September 29, 2016 Page 2 Item 1, continued: until the construction projects have been completed. He thanked City Staff for their continued communication with CART regarding the construction projects. Ms. Karleen Smith, Marketing Specialist for CART, said last year CARTaccess ridership only increased by 1%; however, within the last two months, Zone 2, which is in rural Norman and outside of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) required service area, has increased by 12% and CART is monitoring that to try to figure out what exactly is happening on that route. Item 1, continued: Ms. Smith said the University of Oklahoma (OU) wanted CART to start a safe ride route for students. This route will serve fraternities, sororities, and student housing areas with one stop at Campus Corner and Downtown Norman at James Garner Boulevard near Coach’s Brewhouse. That route will run between 10:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m., on Friday and Saturday. Councilmember Clark asked if students are using the service and Ms. Smith said yes, but ridership is not as high as anticipated. The ridership figures will be added to the monthly report provided to CPTC. Ms. Smith said benches have been added to bus stops at Webster Avenue/Main Street and Webster Avenue/Apache Street. A new bus stop and bench has been installed at the Hastings location on Main Street and 24th Avenue S.W. She said another marked bus stop, without a bench, will be located at Iowa Street and Berry Road. Chairman Holman asked for an update on the vending machines that were proposed to be installed at the Brooks Street Transfer Station and Ms. Smith said there has been a delay because the electrical circuits are currently overloaded so that needs to be addressed before vending machines can be installed. CART has requested a cost estimate to determine if adding vending machines will be feasible/cost effective. Ms. Smith said people can bring their own drinks on the bus as long as the beverage is in an enclosed container. Ms. Smith said Bike Share Program Request for Proposals (RFPs) are being reviewed and CART should have more information on that at the next meeting. Councilmember Hickman asked her to elaborate on the Program and Ms. Smith said the Bike Share Program is proposed to be ten pick- up/return stations with 50 bicycles. Councilmember Hickman asked what it would take to expand that Program citywide and Ms. Smith said CART and the City have discussed the Program and the City is interested in being a part of the program eventually, but they requested that OU initiate the Program for the campus area to gauge the response. Councilmember Clark asked the cost to rent a bike and Ms. Smith said the five proposals received are being reviewed and they all have different elements. Councilmember Hickman asked if CART would bring information at the next meeting and Ms. Smith said once OU has an approved proposal, CART will provide the City with all the details. Councilmember Hickman asked if there is a bus stop on the Porter Corridor between Robinson Street and Lindsey Street and Ms. Smith said no, the route that travels from Robinson Street to Peters Street to University Boulevard is the closest route. She said the problem with a route on Porter Avenue is traffic congestion. Councilmember Holman said CART’s long range plan has a route that travels along Porter Avenue and the Porter Corridor Study recommended cut-outs for buses. Community Planning and Transportation Committee Minutes September 29, 2016 Page 3 Item 1, continued: Items submitted for the record 1. Cleveland Area Rapid Transit Ridership Totals for the Month of May, June, July, and August, 2016 2. Cleveland Area Rapid Transit Monthly Report for May 2016, with Attachment 1, photos of “Share the Road” advertising bus wrap and bicycle rack and Attachment 2, CART Route 12 – Lindsey West Stops with Ridership Counts and Construction Phases 3. Cleveland Area Rapid Transit Monthly Report for June 2016, with Attachment 1, Lindsey West Stops Construction Phases, and Attachment 2, Lindsey West (12) Temporary Stops Imhoff Creek Bridge Construction and Hail the Driver for a Ride 4. Cleveland Area Rapid Transit Monthly Report for July 2016, with Attachment 1, Lindsey West Stops Construction Phases, and Attachment 2, Lindsey West (12) Temporary Stops Imhoff Creek Bridge Construction and Hail the Driver for a Ride 5. Cleveland Area Rapid Transit Monthly Report for August 2016, with Attachment 1, Lindsey West Stops Construction Phases, and Attachment 2, Lindsey West (12) Temporary Stops Imhoff Creek Bridge Construction and Hail the Driver for a Ride * * * * * Item 2, being: DISCUSSION REGARDING COMMERCIAL LOADING ZONES IN THE CAMPUS CORNER AREA. Ms. Jeanne Snider, Assistant City Attorney, said in 1975, Council approved the conversion of Asp Avenue, between White Street and Boyd Street, from two-way to one-way traffic in the southbound direction. The action was prompted by requests from area merchants interested in improving traffic flow and safety along a segment of roadway, which at that time had the highest vehicular accident rates in the city. In 2002, Council approved the designation of Asp Avenue to a two-way street from White Street to Boyd Street even though Staff raised concerns that converting the street to two-way could create safety and congestion problems especially with commercial deliveries. She said delivery trucks often block one of the driving lanes as merchandise and/or products are unloaded and delivered. As a two-lane street, drivers are not able to safely drive around the delivery vehicle and are tempted to cross a double yellow center line with oncoming traffic causing side-swipes or head-on collisions. On July 23, 2013, City Council adopted Resolution R-1314-19 creating the Campus Corner Parking Management Business Plan detailing strategies and payment options available to customers and visitors parking in the 159 public parking spaces along Boyd Street, Asp Avenue, Buchanan Street, University Boulevard, and White Street. In addition, it formalized the use of commercial loading zones, but in spite of good will efforts of Campus Corner Merchants and property owners, the problem with commercial vehicles parking on one of the Asp Avenue traffic lanes and blocking traffic flow is rampant. For this reason, merchants have asked the City to establish an enforceable restriction that will require an amendment to Section 20-807(6) of the Code of Ordinances, which currently makes it legal to park on the traffic lane. City Staff has worked with area merchants and property owners to identify, establish, and manage freight loading and unloading zones. Three zones were identified and agreed upon with the largest and only zone capable of handling large vehicle deliveries being along the east side of Asp Avenue immediately north of Boyd Street and consists of fifteen metered spaces that are reserved for commercial loading between the Community Planning and Transportation Committee Minutes September 29, 2016 Page 4 Item 2, continued: hours of 3:00 a.m.