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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-554 NOVEMBER 22, 2011 DECEMBER 13, 2011 11-522 11-554 ORDINANCE FIRST READING SECOND READING (CARRIED__7-0____ LOST_______ LAID OVER_______ WITHDRAWN_______) PURPOSE: CREATION OF A BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND REPEAL OF ADVISORY PARK BOARD BICYCLE SUBCOMMITTEE INITIATED BY: TRANSPORTATION DEPARMENT A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH CREATING SECTION 2-39 OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND REPEALING SECTION 2-51(B)(3) OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO ADVISORY PARK BOARD BICYCLE SUBCOMMITTEE The Common Council of the City of Oshkosh do ordain as follows: SECTION 1. That Section 2-39 of the Oshkosh Municipal Code pertaining to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee be created as follows: SECTION 2-39 BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (A) Membership and Terms. (1) The Committee shall consist of seven (7) members, one of whom shall be a city council member. At initial appointment, two members shall be appointed to a one (1) year term, two members shall be appointed to a two (2) year term, and two members shall be appointed to a three (3) year term. Citizen members shall serve for a term of 3 years and the council member shall serve for a term of one (1) year. (2) The Committee’s composition should seek to reflect the diversity of parties interested in bicycle and pedestrian mobility issues, such as, but neither limited to nor excluding, schools and universities, recreational organizations, members of the elderly and disabled community, and the health community. (3) The Transportation Director or designee shall serve as the Committee Coordinator and shall not have voting privileges. (B) Functions and Duties (1) The Committee shall advise the Common Council with respect to recommendations on bicycle/pedestrian matters with an emphasis on policy and planning issues. (2) The Committee shall be responsible for developing, implementing and updating the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation Plan. NOVEMBER 22, 2011 DECEMBER 13, 2011 11-522 11-554 ORDINANCE FIRST READING SECOND READING CONT'D (3) The Committee shall coordinate education, encouragement and outreach activities across City departments, other government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. (4)The Committee shall make recommendations on capital and maintenance projects to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and mobility. (5) The Committee shall recommend to the Common Council the priorities for expenditures from the Bicycle Fund. (C) Coordination with Other Governmental Units (1) Any Committee recommendations which require changes in the number and type of travel lanes or in the availability or duration of on-street parking shall obtain an advisory review from the Traffic Review Advisory Board. (2) Any Committee recommendations which involve the Oshkosh Park System shall obtain an advisory review from the Advisory Parks Board. (3) Any Committee recommendations which would entail physical changes to the public right-of-way shall obtain an advisory review from the Board of Public Works. SECTION 2. That Section 2-51(B)(3) of the Oshkosh Municipal Code pertaining to the Advisory Park Board's bicycle advisory subcommittee be repealed. SECTION 3. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication. SECTION 4. Publication Notice. Please take notice that the City of Oshkosh enacted ordinance #11-554 (A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH CREATING SECTION 2-39 OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND REPEALING SECTION 2- 51(B)(3) OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO ADVISORY PARK BOARD BICYCLE SUBCOMMITTEE), on December 13, 2011. The ordinance creates a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to advise the Common Council on policy matters related to bicycle and pedestrian mobility; to develop, implement and update the City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation Plan; to support education, encouragement and enforcement activities related to bicycle and pedestrian mobility; and to make capital project recommendations. The ordinance also repeals the Bicycle Subcommittee of the Advisory Park Board. The full text of the ordinance may be obtained at the Office of the City Clerk, 215 Church Avenue and through the City's website at www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us. Clerk's phone: 920/236-5011. City of Oshkosh - Transportation Department O.I H p ON THE WATER 926 Dempsey Trail, Oshkosh,WI 54902 (920)232-5342 (920)232-5343 fax MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Christopher Strong, P.E., Director of Transportation DATE: November 17, 2011 RE: Creation of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Background On September 27, 2011, the Common Council passed a resolution to adopt the City of Oshkosh Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Plan. The plan was prepared with input and support from a stakeholder/steering group,the Parks Advisory Board, the Sustainability Advisory Board, the Traffic Review Advisory Board, the Plan Commission, the Common Council and the community at large. The plan includes numerous recommendations related to bicycle and pedestrian mobility and safety. However,the plan's primary recommendation is the creation of a separate citizen's advisory committee to focus on bicycle and pedestrian transportation issues. The plan suggested that such a committee be an independent group, rather than having its interests folded into an existing City board or commission. Analysis The ordinance creates a seven-person committee in fulfillment of the plan's primary objective. The committee is similar in structure to other citizens' committees, with one (1) Council representative and six (6) at-large members. The committee's charge includes: • advising the Common Council with respect to bicycle/pedestrian matters with an emphasis on policy and planning issues; • developing, implementing and updating the City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Circulation Plan; • coordinating activities related to plan recommendations; • making recommendations on capital and maintenance projects to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and mobility; and • providing the Common Council with recommendations for expenditures from the Bicycle Fund. Currently, the Municipal Code designates a subcommittee for the Parks Advisory Board with City of Oshkosh—Transportation Department 1 Creation of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee/November 17,2011 some of these responsibilities. The ordinance would eliminate the provision for this subcommittee. The ordinance does not make requirements on the composition of the committee, but does make recommendations that the committee include people with a range of interests in bicycle and pedestrian mobility and safety. These recommendations may be considered as people are considered for positions on the Committee. Further, it may be appropriate to have committee members who also serve as members of other committees whose interests (including Plan Commission, Sustainability, Traffic Review and Parks) may overlap with those of this new committee. This may strengthen this committee's ability to work more effectively with existing city committees. The ordinance puts the responsibility for this committee within the Transportation Department. If approved, this would place the Director of Transportation, or their designee, as the staff liaison for four different citizens' committees. Staff anticipates that, after the initial work in setting up the committee is completed, the committee should not require a significant amount of work on a regular and ongoing basis. Fiscal Impact Creating this committee should have no direct fiscal impact, since the committee has an advisory role, and any committee recommendations would require Common Council approval. Recommendation I recommend the Common Council approve this ordinance to create this new committee. Respectfully submitted, Approved: hristopher Strong, P.E. Mark A. Rohloff Director of Transportation City Manager City of Oshkosh—Transportation Department 2