City of Geneva Bike and Pedestrian Committee met Sept. 27.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
1. Call to Order
Chairman Schmitz called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
The following BPAC members were present: Caleb Anderson, Greg Bobeczko, Alex Garbe, Carrie Homewood, Max Schmitz, Carl Schoedel, Jennifer Siegele, and Mary Carol MacDonald. A quorum was present.
The following BPAC members were absent: Declan Cook, Sam Kraft.
Others present included City of Geneva staff liaisons Matthew Buesing and Brian Davids, as well as Winnie Frankel of SPAC.
3. Amendments to the Agenda
No amendments to the Agenda were proposed.
4. Approval of Minutes: August 22, 2023
On a motion by Homewood, second by Schoedel, the minutes were approved as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
5. Bike and Pedestrian Committee
a. Review by-laws
Schoedel identified two places in the by-laws where the number of voting committee members was identified as either 9 or 10 members. On a motion by Schoedel, second by Schmitz, the committee voted unanimously to reflect 10 voting members throughout the document. The staff liaisons clarified that a quorum would be 6 people.
b. Review SPAC presentation (2020)
Brian Davids displayed the PowerPoint from the SPAC presentation to City Council in 2020. The committee focused on several of the recommendations slides near the end of the presentation. These slides included some of the priority “routes” as well as the “Immediate Recommendations” and the recommended role of BPAC.
Immediate Recommendations included:
• Dedicated $ in budget/CIP for bike infrastructure
• Update bike route/infrastructure maps
• Improve bike friendliness at City facilities
• Coordinate with County & Neighbors to align bike plans & maps
• Consider participating or partnering in regional bike sharing program
• Re-establish a dedicated Bike/Pedestrian Committee
The role of the Bike and Pedestrian Committee was described as:
• Assist with development of updated print and electronic bike materials
• Help identify options for improving bike Friendliness at City facilities
• Coordinate Bike/Pedestrian Safety Education events and activities
• Help make festivals and events bike friendly through volunteer activities
• Provide input and assistance with future updates to City plans
c. Overview of Bike Implementation Plan (2005)
The committee reviewed the Bike Implementation Plan from 2005. Schoedel commented that the plan contained a number of good projects, some of which have been completed within the last 20 years. The committee expressed an interest in an inventory which planned projects have been completed and which have not.
d. Brian to present overview of new tools/strategies
Brian Davids showed the slide from the SPAC presentation showing examples of newer solutions, including photographs of a/an:
• Bike Boulevard, Elmhurst
• Advisory Bike Lane, Elmhurst
• Buffered Bike Lane, Chicago
• Marked Shared Lanes, Batavia
Brian also mentioned that there is a line item for a “Bike Lane Classification Study” included in the current budget.
e. #1 priority
Chairman Schmitz distilled the group discussion around three possible priority areas:
i. Bike Parking Engagement. This topic could include raising awareness of existing bike parking areas within the City. Brian Davids showed an example of a GIS database of bike racks and benches within the downtown area. This topic could also include a focus on improved parking options, especially sheltered parking at the Metra Station.
ii. Bike Maps. This topic would raise awareness of existing maps and could use examples of routing to/from common bike/ped destinations within Geneva.
iii. Pedestrian Crossings Generally. The committee discussed several examples of pedestrian crossings around the City, especially those on major routes like Route 38 and Kirk Road. This topic could include crossing improvements like signal changes or new signal equipment, increased enforcement at unsignalized crossings, or emphasis on crossings related to school routes.
The committee took a straw poll and decided that Bike Parking Engagement would be the first priority area to focus on. The first emphasis would be on raising awareness on existing facilities and resources. The idea of doing a “scavenger hunt” was discussed as a fun way to raise awareness of bike parking facilities, for example. It was agreed that this should be presented to SPAC at a future meeting.
f. Next meeting date
The next several meeting dates were discussed. The committee agreed on:
• October 25, 2023;
• November 15, 2023; and
• December 13, 2023.
Meetings in November and December were adjusted to avoid the busy holiday season. Otherwise, in general, the committee will target the 4th Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. for meetings. SPAC meetings are 3rd Wednesdays, so those are generally not in conflict except for the November meeting that was adjusted to avoid the Thanksgiving holiday week.
6. Public Comment
No public comment.
7. New Business
No new business.
8. Adjournment
Motion by Schoedel, second by Garbe to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
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