Centerville City Trails Committee meeting held June 26, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Business Conference Room, 250 North Main, Centerville, Utah.

MEMBERS PRESENT:    Timothy Hawkes
                                            Ken McGuire, Chair
                                            Jared Poulson
                                            Wendy Higgins

MEMBERS ABSENT:      David M. Chamberlain
                                           Stephanie Wheatley

STAFF PRESENT:           Steve Thacker, City Manager
                                          Kathy Streadbeck, Recording Secretary

MINUTES REVIEW AND APPROVAL

The minutes of the Trails Committee meeting held April 24, 2007 were reviewed and amended. Jared Poulson made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by Ken McGuire and passed by unanimous vote (4-0).

APPOINT/REAPPOINT CHAIR

Wendy Higgins made a motion to reappoint Ken McGuire as Trail Committee Chair. The motion was seconded by Jared Poulson and passed by unanimous vote (4-0).

BIKE LANES

Jared Poulson reported he, the Police Chief, the City Engineer, and the City Manager traveled the Frontage Road reviewing the possibility of bike lanes on that road. He said the north end of the Frontage Road would require widening of the pavement to accommodate bike lanes, but the majority of the Frontage Road only needs to be re-striped. Widening and/or re-striping would allow for 4-foot bike lanes on either side of the Frontage Road. He explained the intersections are somewhat problematic, as they are too narrow for bike lanes. The intersections will need to have a shared path with cars (striping will indicate this) or the road may be doubly widened on the opposite side of the intersection and the striping jogged at those places. 

Steve Thacker, City Manager, reviewed a cost estimate for bike lanes as prepared by the City Engineer. He explained that widening the road where needed to accommodate bike lanes would cost approximately $100,000. This does not include the cost of re-striping. He said the City Council feels bike lanes are a priority for the city and asked the Committee to recommend the improvements they feel are appropriate.  

The Committee reviewed several different scenarios for bike lanes. They felt using their entire budget ($100,000) on bike lanes at this time may not be wise.  There are other projects they would like to accomplish.  They discussed re-striping the Frontage Road where needed and possibly widening portions (north end only) of the Frontage Road at this time to see what type of interest this generates for the community. At that time they can re-evaluate the need to spend more money.

Mr. Thacker suggested the possibility of striping 400 West and possibly Chase Lane. Chase Lane would make a safer connection from the Frontage Road to 400 West than Parrish Lane would. After further discussion the Committee agreed this would be appropriate. They also felt there should be no parking on 400 West through the commercial areas. The Committee also discussed and agreed the speed limit on the Frontage Road should be reduced to 40 miles per hour in connection with striping bike lanes. 

The Committee discussed the possibility of bike lanes on Main Street. Mr. Thacker said Main Street is a state road and UDOT would need to approve bike lanes on this road. He said the current Main Street planning process is considering the possibility of parking on Main Street. This would prevent the ability to accommodate bike lanes, according to UDOT. Mr. Thacker said that striping for bike lanes elsewhere in the city (Frontage Road and 400 West) may reduce the need for bike lanes on Main Street. The Committee agreed.

Jared Poulson made a motion to recommend to the City Council that the Frontage Road be widened on both the east and west side from the Farmington border south to 2100 North and that the west side of the Frontage Road be widened from 2100 North south to 1700 North (Jennings Lane). Furthermore, the Trails Committee recommends that the Frontage Road, Chase Lane, and 400 West be re-striped to accommodate bike lanes on both sides of the streets with appropriate signage. The Committee also recommends the speed limit on the Frontage Road be reduced to 40 miles per hour. The motion was seconded by Ken McGuire and passed by unanimous vote (4-0).

REVIEW/REVISE TRAILS MASTER PLAN DRAFT

Ken McGuire reported he and Steve Thacker, City Manager, met with Cory Snyder, Community Development Director, regarding the Trails Master Plan and the Trails portion of the General Plan. He said Mr. Snyder gave some direction and Mr. McGuire recommended the Committee review goals and objectives for the General Plan. He distributed his ideas for goals and objectives and asked Committee members to review the draft and email any responses to him. He also asked Committee members to come prepared to discuss this issue further at the next meeting. The Committee spent some time reviewing the goals and felt they were appropriate. 

INVENTORY OF EXISTING TRAILS

Ken McGuire said he would like to assign everyone on the Committee a trail to walk each year. This would help in keeping an updated inventory of each trail.

Wendy Higgins said that Farmington City has a “trail chief” for every trail. Steve Thacker, City Manager, suggested inviting community volunteers to be a “trail chief”. Perhaps the Committee would like to prepare an article for the City newsletter inviting volunteers to help in this regard. Ken McGuire said he would be willing to write an article for the next newsletter. He said he would also follow up with Stephanie Wheatley and David Chamberlain to see what trails have and have not been inventoried.

Wendy Higgins asked for a simple map of the existing trails. She said the Freedom Hills Park will have its grand opening in September and she feels this is a great opportunity to have a trail kick-off.  She said an article in the Clipper could be an easy way to advertise the event along with the City newsletter. This could also generate interest in a “trail chief” program and the Trails Committee. Wendy said she would meet with Drew Graves, GIS Specialist, and prepare a simple map with a legend for the Committee to review at the next meeting. This map can also be circulated via the City newsletter. 

MAP OF PROPOSED TRAILS
 
 Ken McGuire said he has a list of proposed trails.  He will work with the GIS specialist and produce a proposed trail overlay map for review in a future meeting.

TRAILS SURVEY – Discuss proposed questions and how to administer survey

Stephanie Wheatley is working on questions for a survey. 

COMMITTEE VACANCY
 
 Steve Thacker, City Manager, asked Committee members to please direct any possible volunteers to the City or the City web-site to fill out a Statement of Interest.

NEXT MEETING

The next scheduled Trails Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

 __________________________________  _____________________
 Ken McGuire, Chair                                                        Date Approved

 __________________________________
 Kathleen Streadbeck, Recording Secretary