Pedestrian & Cyclist Advocacy Committee Minutes 4/10/18

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Pedestrian and Cyclist Advocacy Ad-hoc Committee
Meeting Minutes
April 10, 2018

In Attendance: Melissa Gahr (Committee member, Co-chair), Bettina K (Committee member, Co-chair), Andrea Benson (Committee member, community), William Mccarthy (Committee member, Conservation Committee) Paul Deschaine (Town Administrator-left 7:10pm).

Called to order at 6:35 pm by Melissa Gahr.

Motion to approve minutes by BK, seconded by AMB, unanimous decision to accept minutes of 03/30/18 as drafted.

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) update

-The grant contract is on the 04/11/18 Executive Council agenda for final approval.
-T. Locke, Stratham Memorial Physical Education (PE) teacher, is organizing a bike safety presentation with classes.
-The task force is working with a logo design company (volunteered time) to create a logo for SRTS in Stratham.
-The task force is also working with Highway Dept and Stratham Police to plan safe crossings for bike to school day at Stratham Memorial (05/11/18). Looking for publicity/awareness: Parent-Teacher Organization, Parks & Rec, Conservation Commission & police facebook plus town website. Working with MG to get attention via Seacoast media group.
-Need ideas for activities while the kids/parents are arriving at Stratham Memorial: maybe activities to ID bike parts or maybe Colonial Bikes can give tune-ups/check-ups?
-MG & BK working on a joint press-release to support the CMS bike to school date (05/18/18).
-SRTS community presentation/parent forum with TEC on 06/05/18, discussed location (CMS Caf.) and publicity—facebook pages (all departments incl. library and PCAC’s), talk to neighbors, flyers in the library (working with TEC & Scott Bogle from Rockingham Planning Commission to create).
-In conjunction with Parks & Recreation, beginning a walking school bus 05/2/18 from Stratham hill park to Stratham Memorial (20 slots, 2 adult chaperones). Every Wed. for 6 weeks (meet 7:55am and then walk over).

Update on planning board application for Old Town Hall/Town Center development project

PCAC letter was read during the deliberations and seemed to have a positive impact on the planning board. Per PD the waiver was not granted to avoid sidewalk construction and discussions are still ongoing.

Further details regarding the Master Plan Steering Committee

-Still setting up committee and recruiting individuals to participate.

-Projected new images approved by the NHDOT which raise awareness of bikers; trying to determine usefulness in Stratham. MG will bring this to Colin Laverty, Highway Dept.

Status on PCAC Survey distributed in March Trying to get the survey to the 50Y+ (Seth’s help with 76ers and/or Bone Builders, Tues/Thurs meetings next week-smyk & route 108 corridor committee), BOS newsletter and using the SMS PTO to distribute to <40Y. Spike in participation for 40-49yo when Parks & Recreation distributed online. MG looking into leaving surveys in lobbies or common areas of condominium developments.

The following were tabled for a future meeting as no updates were available at this meeting:

-Updates & continued work re: master trails map (paper & electronic versions)
-UNH Cooperative Extension Internships-help building trails in Stratham
-York, ME updates-master plan and/or innovative biking/pedestrian options

Availability of audio-recorded draft minutes from Planning Board & Board of Selectmen-other town examples/options Challenge at keeping information flowing in a timely manner (not just waiting until minutes approved). York, ME has both web streaming and local TV broadcasts. The website explains better what the Planning Board does and they have regular "open office hours" for the public to ask/learn about what’s ongoing. BK bringing to the town office other town’s methods and a suggestion to make draft recordings available so people can keep up to date with meeting content in "real time."

Review of the East Coast Greenway & Rockingham rail trail connections in Stratham

Projected maps and located existing trails for discussion purposes. MG is talking with Jeff, owner of Gus’ bike shop, about the existing rail trails and how Stratham falls between them:

Granite State Rail Trail, Rockingham Rail Trail (ends in Newfields), East Coast Greenway (Maine to Florida, by Rye).

-Plan to add him to a future agenda to talk about where Stratham fits into these efforts.

Public comment

Attention bought to the group by Roy Burns, Stratham resident:

1. The Peach tree development near Barker/High St. has open space/common land ?conserved behind the Sullivan site for potential future development. There is an expectation by abutters that a new application as a through-road arrangement will be submitted to the Planning Board (?on 4/18 agenda). Suggests this group look into possibly creating some trail to connect the 2 depending on the arrangements of the future development.

2. Raised the question/voice concern if there will be changes at Stratham Hill Park not allowing dogs. Hopes to bring to the attention of the group how dog walker love & enjoy utilizing the public space and he wouldn’t want to see that go away.

The next meeting of the PCAC will be 6:30pm on May 8, 2018 in the Municipal Center’s Hutton Room.

There being no further items to discuss, WM made a motion to adjourn the meeting which was seconded by AMB and unanimously agreed upon by the Committee members.

Respectfully submitted by Andrea Benson, Secretary