AGENDA #4m
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Response to Petition Regarding Consideration of Change in Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Membership
DATE: September 8 , 2004
This memorandum responds to a June 30, 2004, petition brought by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board to consider a change to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board membership.
The attached ordinance would change the composition of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Membership to replace one of two Town of Carrboro member seats with one Durham City/County or Chatham County member seat.
On June 30, 2004, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board requested that the Town Council consider an amendment to the composition of the Board’s membership which would replace one of two Town of Carrboro member seats with one Durham City/County or Chatham County member seat.
The Board considered that the interface between the Chapel Hill Town limits and the City of Durham is an important location to secure improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians living and working in both communities. Therefore, the Board felt that representation on the Board from a person living in one of these locations would provide valuable insight and assist the Board in its role to advise the Town Council on bicycle and pedestrian matters.
The Board considered the pros and cons of adding a membership for Durham City/County or Chatham County. The Board preferred not to increase the number of members and consider that one Town of Carrboro membership could be replaced with one membership for a person living in either Durham City/County or Chatham County.
Attachment 1 is a copy of the petition.
On February 8, 1999, the Town Council created a “Walks and Bikeways Commission” (later renamed the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board on October 11, 1999). The main duties established for the Board are to identify, prioritize and plan for bicycle and pedestrian facilities and to advise the Town Council on bicycle and pedestrian matters.
The current composition of the Board includes six representatives from the Town of Chapel Hill, two from the Town of Carrboro and one from Orange County. The membership also includes a representative from the University Department of Public Safety.
When the Board was established in February 1999, the Town Council included representation from Orange County, the Town of Carrboro, and the University. This was in recognition of the value of coordination and to encourage commuter cycling (please see Appendix 2).
In June, one of the two Carrboro seats became vacant and this led the Board to consider whether the original board composition was still appropriate and whether there were alternative options for the composition of board membership.
On June 30, 2004, the Board forwarded a Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan to the Town Council. The preparation of this draft plan has identified the importance of improving facilities which connect to Chapel Hill for commuters from other locations in addition to Carrboro and Orange County, in particular from Durham. There is currently no representation on the Board from persons living outside of Chapel Hill Town limits in either Durham City/County or Chatham County.
DISCUSSION
The stated transportation goal of the Town of Chapel Hill Comprehensive Plan adopted May 2000 is: “To develop a balanced, multi-modal transportation system that will enhance mobility for all citizens, reduce automobile dependence, and preserve/enhance the character of Chapel Hill” (p. 92). A key action of the Comprehensive Plan as stated in Section 10A-2 is: “To develop a comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle network”; in addition, the Plan states “… development of the pedestrian/bicycle network should be coordinated with Carrboro, Orange County, Hillsborough, and the City and County of Durham to encourage regional connections” (p. 97).
In line with the Comprehensive Plan, one of the stated objectives of the draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan is to “connect Chapel Hill with neighboring communities.” We agree that the interface between the Chapel Hill Town limits and the City of Durham is an important location to secure improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians living and working in both communities. Improvements to the following street corridors connecting Chapel Hill and Durham City/County are identified in the draft Action Plan: N.C. 54; Erwin Road; Barbee Chapel Road Pope Road; Old Durham/Chapel Hill Road; and U.S. 15-501. Promoting and securing improvements to the American Tobacco Trail is also a key consideration for this area.
We also recognize that residential developments in Chatham County are increasing potential commuter cycling demand along U.S. 15-501 South and Mount Carmel Church Road as corridors leading into the Town.
The suggested change to the Board composition could provide more insight into conditions in these locations and assist with communication and working on shared goals and objectives with neighboring governments. The enhanced regional perspective may also result in more effective arguments for the funding of improvements which connect neighboring communities.
In addition, we believe the suggested change to the Board composition is consistent with the spirit and intent of the ordinance adopted by the Town Council when the Board was first established (see Attachment 2).
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council enact the attached ordinance to change the composition of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Membership to replace one Town of Carrboro member seat with one member seat for a person living outside of the Chapel Hill Town limits in either Durham City/County or Chatham County.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Petition from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board (p. 5).
2. Minutes from Town Council Meeting February 8, 2004 (p. 8).
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill as follows:
Section 1.
Section 2-171 of the Town Code is hereby amended to read as fol1ows:
“Sec. 2-171. Membership, terms.
The bicycle and pedestrian
advisory board shall consist of ten (10) members appointed as hereinafter
provided. The Town Council shall appoint two (2) one (1)
representative from the Town of Carrboro, and one (1)
representative from Orange County, one (1) representative outside the
town limits of Chapel Hill from either Durham City/County or Chatham County
to be members of the board. The University shall appoint one (1)
representative from their bicycle management to be a member of the board. The
terms of office shall be three (3) years, or until their successors are
appointed and qualified, except that the initial terms of members first
appointed shall be as follows: three (3) members shall be appointed for a
period of one (1) year, three (3) members shall be appointed for a period of
two (2) years, and four (4) members shall be appointed for a period of three
(3) years. Members may be reappointed to succeed themselves. The terms of all
members shall expire on the 30th day of June following the end of
the final year of their terms.”
Section 2. This ordinance shall be effective September 8, 2004.
This the 7th day of September, 2004.