Thread by @mmwpro63

This month's BPAC meeting is tonight and Fresno's Slow Streets program (official name: FreSlow) will be discussed at length tonight at 5:30 pm.

Here's the meeting link: fresnogov2.webex.com/fresnogov2/j.p…

https://twitter.com/mmwpro63/status/1285065630211694594

It's starting right now! If you miss it, you can watch the meeting later on @CMACTV

After Jill Gormley went over the current Draft rules, she said loud and clear that there is currently no funding available for Slow Streets from public works.

Slow Streets is supposed to use available resources to allow people to walk and bike more, yet Fresno's public works department doesn't have funding to spare for cones and A-frame barricades.

I guess we need to hope for CARES Act funding.

Both Melanie Ruvacala (Mayoral) and Tony Molina (District 2) are concerned about Rule 6 which only allows community groups to apply rather than individuals.

@PhilArballo2020 (Mayoral) Suggests that BPAC itself could act as the sponsor if one is not available.

Tony Molina (District 2) is concerned about how Jill's proposed program is simply about creating spaces for recreation rather than providing connections to essential services and more.

Jill Gormely says that once you get into working on more major streets, there are other rules that need to be followed.

It's higher cost to do something on Shaw for example. It's also finance's opinion that this does not qualify for C.A.R.E.S.
😯

Still, she iterates that council's opinion may be different than finance's.

In the meantime, to finish his comments, Tony Molina is interested in "sprucing up the slow streets program with some art." Casey Lauderdale is helping from the Planning Department.

Jill has to leave early to be present at the Planning Commission meeting.

Unscheduled communication from Laura Gromis (USGBC) ,"Wants equity and connectivity" to be included in the Slow Streets program as well as Pop-up bike lanes

Meanwhile, @AnnalisaPerea expressed her appreciation for the project.

On to the Semi-annual report. It will presented to the council this September.

Notably, Tony Molina's (District 2) status as a representative will expire in September

fresno.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&…

Current Fatalities are included, Susan Smith (District 7) will email for latest stats.

Also, included currently, a list of @BikeLeague recommendations to reach Silver Status.

Key for BPAC, but unlikely to happen, hiring a Active Transportation Coordinator.

The point of the position is to provide more direct feedback from BPAC to public works about local needs. I'll post more about this later.

As for staff reports, PD usually gives reports on Bike and Pedestrian fatalities...apparently the officer is not here tonight. 🤨

An unfortunate first.

Shelby from public works needs a few minutes, so we are moving on for now to the placement of 5 new Bicycle Friendly community signs.

There's a survey that will be posted soon, feedback is required by Monday. 😬

I'll be sure to post once it's available.

Shelby (public works) is giving a grant update.

She previously applied for Measure C New Technology Grant and soon will apply for the Active Transportation program grant.

Will need letters of support for the later from BPAC

Next up, BPAC Work Plan update, It's a useful document, a list of BPAC ongoing goals as well as construction progress on Bike/ped projects in the city of Fresno: fresno.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&…

Oddly enough, the West Area Specific Plan project has no recent update at this time?

On my radar, ATP update, Class IV facilities will be included as well as the @BetterBlckstone Mobility plan and Downtown Community Plan!

Also, going out to bid soon, the Maple Ave Class IV bikeway, beating the Palm Corridor project as the first Class IV facility in Fresno!

The rest of the projects are various intersection projects.

What's this, a Class IV by FCC? It will run on Maroa along the Western border of @fresnocity !

I'm surprised there are a few more Class IV facilities in the works around Fresno.

Merced Street reconstruction, funding only for design for now.

Sugar Pine Trail at Nees Ave, put on hold again for now, but funding isn't available.

They continue to go through the whole work plan, Item by item, faster than I can type. I recommend if you want to know more about each item, watch the @CMACTV video once it's available.

On the Abby street Class IV project, it's going to be a Class II now because interaction with @QFresno bus stops on the right side of the street isn't currently ideal, it will be converted to a class IV eventually, because the funding isn't available right now.

They discussed moving the project to the left side of Abby, but it increases the project cost and reduces connectivity according to Scott Sehm from public works.

It delayed the project for 8 months.

Lots of school crossing projects being discussed in various levels of design.

The south Stadium TOD project is apparently a Class IV!

And that's it, not including any developer-related projects. If you see any construction near new development, it may not be hear.

Scott Sehm answered my question, "Any reason we are seeing a lot more Class IV projects all of a sudden?"

Sehm said it was probably because there have been a lot more grant oppertunities for those lately and they have managed to incorporate them into existing planned projects.

Still going, they are working with an agreement with @CaltransHQ on Midtown trail, they are making "little improvements" to this here and there, but not making a lot of progress at once.

They were about to adjourn, Melanie (mayoral) discusses the city's COVID-19 response, (not on agenda?). They are 3,000+ cases behind on contact tracing.

This is unexpected information.

They are having problems with family gatherings. People want to have parties on weekends.

If you feel any kind of sick, STAY HOME, wear a mask, self-isolate from the rest of the house-hold, wear a mask, wash hands.

Testing takes a week anyway.

Hospitals are low on staff, @PhilArballo2020 has a sister who started working at Clovis community, things started getting terrible in June.

To be clear, I have no idea what Melanie's job is outside of BPAC, I welcome the update regardless.

That's pretty much it. It was my first time live-tweeting the BPAC meeting. I hope I did as good of a job as @AndyHS does with Council meetings.

Feel free to DM me with any questions you have!

The @CMACTV video feed should be up in a few hours.

And...follow BPAC on Facebook: facebook.com/FresnoBPAC