HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-03-10 Beautifcation Com. Caldwell Beautification Commission
Regular Meeting
March 10, 1975 - 11 :30 A.M.
/'1 Present: members - Bauman, Matheson, Mauer, Wallace, Rankin, Conger
1 ex officio - Williams, Collins
guests & visitors - Dan McComb, State Division of Highways; Jim Willhite,
Federal Highway Administration; Jim Kantola, Principal,
Jefferson Jr. High School; Mel Lewis, City Engineer; Bill
Crookham, property owner; Ira Craven, County Commissioner;
Charles Gray, County Road Superintendent; Arlo Nelson,
County Planner; C. K. Smitherman; Berit Crookham; Les Carter;
Stan Pilcher; Earl Giles; Mel Wilhelmsen
The meeting was called to order in the Council Chambers by Chairperson Bauman.
OLD BUSINESS
Bikeways - Purpose of the meeting was stated to be interagency discussion of
possible solutions to bicycle and pedestrian transportation emphasizing the
current immediate problem of 10th between Linden and Jefferson Jr. High School.
A condensation of speakers' comments follows:
McComb: Prefers bicycle-pedestrian traffic not be in traffic lanes. Two-way
bicycle traffic in the same lane is confusing to motorists. If two-way traffic
is necessary on 10th, he would suggest it be divided from traffic lane by some
type of barrier. Two-way path could be effective if pedestrian traffic is not
too high. Eight feet should be considered a minimum width for two-way or shared
usage path. Eight foot width is cheaper than a narrower width because asphalt
can be mechanically laid.
Willhite: Reemphasized McComb's comments. Suggested that striping could be
used as a fast interum possibility. Ramps for sidewalk and driveway entrances
would be necessary.
Kantola: Stressed the immediacy of the problem. Baseball and track work-cuts
begin this week on the high school field. With no bridge over the Dixie Drain,
teams will be using 10th and Linden to and from work-outs. A pancake feed has
been scheduled March 11 to help raise funds for a foot bridge. Incidence of
Jr. high students driving to school is very low so traffic is predominently
bicycle and pedestrian.
Lewis: Shoulder striping on 10th from Dearborn to Linden is current project with
State Highway Department and will be done as soon as weather permits. Width of
10th is probably inadeouate for two-way bike lane between shoulder stripe and
the curb. Road could be widened through the golf course but city only has 25
feet right of way on each side from Logan to Linden and more would be difficult
to obtain. New platting south of Linden to the city limits is requesting 40
feet on each side but current owners have given only 25.
Crookham: Has set the fence back 12 feet from the road on his property in
anticipation of walkway utilization. Suggested tiling the Pioneer Irrigation
lateral at the corner of the Wampler property, grading the path and topping it
with road mix, thus making it adequate for walking but not for biking.
Caldwell Beautification Commission
Regular Meeting - March 10, 1975
Page 2
Bikeways (continued)
Craven: Has surveyed 10th south of Linden with Sheriff at different times of day.
Believes there is ample space on the east side for path with the removal of a
couple of trees. Stated that the County does not feel responsibility for improving
a street which the City is considering annexing. Approximate $5000 cost of tiling
the lateral could not legally be paid by the County. Speaking unofficially,
believes County could cooperate with City by furnishing County trucks and equipment
for off-road path preparation.
Lewis: Said he will investigate possibility of diverting City crews for path laying.
Gray: His surveillance has resulted in changed sign placement and speed limits.
City and County have cooperated to equalize speed limits inside and outside city
limits from Linden to Ustick. Possibility of establishing a no passing zone will
have to be investigated further. Any immediate roadside path work would require
tiling of the lateral prior to water entering the ditch in April. Current contract
with State Highway Department for center and shoulder striping continues out 10th
from city limits. Shoulder stripe is 12 feet from center lane leaving about 2
feet of pavement outside the stripe.
Kantola: Feels striping is necessary now. Strict law enforcement until the end
of school would help while permanent solutions are progressing.
Nelson: Stressed importance of developing an overall plan so that immediate
solutions to current problems will not be "way off base".
General comments: Nampa utilized striping on 12th Avenue as an intermediate step
to a separate path. Approximate cost of asphalt is $10,000 per mile.
Chr. Bauman asked Mr. Kantola to act as convener for another meeting of City,
County, School District, and Pioneer Irrigation District officials for the
Purpose of establishing cooperative solutions to the existing 10th Avenue problem.
A movie showing the planning and development of the Maryland state system of
bikeways was viewed.
Commission members agreed that planning and development of the Dixie Drain
independent path should continue with first priority as part of the long term
solution to bicycle traffic. They further agreed that 10th Avenue south of
Linden should be improved for pedestrian traffic but not at the expense of the
Dixie Drain project.
Chr. Bauman read a public relations informational release concerning the back-
ground of a Caldwell bikeways system. The release is to be cleared through the
Mayor, City -Council, and Mel Lewis before being given to the news media.
Val Wallace and Chr. Bauman will attend City budget hearing at 7:00 on March 11 , 1975.
County Bikeway Plannin - Arlo Nelson suggested this commission act as the starting
force to the establishment of an ad hoc committee under the CCDC for the purpose
1 of planning a countywide system of greenways, bikeways, etc.
Meeting adjourned at 3:00 P.M.
Shirley Conger, Secretary