Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition
Notes from the Monthly Meeting
Ecology Center, Ann Arbor
February 10, 2011
Chair Pete Hines Board Members in Attendance: Paul Alman
Vice Chair Jim Nieters Joel Batterman
Secretary Tim Athan Larry Deck
Treasurer Karen Moorhead Jim Nieters
Erica Briggs
1. Welcome/Introductions
No visitors braved the cold to attend tonight’s meeting. Who could blame them?!
2. Approval of previous meeting minutes
Last month’s minutes were approved.
Erica’s last name has reverted to Briggs (from Briggs-Whitacre).
3. Treasurer’s report
Karen submitted the monthly report:
“Beginning balance $3571.56
Deposits
PayPal. 116.16
Interest. 2.23
PayPal. 67.56
Deposit. 270.00
Credit total. 455.95
Deductions
POS. 13.07
Annual meeting check. 224.26
Annual MI report. 20.00
Debit total. 257.33
Ending balance. 3770.18”
Karen noted that she records money when she deposits it, and debits money not when the check is written but when the money leaves the bank account.
4. New Business
a. Approve contract for Ped Ordinance services
Larry had sent out “Memo Regarding Contracts and Insurance”.
One point of discussion was liability insurance options. Lily explained that we have to request waivers for employee insurance and for automobile insurance (even though neither applies; these waivers will document that they don’t).
The purchase of general liability insurance was approved unanimously (but for Erica’s abstinence from the vote).
Erica’s contract was approved for signature tonight (with Erica abstaining).
b. Approve of Ped Ordinance project budget
Karen said that it is important to retain a part of any grant for WBWC. Even though running the program will constitute the majority of it, she suggested we keep about 10% for moving forward. Erica said it depends upon what the contract permits. Larry said it is typical to have an overhead charge. Lily said that most grants won’t allow that, and this one will not.
Lily noted that the grant budget doesn’t provide for making physical changes (such as road paint or signage).
We voted (with Erica abstaining) to approve the project budget.
c. Approval for insurance for Ped Ordinance project
It was resolved (with Erica’s abstinence) that we will purchase one million dollars of general liability insurance.
d. Bike Fest / Tour de Kids events
Pete has volunteered to attend Green Fair meetings.
Erica says we should not have Bike Fest within the umbrella of Green Fair. There will be bike events at the Green Fair, but we should no longer call them Bike Fest.
Jim recalled that Tour de Kids (TdK) was originally called the Festival of Cycling.
Paul said that the next TdK meeting is planned for next Wednesday. He says there is interest in bringing Bike Fest into it. Perhaps it could become a weekend of bicycling.
The TdK is awaiting word about a major sponsor. The city has already given tentative approval, and many other aspects of the event are progressing.
Paul will be our liaison to TdK, and Erica thinks that it would be great if we could get some volunteers to work on this.
Jim suggested we decide next month how we want to be involved. He is also interested in creating a midnight ride.
Paul wasn’t sure what the goals of TdK should be for us. He says he isn’t hearing the “core concept behind it.” If we are interested in getting people involved in bicycling, perhaps we should have an event during Bike Month. Erica, Joel and Paul will discuss this.
Jim said that at TdK not much effort is required to get the shops involved. Erica noted that they tend to want to show merchandise, and that it takes effort to encourage them to provide engaging activities.
e. Membership Drive update
Larry said that we should work on getting organizations to become members. Paul noted that we are a member of other organizations. He will work to get the Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society (AABTS) to join us. He made a formal, written request to the AABTS board and officers to determine if they will have their own bicycling advocacy and safety committee or whether they would want us to have that role.
Erica reported that there will be an Outreach meeting in the near future, tentatively Saturday morning, Feb 19th, at Sweetwaters on Washington Street at 9 a.m. Everyone is welcome.
The Washtenaw Wanderers Walking Club has about 50 members, Jim reported, and they have active outreach.
f. Website update
Karen reported that the goal for getting the website going is March.
Karen would like us to think about whether we want to have ads.
Erica thinks we should not have ads, unless we set very strict policies about who can place an ad. Pete said that the amount of revenue relative to effort for Google ads is insignificant. Karen said that isn’t necessarily so. Paul said we have to consider our non-profit status.
g. Fund raising
Jim posed an idea: We have a mission throughout the year, with a good slogan, and perhaps every time there is a good checkpoint we reintroduce the mission. In each season we push different items. We arrange a deal to have the bike shops go into it, or we do it on consignment. He mentioned reflectors and vests as potential saleable merchandise.
Karen mentioned that one group has the logo “Drive Nice.”
Pete heard that bicycling without lights can draw a $175 ticket.
h. Board retreat review
Erica thinks we should take some time to review the work summary, but we can do that before the next item.
Pete suggested that we have a different meeting to go over the summary. Karen suggested we do it via e-mail. Pete noted that last year the review kept sliding, and we probably should review it every few months.
Jim is taking over this project and so he will be the one to set up a meeting.
Erica reminded us what we have in the work summary for February and March: This included the Bike Summit in March, and reviewing board descriptions. Lily will look to see if she has the board descriptions. Erica thinks we need to review them to make sure we are doing our jobs. Paul said we should post them on the web site.
Joel suggested that the work plan include a list of our committees. Another near-time item: Select membership co-chair. Joel has interest in that. Another item: Provide biweekly member outreach meetings.
Erica reported that the city is considering a Complete Streets resolution. The resolution considered is the minimum that is required to qualify for the State’s Complete Streets legislation. Erica believes we should advocate for a stronger ordinance. She suggested we look for a model. Paul said he would try to get good examples from cities that have exemplary plans. Lily offered to get involved in gathering this information, too.
A resolution could go to council as early as March 7.
Joel suggested that this could be a chance to specify in the ordinance the city’s financial commitment to non-motorized transportation.
i. WBWC on Lucy Lance show
A recording is posted on the new website. Erica suggested we assemble a list of talking points for use on such occasions.
A Lucy Lance show is planned with Jim Walker of the National Motorist Association, and Erica said that we should try to participate.
j. Board work plan
See above.
k. Discuss plan to address Ford Blvd issue
Pete reminded us that Kris has said that we should get involved in this; write a letter or plan to be there. Paul wrote a draft letter.
Jim noted that the objector’s driveway was a particularly high accident area. Paul assured Jim that that was known, and he wanted to keep our letter more positive.
Karen wondered if he should include information about the safety benefits for motorists. Paul’s letter references some web sites. Pete suggested noting that residents along some road diet conversions appreciated being able to access their mailboxes more safely.
Lily said that the objector was going outside the public process.
Erica asked if there are other organizations that would get involved. She mentioned adjacent apartment managers or other local interested parties.
Erica will send Paul the WBWC letterhead.
6. Committee Reports
a. Social
Pete reminded us that there will be a RAT get together this week rather than a ride.
Erica said that she feels that these board meetings at the Ecology Center are not a good place to introduce people to WBWC. She contacted Arbor Brewing; they would let us use their tap room for $15 plus a $50 bartender fee.
Jim thought that the upper floor of the Cottage Inn might be available.
Erica suggested that this could be done not every month but maybe every few months.
Jim said that there is a space in the University Art Museum.
Erica said that what keeps us from progressing is all the time spent getting through
business meetings.
Erica said that this will be discussed at the public outreach meeting.
Paul suggested alternative meetings, rather than trying to combine outreach with business. (In the past the WBWC has tried combining purposes, by reserving part of the evening of the board meeting for outreach and unstructured discussion.)
7. WBWC General Business
Organization-building
a. Newsletter
Pete reminded us that we must submit articles to Erica.
Outreach
a. Cycling skills classes for kids and adults
Erica arranged for Kathy Vonk to participate in a cycling skills class. It is targeted at 5th graders going into 6th grade but it is open to all middle school students. It won’t be comprehensive, it will provide some knowledge to kids becoming more independent on bikes. Kathy Vonk trains bicycle police officers. Erica met with Ann Arbor Rec & Ed; they will conduct registration and promotion.
Rec & Ed requires that a fee be charged.
Paul, Carol Hahn, and Erica will meet to discuss this. Carol Hahn might be able to
incorporate a helmet give-away.
Paul reported that there is an event planned for June 14 and 15, a nationwide bicycle race. It is conducted by a bicycle racing group and a children’s’ health group. Paul told them that if they come to this county they should make an instructional presentation.
Jim suggested that Paul check with the Heart Foundation.
Paul will contact the Velo Club to get information about the instruction for kids that they have offered.
Lily is interested, and wonders if this could become an ongoing event.
8. Upcoming Events
a. Pete had an e-mail communication with Nancy Shore. She is modifying bike to work day, trying to have events going on all day. She would like to have a RAT ride that night. Pete “was fine with that,” and with having two RATs in one month.
b. Erica reported that Kris wants to bring back Curb Your Car Month.
9. Discussion about Reports from other groups
a. AATA TMP committees
In their transit plan they want bike lanes and pedestrian enhancements. They won’t pay for the bike lanes and pedestrian enhancements, but they want them to be included as a part of the overall transportation plan.
Pete noted that there are companies that have decided against settling in Ann Arbor because the transportation amenities for young people are not good.
b. Fuller Road Transit Center
Joel reported on his efforts to modify plans for the Fuller Road Transit Center.
The draft report from the U-M Institute for Sustainability is now available on line: http://www.graham.umich.edu/pdf/phase2-transportation.pdf
Larry said that the plan should show where the future plan should go, yet at present it does not show future path locations.
10. Adjournment
