The Context Sensitive Streets Special Committee to the City Council wrapped up their work yesterday afternoon with two draft pieces of legislation. The Committee chair, Councilwoman Boyer lead the effort with efficiency and charm throughout all the meetings which began in September. The other Council members were equally attentive and hard working. When this legislation passes, our City will have a lot for which to thank them.
Each council member on the committee deserves praise for their part in this effort. Councilman Redman gave consistent support for a full time bicycle pedestrian planner. He always had praise for the work of the volunteers and staff of the Jacksonville Bicycle Pedestrian Committee.
Councilman Carter admitted that he didn't know much about Context Sensitive Streets at the beginning of the Committee meetings but his constant attendance and participation has given him a great education and he participated fully in the creation of the legislation. Councilman Anderson's detailed analysis of conflicting and overlapping regulations and authorities resulted in a more cooperative planning effort among city departments and a clear simplified draft legislation.
Those of us who attended meetings found them to be interesting plus a refreshing look at the work of the City Council.
Quote from: Jumpinjack on February 28, 2013, 11:42:03 AM
Councilman Anderson's detailed analysis of conflicting and overlapping regulations and authorities
What did Anderson say regarding conflicting regulations and authorities?
Edit: Thanks for the update.
This sounds like a positive step, but is a bike/ped planning position necessary or useful? Is planning our problem? I thought we had a pretty good plan set up, we just lack the execution, and Council lacks the will. Perhaps I am ignorant of something at work here, but is there 40 hours a week of work that could be accomplished strictly on planning bike/ped infrastructure?
Just speaking in general - the regulations of the Public Works Department and the policies of the Planning Department overlap and in someways conflict. Jim Robinson and Calvin Burney have met to work on how these guidelines will affect their departments and work. The position of a full time bike-ped planner also created some overlapping responsibilities which needed sorting out.
To Pee Jay -Yes, Jacksonville is one of top three most dangerous cities in the nation for bikes and pedestrian deaths. There is a lot of work to change and remedy that situation.
Quote from: Jumpinjack on February 28, 2013, 12:17:05 PM
Just speaking in general - the regulations of the Public Works Department and the policies of the Planning Department overlap and in someways conflict. Jim Robinson and Calvin Burney have met to work on how these guidelines will affect their departments and work. The position of a full time bike-ped planner also created some overlapping responsibilities which needed sorting out.
To Pee Jay -Yes, Jacksonville is one of top three most dangerous cities in the nation for bikes and pedestrian deaths. There is a lot of work to change and remedy that situation.
But is it work in a professional planning sense? I look at it as working on hearts and minds. The people, via our representatives, do not (or have not and are slowly coming around) care about bike/ped infrastructure.
Boyer is one of the hardest working and best Council-Persons Jax has had in recent memory. Congrats to her and the rest of the committee for a job well done.
Definitely a positive step, and much needed. PeeJay, from what I understand they'll take over part of the work on bike/ped planning that others are already doing, and be able to focus specifically on these items. There's a clear need for that.
Great news indeed! Congrats to Councilwoman Boyer and the others who were a part of the Context Sensitive Streets Special Committee.
I guess my question is "will this planner be an advocate as well?". Plans are out there and the theory behind the planning is not exactly rocket surgery, we have just yet to implement. I'm just wondering what this planner would be doing with his or her time.
I think this Special Committee points to advancement of the bike/ped advocacy, I just don't see how an additional planner fits into the picture. If we hired a consulting company to plan the bike/ped infrastructure throughout the entire city of Jacksonville, how long would it realistically take? Would they need to hire a new employee to work full time in perpetuity?
^Plenty of cities have a dedicated bike/ped planner. It is good that we're finally moving in that direction.
the bike/ped planner will be responsible for looking at all roadway and development plans and making sure that bicycle facilities are included where feasible....that alone makes the position worthwhile