Bicycle Board Members,

Currently, we're scheduled to present the Greater Morgantown Bicycle Plan to the City Council at its March 27 Committee of the Whole meeting.  The conclusion of our presentation is a recommendation that they direct the City Manager to implement the plan.

Tuesday, Damien and I met with Terrence and J.R. Sabatelli (City Finance Director) to discuss budget.  Assuming that the CC directs Terrence to implement the Bicycle Plan, Terrence said there may be opportunity in the mid-year budget adjustment to add to the current capital escrow budget for bicycle projects.  This will probably be less than a few tens of thousands of dollars but we need to provide a prioritized set of recommendations, hopefully from our plan.  PLEASE REPLY IF YOU WILL HELP DEVELOP THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

Terrence has scheduled a follow-up meeting April 7, 4:00-4:30 pm with me, Terrence, Terry Hough and Bill Austin so waiting until our April 5 BB meeting is too late.

Currently, the 2012-2013 Capital Escrow budget includes $12.5K for the Mon Blvd. bicycle climbing lane; $164 for bicycle parking and $960 for education.  We also need to recommend what to do with the $164 and $960.  We have latitude.


Frank D. Gmeindl
Chairman, Morgantown Municipal Bicycle Board
LCI #1703
491 WilsonAvenue
Morgantown, WV 26501
304-376-0446
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles

Begin forwarded message:

From: Frank Gmeindl <frank.gmeindl@comcast.net>
Date: February 29, 2012 10:30:01 AM EST
To: Bicycle Board <bikeboard@cheat.org>
Subject: Fwd: Budget

Bicycle Board Members,

I don't really understand how the City's budgeting process works but it might help if you encouraged your  councilor to support our request rather than the proposed budget.  Specifically, the proposed budget does not include Shared Lane Markings ($35K) or Bike Route signs ($10K) that we requested.  

Four years ago, we had $35K in the budget for Shared Lane Markings that got reassigned in subsequent years because the City and State sat on their hands.  

The proposed budget for education ($960) and parking ($164) is just carryover from prior years.

The only new money is the $12.5K for " Bike Lanes".  That's probably the Mon Blvd. bicycle climbing lane and would be the 50% cost share in a deal Terrence made with WVDOH to fund the other half.  (We also submitted to Bikes Belong a grant for $10K to make up part of the $12.5K but we can't count that until we get the grant.)

If we get the Bikes Belong grant, the City will only be spending $2.5K for bicycling of FY2013 money.

Frank

"For the equivalent cost of a single mile of freeway, we have a bike infrastructure" - John Adams, Mayor, Portland OR



Begin forwarded message:

From: Frank Gmeindl <frank.gmeindl@comcast.net>
Date: February 28, 2012 11:15:06 AM EST
To: Bicycle Board <bikeboard@cheat.org>
Subject: Budget

Bicycle Board Members,

If you're interested, the attached file compares a request that I gave Terrence and what was proposed to City Council.  

Frank