Bicycle Board Members,

This is a call for the Education Committee members to renew their commitment to the Education Program.  It is also a call for any Bicycle Board member to volunteer to become an Education Committee Member to implement the $74K Effective Bicycling Education Program grant that we got.  Please reply.

First, I want to recognize and thank the people who got us this far.  Marilyn, Chip and Don Dickerson worked several evenings creating the recommendations for the Education Program that the Traffic Commission reviewed and approved.  Bill Reger-Nash, Greg Good, Chip, Nick and Jeff Mikorski worked through several drafts under deadline pressure to submit the Transportation Enhancement Program grant on time.

And now, the fun starts.  The next step is to re-organize the Education Committee and to make a plan to do what we promised in the grant application.  (Attached)  If we are going to involve WVU faculty and staff, we need to have a plan finished this month so that we can engage them before finals and the next semester begins.

To be able to reimburse people working on the grant, the City required that the application identify a registered business entity through whom they could pay the reimbursements.  You'll see in the grant application an organization chart that shows Positive Spin administering the grant.  Last week, Nick and I met with Jeff Mikorski, Assistant City Manager.  Following are the notes from that meeting.

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On 7-November, Nick Hein and Frank Gmeindl met with Jeff Mikorski to define the accountability relationships between Positive Spin, the Bicycle Board and the City.
 
Action Items

1. Nick will obtain a model contract used by other not-for-profit organizations that have worked with governments.
2. Frank and Nick will participate in a 20-Nov. 2:00 pm meeting at the City Manager’s office with the WVDOH to review the Scope of Work of the Morgantown Effective Bicycling Education Program.

 Conclusions

1. The City has escrowed $34K that can be used for up-front costs for the Morgantown Effective Bicycling Education Program.
2. Vendors will bill the City Manager directly for work that they do on the Program.  For example, if the Dominion Post runs ads, the Dominion Post will bill the City.
3. For work done by entities that are not licensed businesses, Positive Spin will record their expenses and a justification on a monthly invoice that the Bicycle Board will approve and submit to the City Manager.
4. The grant period is 3 years but the funds can be spent in less than 3 years.
5. The City needs a contract with Positive Spin that defines roles and responsibilities of Positive Spin and the City. 
6. The sequence of activities that lead up to the contract are: a) organize the Bicycle Board Education Committee; b) Develop detailed project plan; c) Develop and execute contract.
7. Jeff Mikorski can publish materials such as graphics and public service announcements on TV channel 15.

Frank
Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles