Title
Adopting the Saint Paul Pedestrian Plan.
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Works initiated the Saint Paul Pedestrian Plan in spring of 2017 to identify needs, priorities, and strategies to increase the safety and appeal of walking in Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, staff from Saint Paul Public Works, Planning and Economic Development, Parks and Recreation, Department of Safety and Inspections, Police Department, Ward 1, Ward 2, Ward 3, Ward 4, Ward 5, Ward 7, and the Office of Mayor Melvin Carver guided development of the draft plan via a steering committee that also included agency partners and community members; and
WHEREAS, over 4,000 Saint Paul residents, workers and visitors shared their experiences walking in Saint Paul and helped shape the priorities and recommendations of the plan; and
WHEREAS, City staff hosted an on-line survey and two open houses, and attended approximately 55 community events, District Council meetings, or other meetings to invite community participation in the plan; and
WHEREAS, community feedback during outreach informed the priorities presented in the plan; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Pedestrian Plan has five chapters: 1) Introduction; 2) Vision, Goals and Policy Framework; 3) Engagement: What We Heard; 4) Priority Areas for Walking; 5) How We Will Support Walking in Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, City staff posted a preliminary draft of the plan on the city’s website on November 6, 2018 and solicited feedback on the preliminary draft at an open house on November 14,2018; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Committee of the Planning Commission reviewed the preliminary draft plan on November 19, 2018 and recommended that the Planning Commission release the draft plan and open the record for public comment; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission heard a presentation on the preliminary draft plan and voted to release the draft plan and open the record for public comment on December 14, 2018; and
WHEREAS the public record was open for comments from December 14, 2018 until February 11, 2019; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission hosted a public hearing on the draft plan on February 8, 2019; and
WHEREAS, six organizations submitted letters to the City and approximately 65 individuals commented via the City’s website on the draft plan; and
WHEREAS, staff reviewed and responded to all the comments received during the public comment period; and recommended changes to text, maps and figures in the draft plan; and
WHEREAS; City staff shared comments and recommended revisions to the draft plan with the Transportation Committee on March 25, 2019; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Committee voted to recommend that the Planning Commission approve City staff’s recommended revisions to the draft plan and forward it to the Mayor and City Council for adoption; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission resolved on April 5, 2019 to incorporate the revisions to the draft Saint Paul Pedestrian Plan; recommend approval of the draft plan, as amended; and forward the amended version of the draft plan to the Mayor and City Council for their consideration and adoption as an addendum to the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan; and now, therefore, let it be:
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council hereby adopts the Saint Paul Pedestrian Plan as an addendum to the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan.