Title
Updating the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan to incorporate the recommendations of the Capital City Bikeway Network Study and Design Guide as well as the Grand Round Design and Implementation Plan. (Public hearing continued from June 7)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan includes a number of strategies for improving the bicycle network and increasing bicycling in Saint Paul, such as:
Transportation 3.4 Develop and maintain a complete and connected bikeway system.
T3.4 Develop and maintain a complete and connected bikeway system.
T3.5 Support existing off-street shared-use paths and add facilities and amenities supportive of active living principles.
T3.6 Fill gaps in the bikeway system.
T3.8 Promote “bicycle boulevards as a new type of bikeway; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul City Council adopted the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan as an addendum to the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan on 3/18/March 18, 2015, and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council subsequently identified funding from the 8-80 Vitality Fund to completefunded additional study and implementation of the Capital City Bikeway and the Saint Paul Grand Round with the 8 80 Vitality Fund, and
WHEREAS, city staff from the Departments of Public Works, Planning and Economic Development, and Parks and Recreation, contributed to the findings of collaborated to develop the Saint Paul Grand Round Design and Implementation Plan as well as the Capital City Bikeway Network Study and Design Guide; and
WHEREAS, from 2015 to 2016, city staff solicited community input to help in the drafting of draft the Grand Round Design and Implementation Plan and Capital City Bikeway Network Study and Design Guide planning documents through holding open houses, workshops, and through pop-up meetings; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan must be updated to reflect the recommendations of the Grand Round Design and Implementation Plan and the Capital City Bikeway Network Study and Design Guide following completion of the Grand Round and Capital City Bikeway planning documents it is now desirable to update the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan to reflect the findings of these planning documents, and
WHEREAS, the Grand Round Design and Implementation Plan and Capital City Bikeway Network Study and Design Guide are intended to guide the implementation of their respective bikeways and allow for refinement as design alternatives are developed and evaluated; and
WHEREAS, the Grand Round Design and Implementation Plan and Capital City Bikeway Network Study and Design Guide both identify specific elements and areas that require further public outreach and evaluation before implementation, and commits city staff to performing additional outreach and evaluation before implementation, and
WHEREAS, the critical elements of the Grand Round Design and Implementation Plan and Capital City Bikeway Network Study and Design Guide, such as trail alignment and character, have been abridged and summarized; and those summaries will replace the existing text of sections 6.6 and 6.10 of the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan, respectively, and
WHEREAS, staff has recommended additional updates to the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan as outlined in a technical memorandum dated January 22, 2017, and are referred to hereafter as the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan 2017 Update and detailed in an attached document titled Proposed Revisions to the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan dated June 22, 2017; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Committee considered the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan 2017 Update materials on 1/30/ January 30, 2017; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, on 2/10/ February 10, 2017, reviewed the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan 2017 Update materials and set a public hearing date for 3/24/ March 24, 2017; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing notice for the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan 2017 Update was published pursuant to Minnesota Statute § 462.357, Subd. 5, and sent to the early notification list and other interested parties; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on 3/24/ March 24, 2017 on the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan 2017 Update, at which all persons present were allowed to testify; and
WHEREAS, the written record was left open until 4:30 PM on 3/27/ March 27, 2017; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission referred the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan 2017 Update to the Transportation Committee for consideration of the public testimony; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Committee discussed reviewed the public testimony received on 4/10/ April 10, 2017 and forwarded its recommendation to the Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission discussed reviewed the public testimony received as well as the recommendations of the Transportation Committee on 4/21/ April 21, 2017, found the Grand Round Design and Implementation Plan, the Capital City Bikeway Network Study and Design Guide, and the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan 2017 Update to be consistent with the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan and other addenda, and approved a resolution supporting the proposed updates to the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan 2017 Update is found to be consistent with the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan and other addenda;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby adopts the Grand Round Design and Implementation Plan as well as the Capital City Bikeway Network Study and Design Guide as official City policy to guide public and private investment, but not as addenda to the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Saint Paul adopts the updates to the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan as per the attached text revisions document titled Proposed Revisions to the Saint Paul Bicycle Plan dated 1/22/2017 June, 22, 2017, as an addendum to the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that staff will submit the updated Saint Paul Bicycle Plan to the Metropolitan Council for final review and approval as an addendum to the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the City Council hereby thanks the residents and visitors of Saint Paul who participated in the development of the Grand Round Design and Implementation Plan as well as the Capital City Bikeway Network Study and Design Guide, and welcomes their continued participation and support to ensure their implementation over the coming years.