On Jan 26, 2012, at 1:23 PM, Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote:
So is it o.k. if I send my councilor the plan before the upcoming meeting?
It would probably be better if you told her it was coming from you first. I could have simply sent the plan to all the council members but Terrence said he wants to hand it out to them at the meeting.
I created the presentation, http://db.tt/DsTBfBVt to provide a short summary of the plan. You could use it in a discussion with her about the plan and then send her the presentation as well as the plan.
What I am getting to here is that we will probably have a clearer picture after the Committee of the Whole meeting this Tuesday concerning the Council Member's viewpoints. From the best of my knowledge, no official actions are taken at COWs. I would encourage all BB members to attend and possibly speak in the public portion to expound on the positive benefits of the plan. If you can't attend, you could email Council Members. After the COW we can take inventory by talking to our respective councilors so that we are prepared for the official meeting on February 7th.
Good ideas! Especially since our next BB meeting is Feb. 2. Thanks!!!
When I talk to Linda, if there is a lot of resistance, I can use my prior knowledge about what she told me as a lever.
-Jonathan
On 1/26/2012 11:56 AM, Frank Gmeindl wrote:
How will you hold her to it?
This morning, I had a 15 minute telecon with my councilman, Bill Byrne and then sent him the presentation and the plan. He was very supportive and also provided some important guidance for the presentation:
- Don't get dragged into a discussion about trade-off between supporting bicycling and supporting automobiles e.g. patching potholes vs. installing bike lanes. Keep on topic about bicycling and the positives to the community of supporting the bicycling plan.
- Let Terrence handle budget issues if raised. Particularly, let Terrence discuss how he will manage to fund plan implementation.
- Invite councilors to review the plan and give comments on the recommended actions and their priorities as well as anything else.
Frank
On Jan 25, 2012, at 11:06 PM, Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote:
Linda is in my district, and that is what she told me, and I am holding her to it.
-Jonathan
On 1/25/2012 10:39 PM, Frank Gmeindl wrote:
I think it may take some talking to explain how cycling can reduce traffic congestion. I can imagine some people thinking of cyclists just being in the way and keeping them from getting where they're going faster.
You say that Linda Herbst favors a more bicycle/pedestrian friendly town but I recall that one of her points in her election campaign was that the city wasted $73K on a bicycle education program and she didn't even realize that 80% of that was federal money that wouldn't have come into the town without that education program.
OTOH, I would expect Ron Bane to be supportive because he frequently rides the rail trail and even competed against Jim Manilla in some race on the trail once. (I've heard that the first striped divider on the trail resulted from his hitting the wall in that race at that curve on the Deckers Creek trail just up from the river.)
On Jan 25, 2012, at 8:01 PM, Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote:
I was waiting to hear what others had to say. I don't think it is strictly necessary, but it wouldn't hurt, and knowing about concerns ahead of time would be useful.
It goes without saying that Traffic congestion is one of the major issues in Morgantown, and it is unlikely that any councilperson will attempt to tear apart a plan that helps to alleviate this issue. Jenny Selin is on our mailing list, has attended our meetings, and is a strong advocate, Wes Nugent is on the Traffic Commission so he knows about the plan, Linda Herbst strongly favors a more bicycle/pedestrian friendly town, Ron Bane bicycles, Marti Shamberger and William Byrne should present no problems, and Jim Manilla has has a history of involvement with transportation issues, e.g., yesterday he was at the Mileground meeting.
That being said, Ron Bane usually has some sort of concern that he draws out in City Council meetings, so someone may want to talk to him.
-Jonathan
On 1/25/2012 5:45 PM, Frank Gmeindl wrote:
Apparently, a reply I sent January 23, 2012 11:23:11 AM EST to gunnar fell out of this thread so I'll repeat here:
> I would ask other BB more politically astute members to answer your question since, as you know, I am probably the least socially adept member of the board. Being the simple minded geek that I am, I would tell my councilor that I ask him or her to support the plan. If he or she would indulge me, I walk through the powerpoint presentation or its content to tell him or her why he or she should support the plan. Of course, most important is to have a conversation with him or her to understand and address his or her concerns. At best, you would enlist his or her support. At worst, you could learn his or concerns so we won't get blind-sided and can be prepared to address them during the meeting if they come up. (I will confess that I am quite anxious about talking with my councilor but I will do it.) I guess people really do delete my messages before reading.
On Jan 25, 2012, at 4:32 PM, Gunnar Shogren wrote:
> Bump. > > I haven't yet either. Was thinking about it this morning though. > > On Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 12:38 AM, Derek Springston > dspringston@gmail.com wrote: >> Is anyone taking a stab at exactly what we should say or write to the >> Councilor's? Just curious to see if this is moving along and if anyone has >> contacted them yet. I haven't done either. Have you? :) >> Thanks, >> ~Derek >> >> >> On Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 11:23 AM, Frank Gmeindlfrank.gmeindl@comcast.net >> wrote: >>> On Jan 23, 2012, at 10:49 AM, Gunnar Shogren wrote: >>> >>>> Sounds like a good idea (us contacting our councilors), >>>> >>>> But would should we say? >>> I would ask other BB more politically astute members to answer your >>> question since, as you know, I am probably the least socially adept member >>> of the board. Being the simple minded geek that I am, I would tell my >>> councilor that I ask him or her to support the plan. If he or she would >>> indulge me, I walk through the powerpoint presentation or its content to >>> tell him or her why he or she should support the plan. Of course, most >>> important is to have a conversation with him or her to understand and >>> address his or her concerns. At best, you would enlist his or her support. >>> At worst, you could learn his or concerns so we won't get blind-sided and >>> can be prepared to address them during the meeting if they come up. (I will >>> confess that I am quite anxious about talking with my councilor but I will >>> do it.) >>> >>>> On Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 10:12 AM, Frank Gmeindl >>>> frank.gmeindl@comcast.net wrote: >>>>> Bicycle Board Members, >>>>> >>>>> Thanks to Ryan, Butch, Chet, Colin and Chip for reviewing the draft >>>>> powerpoint presentation of the bicycle plan to City Council. Trying to >>>>> resolve Butch's comments, my response and Chet's response about showing >>>>> the >>>>> Bicycle Plan to Councilors before the Jan. 31 meeting, I would >>>>> encourage you >>>>> to contact your councilor and enlist their support. Here is a list of >>>>> Councilors, their wards and BB members that live in their wards. >>>>> >>>>> First Ward Deputy-Mayor, Ron Bane: >>>>> (citycouncilward1@cityofmorgantown.org) >>>>> Colin >>>>> >>>>> Second Ward Mayor, Jim Manilla: ( >>>>> citycouncilward2@cityofmorgantown.org) >>>>> Butch, Hugh >>>>> >>>>> Third Ward Wes Nugent: (citycouncilward3@cityofmorgantown.org) >>>>> >>>>> Fourth Ward Jennifer Selin: ( citycouncilward4@cityofmorgantown.org ) >>>>> >>>>> Fifth Ward Marti Shamberger:( citycouncilward5@cityofmorgantown.org) >>>>> gunnar, Betsy, Adam Henry >>>>> >>>>> Sixth Ward William Byrne:( citycouncilward6@cityofmorgantown.org) >>>>> Frank >>>>> >>>>> Seventh Ward Linda Herbst: ( citycouncilward7@cityofmorgantown.org) >>>>> Jonathan, Marilyn >>>>> >>>>> For your convenience, here are links to >>>>> The Plan: http://db.tt/2NaSlSZ4 >>>>> The PowerPoint presentation: http://db.tt/DsTBfBVt >>>>> >>>>> I would appreciate your giving me a heads up before 1/31 on what they >>>>> say. >>>>> >>>>> 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 Gmeindlfrank.gmeindl@comcast.net >>>>> Date: January 12, 2012 2:58:43 PM EST >>>>> To: Bicycle Boardbikeboard@cheat.org >>>>> Subject: Morgantown Bicycle Plan >>>>> >>>>> Bicycle Board Members, >>>>> >>>>> Please find attached, a draft presentation of the Greater Morgantown >>>>> Bicycle >>>>> Plan to the City Council that is schedule for January 31. Please >>>>> review it >>>>> and reply to all with comments to improve it or your concurrence with >>>>> it. I >>>>> currently contains 9 short slides that I think I can present in the >>>>> 5-minutes I expect to have to present it. >>>>> >>>>> The attached is in ppt format. Please let me know if you have any >>>>> trouble >>>>> opening it. I'll work with you to get it to you in a format that you >>>>> can >>>>> view it. >>>>> >>>>> 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 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Bikeboard mailing list >>>>> Bikeboard@cheat.org >>>>> http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Bikeboard mailing list >>> Bikeboard@cheat.org >>> http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard >> >> -- >> Let deeds, not words, be your adorning. -'Abdu'l-Baha >> >> “Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future >> of the human race.” -H.G. Wells >> _______________________________________________ Bikeboard mailing list Bikeboard@cheat.org http://cheat.org/mailman/listinfo/bikeboard