Judiciary & Administration Committee - Regular Meeting

Yeah. She's she's

We heard that Sartul Hughes was planning to join? Okay. So we'll give an extra couple of minutes here.

I didn't get back to you. I don't think it's I'll be back

to Eric, and I forgot to

have that. Okay. Yeah. No worries. Yeah.

Nikki asked me to close the door.

Well, why don't we go ahead and get started? It appears we have everybody from the committee either in person or online except, officer Hughes at the and I'm hoping she'll be able to join us momentarily. So welcome, everyone. I am joining and chairing remotely. I'm hoping people can hear me okay.

I'm hoping I can hear people on the discussion. As I had mentioned earlier, it's sometimes a bit challenging online to at least for me to discern when multiple people start talking and hearing them clearly, so I'll do my best. First item on the agenda is the approval of the 04/14/2026 meeting minutes. I'd be looking for a motion to approve those minutes.

I'll move to approve.

Okay. A motion, by Robbie. Do we have a second? Second by Randy. Any any corrections or modifications to the minutes?

Not seeing any. All those in favor of approving the minutes as presented, say aye or thumbs up.

Aye.

Any opposed? Not seeing any. Okay. Our minutes are approved. Our first agenda item is a discussion of pedestrian related opportunities. And for that, we have our ADA coordinator and sidewalk. I'm sorry, Colin. I don't have your exact title, but sidewalk guru, Colin Haldeman from engineering joining us. And, Colin, I think we hear from a lot of folks that, you know, pedestrian issues are very important just as we are very concerned about bicycle issues or mobility issues. Pedestrian issues are very important.

And I guess we were looking for your perspective on, you know, how things are when it comes to pedestrian access, what type of work you're involved with, including accessibility, and what type of projects are in store. And I guess the last thing, I know that the consultant, Benish, has been working on, you know, looking at our facilities, looking at our buildings. If you could give us an update on that, in particular, related to pedestrian issues.

Yeah. Thanks for having me. I can start off with the benefits. They have, well, three more facility inspection sheets they have to send me yet, and they'll be completely done with all of our facilities for the year. And then the next process is to actually write the final product, I guess, of the entire draft of our transition plan.

It's gonna be very long, extensive, and once they have it all put together, we'll figure out a timeline of what would be realistic for the city of La Crosse to actually become fully compliant city. It's gonna be a very long process, but it looks good. Honestly, everything's been moving along really well. Ben has just done a great job with keeping me a little bit where they are, where how fast we go along. If they if I have any questions that really pop up on a day to day basis on certain things, I can ask them any questions that willing to help out.

So they've been a great company to work with. As far as other projects and things that are going on, I'm fixing other sidewalk, trip hazards on a day to day basis. Anywhere around the city. I have a entire list of sidewalk complaints that are made by residents that that's how they bring to my attention. I go and walk certain section of the city each every year to see what kind of trip hazards or the very emergent situations we need to have taken taken care of each year.

So the loss the list gets very long very quickly. Budget doesn't always allow to get a lot of things accomplished each and every year, but do our best what we got. There's another sidewalk infill project that's happening down on 29th Street this year that will go from James Street to Highland Street, I believe, around 29th Street down there by Hinchin Elementary. So we almost have a full connection back to Hinchin again. We have a full connection made from on 28th Street from Hinchin Elementary all the way up to Diagonal Avenue or Diagonal Road in Hoth Street there.

So it'll take some time to fill that entire neighborhood in yet. But, yeah, you know, other questions I can answer, I guess, about that more specific, I guess.

I guess, Colin, what what do you find is the most is the major concern from residents when it comes to pedestrian, access, whether it's sidewalks or intersections or whatever?

In my realm of the world here, would definitely be, sidewalks and curb ramps for my two biggest, thing you've kind with me about sidewalk trip hazards that all of a sudden you can really see underneath the entire sidewalk, you know, that's a tree that hasn't lifted so badly or the new curb ramps that are going in downtown, people don't like them. But it's tough to retrofit stuff in a in an older city like La Crosse. It's a challenge every day to make sure people have the access they're they're supposed to have. But, yeah, those are two probably big ones, honestly.

What about pedestrians? Signaling. I know for the auditory signals, where are we with that throughout the city?

I'll just stuff better than I can.

We have a project for all these signals on connecting highway to replace the pedestrian signals with accessible ones, but that's a slow process, and we have to decide if it makes sense to put those in before the state comes through and replaces all of the signals, or if we should just sit back and wait and not spend the money. The signals that are not on connecting highway, we do not have a funding source right now to replace them, so it will be on a as the signal is replaced or as the signal is worked on basis. As far as our the rectangular rapid flashing beacons, those are also on a replacement basis, which means we're looking at some of them not being replaced for thirty years unless a complaint or were forced to do it earlier. So just to be upfront.

Stephanie, do we have an idea? Is there a ballpark figure for replacing those signals at an intersection cost for doing that?

It's not an easy cost per intersection. For instance, downtowns don't downtown signals don't have push buttons, which means every single pole well, every single corner will need buttons installed. That's much more costly than replacing the existing infrastructure, and that's assuming that the existing infrastructure has the right number of wires to each corner. So it's not an easy dollar amount I can provide because they're all gonna be unique.

Are there any grants, federal grants, state grants for accessibility for doing those? And if so, are those things we're applying for or have tried or or considering?

We applied for replacing. That's why we were planning on replacing them on the connecting highway. That was a grant we received. Well, not a grant. A a project we received from the state. However, the timing doesn't quite make sense, especially when I applied for it, it was before the majors was talked about. Now that we know the major's coming and when the majors is coming, it doesn't make sense to replace them all when the state's gonna come through and replace most of the cities.

Thank you. Others have questions either there in the conference room or online? Andrew, go ahead.

Thanks, Larry. Thanks for being here and for giving us some insight into what's going on. I I guess my question is about is on signal again? I I also just wanna appreciate, you know, the replacement of sidewalks and having to deal with all the complaints that probably come in. I'm certainly one to use the three one one app to share all my my issues that I find.

But I wanted to ask about leading pedestrian intervals. And I know that there are some newer signals that seem to have some leading pedestrian intervals. Although in other communities, I've it seems as though the leading pedestrian interval at the time is longer than, what we have here in La Crosse, and that just you know, it makes things a lot more comfortable. And so I guess I'm interested if there's, like, a standard that we have on that, or or what's the the kinda the the knowledge or the the standard practice that we're doing with leading pedestrian intervals.

I'll take that one as well. The city cannot use leading pedestrian intervals because we use five section heads. That is a the one downfall of using five section heads because it doesn't provide the information for the left turning vehicles why they are being forced to wait, and it causes a conflict. The only places that we could use a leading pedestrian phase are places where it is protected only left turn phases. And we don't have very many of those because they cause extra delay for the left turning vehicle.

So you might have seen them in other municipalities, but typically not in the city of La Crosse for those reasons.

I didn't So it something about a five five phase. Is that what you said?

Yes. Listen. So as you're driving, you see a head that has five fall or, like, indications on it.

Okay.

So it's the three green, yellow, red ball, and then it's a green and a yellow arrow. We call it a five section head because it has five sections on it. The alternative way to provide permissive left turns is what we call a four section head in the signal world where it's a flashing yellow arrow. As a city, we have put our foot down and said no to the flashing yellow arrow, and it's a conversation we keep having with the state. I could go into the details, but then I'm getting to technical on stuff that's related to vehicles, not bikes and bikes, and they don't feel appropriate here.

So

Okay. Let me just make sure I've so so because we we rarely have a a left turn only phase, like, I'm thinking, like, La Crosse Street is one that we have, La Crosse and West. Like, those are the the the intersection a

left turn only. That's a five section head. It has a permissive left turn phase.

Okay.

Alright.

You have a question. I guess I guess I don't know what leading indicator is then. That means pedestrians can go first, and we just don't want confused left turn drivers. It operational wise Uh-huh. It would put an additional delay, and it it would, yes, confuse a left turn vehicle. Why am I why am I not getting my brain? Yes. Yeah.

Okay.

And per the federal standards, you can't have the leading pedestrian phase unless you are

making it very clear to the left turn. Like a red no turn arrow? Like a six head? Yes. Okay. Per se. Yeah. Okay. Okay. I mean, because pedestrians can still walk when it's a green light.

Okay. A pedestrian can walk when it's a green ball. Mhmm. To be clear, they should not be crossing walking when it's a green arrow that conflicts. Right. The problem is is we frequently do a green ball with that green arrow for the one phase Yeah. Which means, I'm sorry. You can't go before them because we're not getting that protected Yes. Okay. Get it.

Other questions? Go ahead. Go ahead, mister Hunt. Yes, please. Yes.

Okay. So just put it just to hopefully wrap it up. So from a technical perspective, we could program the lights so that someone pushes the button to ask for a walk signal, and then it gives them ten, twenty, thirty seconds, not that much maybe, but whatever the right amount is of just a walk signal with all the other lights being red. And then after that, just a walk signal, then you can do the green arrows, green lights, whatever. Could program them that way, but we're not doing so because it would it would delay green arrow.

And so it but so first of is that basically correct? Yes. Okay. And but it would be best practice for we really showed where there's some that says that just having a red light isn't enough. It really should be a red light and a red left turn arrow? Yes. Okay.

No further questions.

But I do have other questions. Just that's it for that.

Well, if you have another question, Kevin, go ahead.

I didn't know you just so I'm trying So two questions. One is so I had a complaint about a sidewalk. I don't have the three one app. I very much get it. So I went to the website. Mhmm. I found a place to complain about potholes. The chat, is that the same mechanism, or do the streets look like how do I go through the website to get a complaint about sidewalking?

So if you're on our engineering page, you can have,

like, three one one complaint called to me. There are different subsections in there. The one you're looking for would be sidewalk or either sidewalk or pedestrian issue that would come to me instead. The bottom one's gonna go to the tree department, and I'm not gonna see it ever. Till less they forward on me, which does happen as well. That's my recommendation.

Engineering website. Yes. Great.

I'll say they don't bridge in

their way. It's good there. Yep. Great. Second question is so the especially downtown, you you mentioned before about the eighty eight eight compliant crosswalks. Yes. Yeah. So that happened through through your I mean, your program? Or okay. Yeah. Can you explain what is going on with the Northeast Corner Of 3rd And Pearl? Because that was By there? Yes. Yep. Yep. Because that before was, like, couple of smooth Yep. Sidewalks, and now there's, like, just a curve reaching out halfway to the sidewalk. Yep. And it just seems like a really bad trip hazard. Sure.

There he is. Explain what's going on with that. Sure.

Yep. So under regulations, so public rights of accessibility guideline, you're not allowed to exceed a 10 to one slope outside of any of your curb ramp grades are a lot of up to 8.3%, and then your landing zone has to be at 2%. You can go up to 8.3% to chase the grade back where you can go. Round where we have catch basins in the center of the radius and a lot of these corners downtown. Unless you have a massive area to be able to make what a 10 to one slope, so 10% slope would look like the taper your curves down on both sides and the concrete behind the catch basin down to a 10 to one, that's not illegal to do because in a wheelchair that could now mount that and could actually tip it over if they would mount that.

So now we move to square faces on every side so that alleviates the idea that a wheelchair could possibly roll up onto that and end up tipping over. Does that make sense?

Yes. Yep. Is there some other way and, I mean, this is all getting blasted through when the state redos the highway Nope. In a couple years. Yep. So just hypothetically, I guess, from my own understanding, is there another design that maybe puts us more money but would have maybe taken a bigger area I'd like to work with to not have this, like, curve Yep. Extending it to the the sidebar?

Absolutely. You can move the out of the radius completely, and that would alleviate the entire problem. But it's moving the city. You know, moving a lot of underground infrastructure, probably creates the street quite a bit. You have to raise a lot of the streets to market in the direction. So it's something more costly option. The state is actually the first one that started doing these concrete we call concrete pies. You know, the catch basins, like, on Jackson Street, like, on Jackson Street. They do that. But that's kinda what we're all, I guess, from a federal government standpoint, state government standpoint, stuff like that.

It's also good for cane detection for people with low vision or no vision as well. It's within that cane detection area, and it actually helps build what what they call, like, a funnel point where you have a raised curve here and a raised curve here with both sides and actually can steer you in the correct direction. And then when you get to that that concrete pie, it also adds another level of funneling where we want them to actually cross and walk instead of if that concrete pie didn't exist there, another pro right rule that if there's a curve that does not exist, you have to have those detectable warning plates all the way around that curve that signifies to anybody that's low vision that there is you're going out into an out street or crossing area of any sort. So we didn't wanna do that either because you put those those warning fields in the center of that. Could really send them all, like, almost trying to walk kiddie corner to subway there instead of walking crosswalk or where it would

be. Well, then I guess last thing about that. That'll make sense. Can we get it, like, pink yellow or big vertical there? No.

We can't So every Maintenance might Yep. So every every one I install, I tell every adjacent property owner, so I do tell if you go over that. If you so choose to do that, totally fine. City won't do it because it's a maintenance issue that end up costing us quite a bit of money to continue to do. But if they wanna handle it and do that, they certainly can. I built one up on Gillette And Rose right there by Subway, and Subway kinda did the same thing, and they would paint the entire curve yellow to sick of people, and that was there. So we just put down the adjacent property. That way, they wanna do that, the bills that they feel necessary. I heard some burning over here.

Sorry. I'm done. If someone rips on that, like, in front of my business Yep. Is it my fault? Okay.

It's probably right away. His problem.

Okay. Got it.

Ellen, a question. With with the state coming in and redoing some of these main arterioles third and fourth, are the catch basins in the design moved off of the corners?

They

have not begun to design Highway 53. They're starting with Highway 35 West Avenue, and a lot of those catch basins are already not in the corner. But because of the size of, as Cullen says, the five, a lot of them are still that raised concrete piece just because there's so little space between the two curb ramps that that helps delineate which one is which. Otherwise, it ends up being a large radial detectable warning field, and that causes confusion for the vision impaired.

And I'm not sure if I understood you, but when but when the downtown area is to be designed, which you said is not currently under design, that area catch basins could be moved. Is that my understanding?

Again, like Colin was saying, depends on the grades, and we won't know until they start getting into that level of design.

But is that hypothetically, yes, but I don't know for sure yet.

But is that something that could be given as a request from the city to the state that that be done in any, you know, any area that that can be done that it's requested that it's done so we can, you know, modify those curb ramps?

The state's preference is to move them out of the corners, but that's theirs to design and decide because officially state owns the storm sewer. Funding for state projects are kind of weird. Parking lane is the city. Obviously, sanitary and water is entirely the city storm, and the roadway lane, driving lanes, is state funded. So they handle this design of the storm.

We can make recommendations, but they have full responsibility to design it as they need to.

Well, I guess from my perspective, I would ask that we make that recommendation of the state. Again, they have the, review of doing it the way they want to do it, but I think we should make that case, because of the advantages. It sounds like they already tried to do that, but I think it doesn't hurt to just reinforce that with a request from the city. So when we get there, I think it would it would be nice to do that. Thank you. Any other questions for call oh, go ahead.

This is Francis. I just wanted to clarify one other thing, and, Stephanie, you kinda touched on it. So the catch basin is one controlling, and that inlet being on the on the radius is one controlling factor. The other one is the amount of space that lies between the two ramps. And the city has a standard preference to not have, type threes or offset ramps. Offset ramps would provide enough space that we could go to 10 to one slopes in that area if there were no inlets. But the city has a preference to stay to type two ramps, with no offset. So there is a little give and take there, but it's, part of that is city preference too.

Thank you, Francis. Other questions? Go ahead, Andrew.

I'm I'm still I'm I'm I'm back on leading pedestrian intervals. So with the downtown area so yeah. The downtown area, is there an opportunity with those intersections since the poles will be replaced by the state to do that? And then I guess my my my general comment is I think there's no place in in the city that I've I've almost been hit more than than at intersections when there's an a green light and people just turn left into me. And so I I think it's important to consider these leading pedestrian intervals.

So

Thank you, Andrew. Other questions? And I'm not seeing any hands raised online. Well, Colin, thank you so much for taking time out of your day to join us. You're definitely welcome to stay if you would like, but I understand you probably have other things you might wanna do, so I'll leave that up to your judgment.

Yeah. During the during the rest of the year, we may ask you to come back with any updates, especially if you get more information from Benish. I think that would be important. And I know you're working for the with the committee for citizens with disabilities, and they're this is a a high priority for them and understandably, so we wanna try to make sure we're addressing things where we can. Our next agenda item thank you again.

Our next agenda item is 26 dash zero four nine seven discussion of article six division two section 44 through two two twenty two, and this is about bicycle registration. This is through the municipal code. I know this is a question that had been brought up by Kevin. And, Kevin, would you like to start on this one?

Sure. I have a a what should be a I'm hoping a simple, straightforward request for a change to the municipal ordinances. So I'll I'll read what I've what I'd like removed. So section 44 dash two two two is titled registration required. So 44Dash222 first off, it's the wrong name. It shouldn't say registration required. It should just say registration. This is the the section about bicycle registration. So forty four dash two two two a, that this is a out of I. So there's a bunch of sections here.

E through I govern how the bicycle registration program operates. 44Dash222A says, quote, required. No person no person shall ride a bicycle upon any highway unless it is registered and take as herein provided. I just want that deleted from the municipal code. I've wanted this for ten years.

It's unnecessary. No one knows that's part of the municipal code, and it's not enforced. Bicycle registration program is a great program, but it is basically treated as a voluntary program. I think it should remain a voluntary program, and I I just want this one unenforced one with the ordinance is deleted. I have a I offered up a hospital ordinance in my private email at, I think, probably work. Unfortunately, we don't have our attorney here this month. Her absence is is noted or is or yeah. Whatever. Not noted, but we all miss Ellen, I'm sure. But, yeah, that's it.

I just want I would just wanna suggest passing a repeal of 44 dash two two two a, leaving the rest of the registration program perfectly intact. That's it. So I'm wondering if there's a process to do that. Well,

there is a process. I know we have officer Hughes with us, and it's my understanding that she may have some, I guess, comments related to that. Whitney, I'll I'll pass the floor to you.

Thank you. First of all, I apologize for being late. I was in that situation. So excuse my hurtiness. So first of all, the purpose behind the registration is more victim centered.

It is significantly beneficial when we're talking about getting bicycles back that have been stolen because a lot of times people don't necessarily have their serial number for a long period of time, and that's the best way for us to be able to track it when bikes are stolen. The other point behind that is we all know that bike is obviously an issue within the city of La Crosse. So anything that can put us ahead of that and being able to get bikes back to people is extremely beneficial. As far as enforcement actions, I believe I sent, Kevin, the enforcement that we've done over the last five years. It has been minimal.

Typically, these are handled with verbal warnings and education and explaining to people the benefits of registering your bike, which then typically will prompt people to register. Recently, we went to Garage five twenty nine, which has been a great way for people to not only keep that information accessible to them, but also then share that information with the police department. And lastly, we have also utilized this as a tool to track people that are stealing bikes that haven't been registered and being able to have that conversation with them because, typically, they're trying to register bikes that they have stolen that weren't registered. And so I think it's extremely beneficial when we're talking about trying to assist the public in maintaining their property, getting their property back, and just being a resource for them.

Questions from books. Go ahead, Andrew.

Thanks. That that I mean, I I that makes total sense, and I think transition to Garage five twenty nine has been great from a user experience too. Can you tell me more about the, you'd said that, like, if there are instances where you interact with someone with a bike that's not registered that you just give them a warning. Is there ever a time where you it's like, what is the the worst that that could be? Is there a fine?

Yeah. The worst is a municipal ordinance citation, which when I always explain ordinance citations, I explain it as a large parking ticket because everybody knows what a parking ticket is. So that's, like, the best way to explain that. Obviously, there aren't, like, long term effects of that unless you refuse to pay said citation, then that can have some ramifications. But in the instances that I did recall, I specifically knew about the one case, that citation was issued to a known bike thief.

We weren't able to track the bike back. He's been cited several times for stealing bikes, and it was a way for us to do enforcement action, and be able to have that conversation with him.

Okay. What what so when you say large parking ticket, how much is that? Or is that up to the

I I apologize, Andrew. I'm not sure what the fine amount is for failing to register

your bike.

Okay. But so

so said

not

something that Go ahead.

Like I said, it's not something that is commonly issued.

But it is useful when you do have someone who you is a known bike thief that you have something that you can charge them with. Correct.

Okay. Correct.

Other questions? I guess, Kevin, the question I have is, are you concerned about this just because it's on the books, it's not, actively used, and you just feel because of that reason it should not be an ordinance? Is that correct, or is there other other thoughts that you have related to why you want this repealed?

I mean, it's it's two things. It's we shouldn't have extraneous ordinances on the books. It's just a matter of of good governance and and keeping our municipal code clean. But, also, I'm worried that it's good one day de enforced. I mean, I don't have a bicycle that's registered. I I I would say probably 99% of people in the city are not registering for bikes. I don't know if that's a real number, but it's probably not far off from that. I mean, maybe math could happen. You know, you have to know how many bicycles are registered in the city. I I can't do well, like, if if it's I don't know.

Maybe maybe there's a thousand. Well, there's way more bikes than that out there. The fact that it's like, the we we kinda can't have it both ways where is it for the protection of victims? Okay. Well, then it should be optional.

And for for using it as a law enforcement tool, I don't see what makes bicycles different from any other form of property. I mean, we don't have TV registration to make sure that you can get your stolen TV back. Like like, if it's if it's for victims of of theft or crime, like, isn't there another case? I mean, we have, like you have to get your car registered, but that's because cars are potentially hacked as other people or, like, a parking ticket is because your activities have negatively impacted other people. But, like, forcing a potential victim to get their bicycle registered in case they become a victim of a crime, it just doesn't add up for me.

So I'm it's it's both keeping the municipal code clean and also, like, it's something that should not be enforced. And especially because section c 44 dash t two two c, I need to mention this, currently, there's no fee. Is that correct? Correct. But by municipal code, there could be a fee. Like, it's it's a long paragraph, but 44 dash t two two c says that there could be a fee. So if 44 dash 222 a becomes enforced and a fee gets attached, well, now we're introducing this barrier to to bicycle use. So, yeah, I'm I'm just concerned about potential of this being enforced one day, so let's just get it out of there. It's not a huge issue.

Council member, can I respond?

Sure. Go ahead.

So first, to address, why is there not something similar to, like, television or computers. I would say that's because it's not something that is so excessively mobile and is typically out in public and left unsupervised in public. Somebody actually has to enter your residence to steal your television unless you're taking it around with you grocery shopping, which I highly doubt you are. Secondly, as far as, like, requiring a victim to register, we have a lot of, not only, ordinances that take a victim centered approach and are there to protect the public, such as if we're talking about parking, having safe parking laws, that can also be victim centered. And so I think the fact that we are proactive in helping people be able to retain their property and get it back is very beneficial and is a huge resource to the community.

And a majority of our ordinances are very resource centered. Lastly, what I would say regarding the fee, if the ordinance were to change and we were to assess a fee, that would have to go through the same process like the group of ordinance. Would have to go in front of council. Council would have to agree, and then that would have to be something that would be pushed through. So it's not like all of a sudden the city is requesting a fee or said bike registration.

Yeah. In in in 22Dash 4 440 what's that? 44Dash222C, just to clarify, it says that the registration fee shall be set by the chief police and shall not see the amount established by resolution. So if there's no I I I don't know if there is an amount established by resolution. I'm guessing not, but I don't know.

So if the amount set by resolution is currently $0, then it would take another resolution to set up.

Other questions?

Well, from a council member's perspective, and hearing the responsibilities of police, other than other than those specific instances where we have someone that might be stealing bicycles on a regular basis, and we have the option to use this to have at least one way to issue a citation, I'm not seeing that police officers will prioritize cracking down on bikes that are unregistered, at least from what my knowledge would be. I I think the the point that this is voluntary, it truly, is. There's the police are not, again, you know, really looking for that. And at the same time, I I think it's important that we have something, you know, for the police to be able to, use this as a tool, education for registration. If something came forward that the police, for some untold reason, decided to want a registration fee, I have a feeling, the council, chambers would be inundated by people who would not be happy with that idea and, would pretty forcefully let their council members know that this was just one way that the city was looking to make money on, you know, people that are trying to use their bicycles.

So I guess I'm open for other comments, I guess, moving forward. You know, Kevin, if you wanted to make a resolution or or not a resolution. If you wanted to make a motion to strike this, that motion is something you have the opportunity. Again, we're just an advisory body, then that will require a second and an affirming vote from BPAC to try to move this forward, to check with legal to do that. I mean, that's definitely your prerogative. I guess that would be this would be your opportunity in BPAC if this is something you wanted to pursue.

I guess I'm fine not making a motion now, but I'm happy that we're all aware of it.

Mhmm.

So that if it does, become an issue in the future, which I don't anticipate, to be clear, this is mostly just kind of, something that I am personally slightly annoyed by. But, I'm happy that we're all now more aware of this, so I'm not gonna make a moment. Someone else could, but I'm not going to.

Well, I appreciate you bringing this forward. I think it is important with municipal ordinances that we do keep an eye on them. You know, sometimes they need to be updated, modified, you know, condensed, and and brought together in a single ordinance rather than multiple. But I appreciate you bringing forward, and I appreciate officer Hughes, you know, giving the justification from from police perspective why, you know, leaving it as is for now, is worthwhile. So, again, it could be revisited if something changes, and we are aware of it.

And, yeah, and let let other people know. I think it's important to let other people know that the city does have a a robust registration opportunity for their bicycles, you know, especially with the number of bicycles that have been stolen. At least this gives a a much better opportunity, you know, to hopefully find or at least let people know that those bicycles have been stolen than the previous system, which was did not have an app, did not have the opportunity to provide information and photographs. So I do appreciate the police department for moving forward with that because I think, that definitely was multiple steps up from what we had before. Any other comments about this agenda item?

Okay. Registration program is good. I encourage you a supervisor.

Thank thank you, Kevin. I do as well. And, again, thank you for bringing this forward. Our next agenda item is a discussion of twenty twenty six week without driving, and that's, October 1 through the eighth. And I believe we still have Kathy Van Meren online. Kathy, would you like to give us an overview on this?

Wait. Sorry. Thank you very much.

Oh, point of order. Wait. Andrew left us? Mhmm. Was that mentioned?

Yeah. He let me know.

Oh, sorry. Okay.

Thank

you. Go ahead, Kathy.

Oh, thanks a lot. Yes. I appreciate your adding this to the agenda and, especially now because it's a few months before a week without driving. As you probably all know, this is a national event. It's relatively new. Sorry. Can you hear me?

Yep.

Okay. It's a relatively new thing, but it's really taken off. Week Without Driving, the main purpose of this week is to bring attention to challenges that nondrivers have getting around in our car centric world. And as you probably know, WSDOT estimates in the city of La Crosse, 40% or more of residents are nondrivers. I know people don't believe that, but that's what they say.

So the we're asking the main ask is for elected officials and community leaders to pledge to try to go a week without driving. If people have to drive, it's not a failure. It's just an opportunity for those who make the decisions to experience what their decisions have brought about. And in addition to those people, everybody else is encouraged to sign up for the experience as well. The Week Without Driving people have put together a series of webinars, a whole host of resources from social media to templates for resolutions and proclamations and all kinds of other things to help all all kinds of people, agencies, businesses, nonprofits, faith groups to participate.

And so for this committee, I've just put down a few ideas of how it might benefit BPAC. You know, you could inform the public about this committee and what it does, inform the public about the bike pedestrian master plan, do walk audits or bike audits, do a pop up demonstration protected bike lane like we did about ten years ago at an open streets event. Invite the public to share their stories, do an open house, kick off a new thing. Like, some of us have been talking about trying to get a strong towns group together. Show a film about what other cities are doing to improve bicycling and pedestrian and transit access.

There's a really great new film called Cycling Cities that you can watch on YouTube. Inform our elected leaders in our area about the benefits of walking and biking since it seems like some people don't get it yet. Maybe invite a special speaker. Those are just some ideas, and I I've been kind of putting together the website and inviting people to cosponsor, which just means put your name on the list. And if you want to do more, like do an event or an activity activity or host a speaker or whatever, that would be great.

We can add it to the schedule. If you don't, that's fine too. Just help get the word out. We usually do a week without driving bingo. I think Randy was the person who came up with that idea several years ago.

So whatever you wanna do is fine, but I just wanna make sure that you know about it because summer's coming up and then suddenly it's here. And one more thing, and that is I'm hoping to work with the people at the RAD to maybe try and do a a short film friendly contest or something like that to highlight the stories of nondrivers and how we can how we can get around in other ways besides driving. Sorry that took so long, but one last thing. The place where all these great resources are available is weekwithoutdriving.org. And if people are interested in signing up as BPAC or as individuals or as individual, whoever you represent, let me know, I can send you the link to sign up.

Thank you.

Thank you, Kathy, for all that information. The recommendations you just had mentioned, the list of recommendations or or options, is that something you could, send, to me so we, want and, also, we could send it out to Jenna and Carly, so it can go to BPAC members. A lot of great recommendations or opportunities. I'm really interested about the film. And you is that free on YouTube?

Yes. It's called Cycling Cities, and I think it came out earlier this year. It it really it's mostly about Europe, but it's it's very inspiring. And it has ideas for every community wherever you are. So I can send all of this information to you, and then you can send it out to others. And these are just some ideas. But last month, the week without driving people did a webinar specifically about how to bring in bicycle advocacy to week without driving. So that might be of interest to this group.

Do they also have I mean, we're we're talking a lot about bicycling, so these things, do we also since it's week without driving, I would assume they'll have pedestrian information as well.

Oh, yeah. Everything. Bus riding, bus advocacy, bike pedestrian infrastructure improvements. Yeah. It it includes everything that's not driving.

And last question. When I know you're you are very involved in putting information out specifically for lacrosse. Do you have a time frame on when that website with events coming forward will be created?

Probably in early September if I have things by then. But it's it's always a dynamic website, so things change as they get added. Our transit advocates group will probably do a few things, and a couple of other cosponsors are planning something. So as soon as we get cosponsors who wanna do something, we we put the information out there. But I'm hoping by the September 1 or so to start having things crystallize.

Thank you. Chelsea, your hand's up. Go ahead.

Yeah. I just wanted to add. We also do have international walk to school day, October 7. So that's something we open up to all of our schools. So we can definitely tie in, like, some education on just, like, the benefits of walking and biking for the kids. And then, also, I think it would be beneficial. Beneficial. So from the Safe Routes of School standpoint, we can definitely do, like, some social media stuff for like, targeted towards youth, but then also parents of

the students.

I would also just like to recommend to this committee. I know we've kinda talked about this in the past doing some sort of education for adults, whether we do, like, a social media campaign or whatever that would look like. But I think that week without driving could be a really great opportunity to throw out some messaging on, you know, it's an it's week without driving. Here are some things to be aware of. More people might be out walking and biking and kinda just how to navigate that as a driver as well just for safety purposes. So, yeah, that's just couple ideas that I had.

That's great. And we've been talking about on the school district climate action plan group about trying to do a school street at Longfellow Middle School. And a school street is where the street in front of the school is blocked off to moving vehicles during the school drop off and pickup time to give a little more space for students who are walking and biking. And they were going to do it in the spring, but now I'm gonna hope that it can be done during that week. So we should definitely connect about that too.

Got it. Sounds good.

Kathy, do you know if AARP is involved at all in week without driving?

They have been in the past, and and I know you guys have too. So this isn't a new thing. But, yes, they have been in the past. I haven't heard back yet this year from Darren, but who's the state AARP person, but I'm hoping that they'll be part one of the cosponsors.

Thank you. Any other questions for Kathy or or comments about week without driving? Go ahead, Whitney.

I just had a suggestion because I really liked the idea of, like, the viewing the video, and we could kind of incorporate it with an idea that Kevin had mentioned before with, like, doing almost like a social time where people could talk, and we could also have informational as, like, an event during that week without driving, hosted by BikePed to also talk about the work that are we do here. So just an idea. Yeah. Not that I'm volunteering planning it. I just wanna make that clear. But I think it would be a great idea to incorporate some ideas that we've already discussed here and kinda kick it off.

We did not hear that part about you not volunteering. I think if you if you if you brought it forward, you own it. So

I think the main thing is we'd like to get people signed up as early as possible. So as we schedule events, we don't schedule over each other. And, you know, the ideal would be to have like, housing week had one or two events each day, so it wasn't overwhelming, but it offered the opportunity for people to participate as they were able. So if I think that sounded like a great idea. So if you wanted to, like, hold a date or or something like that, we could start putting together a draft calendar so that yeah. Like I said, we're not scheduling over each other.

Any other questions or comments? Well, thank you so much, Kathy, for taking time to give us this overview. I think it is very important, and it is a week to really highlight trying to get through your week without driving. However, that might be if you're walking or biking or taking mass transit, however. So thank you for doing that and doing it early in the season so we Sure. Can consider our options.

Thank you very much.

That brings us to our last agenda item, 26 dash zero four nine eight update on 2026 ride with the mayor and citywide bike rodeo. And I think I can hand this off to Jenna.

Yep. So just a quick update, and I I attached a draft flyer for the, but that'll be happening on June 12 at 9AM. Our plan Andrew's helping you plan it again this year. Our goal is to bike on what will be the future Wagonville Trail and hopefully meet the mayor of Blue Crescent It's on the West Channel. Boat landing.

So I'm still working on the logistics for everything with that, but we're planning on, yep, a a month from today, June 12. And then for bike rodeo, we're working on planning that as well. We are tentatively looking at July 21 or July 23. If we do July 21, we'll have the rain date of the twenty third, and if we do the twenty third of the date. Yeah. So I don't know if anyone has thoughts or opinions or if anyone's willing to volunteer to help with a bike rodeo. Twenty third's. K. So people bike there a lot. Yes.

So maybe twenty first, and then one of those could be back on a great day. We were thinking so we're working on planning it with our Tiny Tots program. It's the parks so we work with parks and rec to plan this, and they have a day program in Park. So we're looking at 02:30 to 04:30 for this.

So I guess That's okay on Thursday then.

Yeah. And then it would be okay on Thursday. Yeah. So, yeah, we're looking at 02:30 to 04:30 to go those kids could still attend and and come into.

Cool. Okay. Wonderful. It's great.

Kathy, you have your hand raised.

Said something.

Somebody will be here. Yeah.

Think I I as, you know, as Chelsea was talking about doing some education for parents during Safe Routes to Schools events, I'm wondering if there's ever any thought of doing education for drivers doing bike rodeos because it seems like too often we put the safety of bike riders on the bike riders and not on the people who are driving the heavy dangerous cars around. So I'm wondering if there's a a component that could be added or is part of bike rodeos that could be handed out to parents or even given to to other adults who might attend? Just let's say, here are the bike laws. Did you know bikes are vehicles that have the right to drive ride on streets and roads or anything like that? Thanks.

That's a good idea, Kathy. I can

I can try to look for some material?

I can can get it from BiteFed. Okay. I thought that I'll get shipped over here. Yep. They're like a little pocket rule books. Yeah. I thought I'd seen some.

Yep. I'll send an email right now.

Good suggestion, Kathy. Education that keeps coming back, that word all the time to this committee and others, that so much of it is making people aware of certain things, and it takes multiple opportunities for it to sink into folks that, yes, these resources or ordinances or whatever whatever are out there, and you need to be aware of them. Any other questions for Jenna about ride with the mayor or bike rodeo? I guess one question, Jenna, do we have a rain date for ride with the mayor, or are we pretty much locked into that day?

Right now, we're locked into that day, but I was gonna work on getting a rain date. The rain date will probably be in August or September given the mayor's schedule, but I was happy to get that June 12 in calendar.

K. Thank you. Any other questions?

Any other?

Although I don't see, the agenda item here about updates from committee members or, agenda items, I guess I will just put out there, if you have future agenda items, I know I have heard about, Green Bay Street and Redfield. That will be something we'll be visiting. It just take a little bit of logistics to try to get the people that we would need to touch base on that schedule to join us. But, yes, that'll be something we'll be considering moving forward. And if you have other agenda items, you know, please either email them to me or to Jenna, and we'll we, again, we meet about a week or so ahead of this meeting to establish the agenda, and we'll consider agenda items and sort of timing to try to keep the agenda from getting too long.

But we appreciate any ideas moving forward with agenda items. So it's the end of our agenda. Unless there are any objections oh, Kevin, did you have a question or a comment?

I have actually two whole liquid things. So first, this one should be quick. I feel like we should that might like, I don't know if there's a formal way to do this, but to think whoever whichever departments and workers are fixing the marsh frail. I think that looks great so far. I think it it it was very painful, literally painful virtually last year with the big gravel pit in the marsh, and they've been working hard on that. I think it looks great so far. So I don't know. I wouldn't even be opposed to doing, like can we do, like, a resolution just saying thanks for doing that? Like, can we do that real quick and make a motion for that?

No. It's not on our agenda, Kevin. So we can't we can't deal with that. So that that could be a possibility for a future agenda.

Maybe next month. Okay. Great. I'll I'll write it. Thank you. Although I don't know which departments have are working on that. So I don't know. I I just think it'd be nice to, you know when people do something for us, we should thank them. So Can you just say something?

That actually might be something nice to also share on our Citi social media on the Citi website, and maybe even get pictures of the repair shop. So one of the good ways to social media and spread that through.

We could have a grand opening. Yeah. That'd be awesome. Do do any of her.

Do you mind if I yeah. I can just let you only that I know this. Is Sammy Meyer in is kinda overseeing it and and taking care of it and Jim Flatwire.

Right. Take that moment to reiterate that's the case because this is a result partly of the TAP application. The parks directed, and that's the first parks department TAP application our city's ever done. That's Transportation alternatives program, which is federal funding that goes through the state.

Yeah.

We should spread that news.

Why don't

we, why don't we use that as an agenda item? I I am gonna call it at this because we don't have anything on the agenda for touching a base on additional items. That's unfortunate. I did not see that that was on here. If you do have future agenda items or things, again, please forward them to Jenna or myself. I do appreciate that, Kevin. I think that's a great idea. And, again, with Green Bay, we already have several, items for our next month's agenda.

That's not what I had

to think was, but, yeah, we could talk.

Yes. Thank you. Again, we're at the end of the agenda. I do appreciate everyone being here. Unless there are any objections, we will consider the meeting adjourned, and our meeting is adjourned. Thank you all so much for joining us. Great conversation. Truly appreciate it, and, enjoy the rest of your week.

I used to do driver

training programs.