June 2009 Minutes

[Brad Parsons]

Minutes of Watertown Bicycle-Pedestrian Committee

Monthly Meeting June 1, 2009

Present: Fred Hewett, Peter Brooks, Mari Ryan, Steve Engler, Janet
Jameson, Jeannette Belcher-Schepis, Sue Tamber, Brad Parsons

* Item: Snow Shoveling

•Council Member Vincent Piccirilli and Chief of Police Edward Deveau
attended meeting to discuss snow removal in Watertown
•Chief Deveau is keen on a “key routes” approach versus a town wide
ordinance
•To begin this would included all streets around schools
•The belief is there would have to be a town ordinance designating the
“key routes” and aprroved by the Town Council in order to impose fines
•Chief Deveau believes the Watertown Police has the resources to
enforce area ordinances
•Council Member Piccirilli dicussed the current 3 snow ordinances all
ready in place
•Once of these ordinances is that blocking sidewalks with shoveled
snow is illegal
•Some key questions and points brought up by the WBPC
What would the town be responsible for versus residents in these key
routes?
There has to be buy in from Watertown residents to make this work
Frustration was expressed over lack of enforcing current oridinaces
Janet suggested that in town wide calls from the police department
during snow events that a reminder is mentioned that ordinances will
be enforced
Mari suggested that children who walk to school participate in
community awareness for their routes
Fred recommended adding snow routes to the Watertown Walking Map
•Council Member Piccirilli recommended that the WBPC create a plan
with recommendations and present it to the Town Manager and take on
the public awareness campaign

* Item: Safe Routes to School

Jeannette’s recent updates regarding CSRS
•May 6th was Massachusetts Walk to School Day and there was good
participation despite the weather. Hosmer had a school wide walk at
10:00 once the weather had cleared; Cunniff & Lowell declined a
school wide walk due to the half day
•Pennies for Pedestrians has been extended for an additional week
•Ruth Bender is retiring so a running list of her supporting tasks
needs to be created
•Jeannette cooridinated Bike Safety Training for 4th and 5th graders
at all schools, which was a massive achievement considering how many
groups and people were involved in this effort. This was paid for by
extra funding from Mass Rides
1) June 5th is Hosmer
2) June 11th is Cunniff (5th grade only)
3) June 15th is Lowell

•Update on grants
1) O’Neil grant is still pending
2) Mass in Motion grant was not awarded
3) Watertown Community Foundation was approved and additional funds
were offered. Applied for $1,800 and received $2,400
•Plan on expanding “Walk-tober” to include a family fun night and
carbon footprint exhibit
1)Mari is working with the Parks Department to secure permits and the
publisher to help with publicity for Story walk and there is potential
for extra money to include an Armenian translation

* Tiem: Watertown Walking Map

•Prototype for map is being worked out with WBPC, Bob Sloan, Health
Department and Steve Magoon all aprticipating
•Funding is from Tufts Healthcare
•Looking to print 10K copies but also have in on-line

* Item: Crosswalk Enforcement Grant

•Mari presented on the this grant, ranges from $5K to $7.5K
•Program to run from October to April, pairs officers and volunteers
during rush hours to make sure vehicles are stopping for pedestrians
in crosswalks