Joseph Council reviews bike, walk path draft

JOSEPH — The major issue considered at Thursday’s Joseph City Council meeting was the Joseph City Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, a draft of which was presented to the council and the public by Rory Renfro of Alta Planning and Design.

“This is an initial review of the plan. It doesn’t mean we will spend any money, or that we have to spend money, just that we will have a plan if we ever do have money for the project,” Mayor Dennis Sands said.

Sidewalks and soft-surface trails are proposed from the rodeo grounds to Main Street, on many of the side streets on the east side of Main Street and on the south end of Joseph. Bicycle “boulevards” are proposed on Mill and Lake streets to discourage use of bicycles on the busy and crowded Main Street.

Priorities in the plan are the connecting sidewalk from Alpine House to downtown and also a sidewalk on McCully Avenue. According to Renfro, the plan not only includes “on-the-ground” improvements, but also a bicycle and pedestrian education, encouragement and enforcement campaign.

Council members and Joseph citizens raised concerns about changes in ordinances, the cost of maintenance of the trails, the placement of bike racks on Main Street and how the project would be funded.

Council member Troy Berglund said that after reading the plan he became aware of opportunities on his business property where he could facilitate access to bicyclists and install bike racks. He was also pleased with what the project could mean for Joseph.

“In Pomeroy, (Wash.) where I came from, the installation of curbs and sidewalks changed the appeal of that community. It looks so much sharper. I’m excited by this plan and overwhelmed by the size and cost of the project. But it is a 20-year plan and over 20 years it is not so out of our reach,” Berglund said.

The council agreed to meet in a work session Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. at City Hall to discuss the plan in detail and then consult again with Alta Planning and Design. The meeting is open to the public and is a work session only; no decisions will be made about the plan at that time. Public hearings on the plan are scheduled in April and May and a final revised plan will be presented to the council for adoption in June.

The council also heard a report from the Personnel Policy Committee chaired by Heather Tyreman. The committee has agreed that the pay chart for city employees needs to be revised and that the supervisory role of the council in relation to the employees needs to be defined.

Tyreman said the committee will be considering information from a human resources consultant at the next meeting.

“We seem to have philosophical differences regarding merit pay versus a civil service pay system overseen by city council members. The next meeting is Feb. 10 at 7:30 a.m. at City Hall. “I think it is very optimistic to say we would be finished with this by May,” Tyreman said.

Staff and mayor items on the agenda included a report from Public Works Director Rowdy Smith who attended a Northeast Area Commission on Transportation meeting where he received information on the proposed government stimulus package.

According to Smith, Joseph entered street and water projects in the request for funds but it doesn’t look like much money will be available for those requests. More information will be forthcoming at the meeting in April.

Council member Pearl Sturm announced that she, Sands and Tyreman had attended the Region 7 Small Cities Meeting and that it was very informative. She will be hosting the next meeting on April 8 with the Enterprise Councilor Margie Shaw. She encouraged council members and the public to attend the meeting, which will be held at Toma’s Conference Room in Enterprise.

Sands reported that he had attended the Mayors Day at the state Capitol with about 60 other mayors from around the state. The governor, the senate majority and minority leaders spoke about the state the stimulus package. He also met with Sen. David Nelson and Rep. Greg Smith regarding economic development and found the information helpful. He plans to continue contact with the group and with the League of Oregon Cities.

The next Joseph City Council meeting is scheduled for March 5 at the Joseph Community Center at 7 p.m.