BACA MEETING MINUTES

2010

December 2, 2010

November 4, 2010

October 7, 2010

September 2, 2010

BACA Board Meeting Minutes  -- August 5, 2010

6:00 p.m. at the Oyster Bar

Members present: Tom Ezell; David Holsted; Jim Britt; Steve Bentley; Judy McDowell; Judy Lansky; Ken Gould; Gordon Fisher; Claibanne Williamson.  Absent: Don Bearden, Charlie Hight, Julie Hendrix

Meeting called to order at 6:10 p.m.

Tom had previously submitted the president's report to the Board in writing, and this was used as an outline for the business portion of the meeting:

Claibanne and Tom met with Greg Eberdt from ArkansasWeb last Tuesday afternoon concerning the BACA web site.  After a short tutorial and loading a copy of FrontPage 2003 on his laptop, Tom was able to log in to the site, make a working copy, and get updates posted there. So, after about a year's time, the web site is going more or less live. A few test changes and updates have been made, mostly to check whether the system really worked. Members were asked think and let us know what you'd like to see on the web site -- news, resources, links, etc.  Tom will start adding these as he is able, based on time and connectivity.

Once we get things figured out a little more, ArkansasWeb will help us get the PayPal buttons and links adjusted so that we can accept dues and donations via the web site. This will cost approximately $25 to $30; based on the description of out previous attempts, this seems to be pretty reasonable.

We're looking for a volunteer to serve as webmaster, or at least to share the duties. Doesn't pay much (except in satisfaction), but it's a big service to BACA.

Tom extended our sincere thanks to Mike Erwin for serving as BACA's secretary over the past year and a half. Mike has had to step down in order to take better care of family business, and so we are also looking for someone to join the Board as Secretary, at least until the next elections in April 2011.

BACA Newsletter: The Constant Contact software used for the BACA mailing list and e-newsletter has been a little more expensive than initially anticipated, but seems to be working very, very well. We can probably save a substantial amount by paying for our subscription 6 months or more at a time. Claibanne presented a number of options, after short discussion the Board voted to pay for the Constant Contact service on a yearly basis, by check.  Claibanne will get a current invoice to the Treasurer for payment.  The Board noted a need to make more use of Constant Contact than just the monthly newsletter and meeting announcements.

Some members noted that expense reimbursements have been slow, and a request was made that the Treasurer bring the BACA checkbook to meetings so as to improve this problem and settle our debts more timely.

Safe Routes: The Safe Routes to School State Partnership Network is running well, and we should be on top of the specific grant deliverables. This is a two-year funding period for the grant, but we will need to sign a new contract for 2011, and will likely need to re-sign the contract for 2010, since our current signee has left BACA and gone to Texas. Since BACA continues to be the host agency, Tom will sign the new contract on BACA's behalf. Tom has received a copy of the new scope of work for review, hasn't seen the actual contract just yet. We will be taking action in the near future to formalize the structure of the State Partnership and steer this group toward becoming a sustainable organization, whether BACA continues to be the host agency after December 2011 or not.

AHTD announced the 2010 awards for Safe Routes to Schools grants early this month, with 3 new start-up grants, 5 educational grants, and 20-some-odd infrastructure grants. AHTD will be looking to use one of their educational grantees, Arkansas Childrens' Hospital, to provide oversight and assistance to the startup and educational grantees; leaving the AHTD coordinator to focus primarily on the infrastructure grantees.

Smart Cycling Classes: Brad Joseph and Tom Ezell taught the Traffic Skills 101 course in North Little Rock on July 17; 10 students registered, and 5 actually showed up and completed the class. Tom has $200 in course fees to turn over to Don for the treasury. The next Traffic Skills 101 class will be held on Friday, August 13, and Saturday morning, August 14, in North Little Rock.  On August 12, Tom will be teaching a basic Cycling Street Skills class and the Bicycling 123 Youth Instructor certification course in Fayetteville as a "train-the-trainer" program for the Fayetteville elementary schools and their 2010 Safe Routes grant award. On September 11, Preston Tyree, Tom, and Brad will be teaching the Youth Instructor Course and a Cycling Skills Clinic for Children in Bentonville on behalf of Wal*Mart headquarters. We do not plan to offer the TS 101 class in September, since the only free weekend falls on Yom Kippur. We'll offer TS 101 again in October.

Fulper Memorial Fund: The Marilyn Fulper Memorial Fund currently stands at a little over $1,100. Need to coordinate with the Fulper family to determine if they have any specific intent on what those funds should be used for.

The Board reviewed a number of options for educational outreach to the LR community.  The idea that received the greatest amount of support was an effort to include bicycling and motorist/cyclists relationships and behavior in the traffic court classes often required by the local traffic judges.  LAB has a prepared curriculum for this sort of stuff, which could be incorporated into a sort of diversion or mandatory remedial training for traffic offenders.

Strategic Planning:

Review of the vision statement and goals & objectives proposed at the July strategic planning meeting gathered no additional comments or suggestions.

Tom distributed a copy of a “Christmas wish list” collected by Claibanne at the December 2010 BACA meeting as a point of departure for considering priority projects over the next couple of years.  These projects included:

  • Bridge over to 2 Rivers Park 
  • 12 MPH speed limit on BDB 
  • That Central AR has 2 Bicycle Friendly Cities 
  • Complete the Little Rock side of the trail.  It is a public safety issue as it is today and unlike crossing gates at railroad intersections, someone should not have to die first.   
  • Get cyclists off Hwy 10.  
  • A high quality / high speed east west commuting corridor using parts of the bike path by 630 as well as the MVP by Kanis Park and extending it to Shackleford on the west and Martin Luther King on the East. 
  • Rumble Strip eradication.  
  • Finish BACA website 
  • Share the road education for both sides – (car and bike)
  • PSAs on radio/TV/Billboards, etc. 
  • Driver and cyclist and walker education – how to share the road and trail
  • A better way to get from Rebsamen to Downtown.

 

Priority Projects for 2010/2011:

“Safe Streets”  Tom outlined a possible campaign based on the resolutions announced at Marilyn’s memorial service, tentatively titled the “Safe Streets Campaign.”  “Safe Streets” would have the objective of ensuring that anyone could ultimately bike or walk safely and confidently anywhere in our community.  Safe Streets would have four elements, each a mini-campaign in itself:

  1. LR/NLR streets and roads should equitably serve all modes of travel (e.g., adoption and implementation of complete streets policies and principles in both Little Rock, North Little Rock, and surrounding community;
  2. Coordinated outreach to motorists and cyclists alike on their rights and responsibilities on the roadways;
  3. Educate and encourage law enforcement officers, city attorneys, and traffic judges to fairly enforce against traffic violators,
  4. Statewide campaign for a “vulnerable road user” law to increase the consequences /penalties for running over, injuring, or killing pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable users as a result of careless and/or inattentive driving of a motor vehicle.

In following discussion, this was thought to be a huge effort, maybe beyond BACA’s current manpower.  Others were uncomfortable with calling this “Safe Streets,” arguing that this might imply that all cyclists should be riding on the public streets rather than on available trails and paths.  

Rumble Strips: Tom was called into a teleconference yesterday afternoon with Jeff Peel from the League, Chandra from the Alliance, and Sally Broadaway from the NE AR Bike Coalition, as the League's rumble strip work group was trying to get an update on this issue in Arkansas. At the June meeting, BACA agreed to assemble a group of our board and emeritus board members and directly approach the Highway Commissioners in an effort to get them to use the more bike-friendly methods of applying rumbles where they would do good. Most folks are on vacation at this time, but we need to get this project underway while we have time as the Highway Department completes its updated inventory of the roadway conditions.

Carl Rosenbaum will be completing his term as a Highway Commissioner at the end of this calendar year, and the Governor is expected to appoint a new commissioner in his place.  At the same time we are approaching the Commissioners concerning the rumble strips, it’s a good idea to establish a relationship with the Governor’s office, based on the state's low ranking in the League’s Bicycle-Friendly State rating earlier this summer, and seek to have someone appointed who is more familiar with and attuned to non-motorized transportation.  We identified key points of contact in the Governor’s appointments staff, and will be setting up a meeting to that effect in coordination with our meetings with the highway commissioners.  

Close the Loop: Cantrell/LaHarpe Corridor.  With construction beginning soon on the Clinton Park/Rock Island Bridge renovation, the Close The Loop Task Force will focus its efforts on finding and negotiating a safer way to connect the River Trail from the end of Murray Park to the downtown/River Market area.

The City of Little Rock currently prefers building an engineered structure along the south edge of the Arkansas River bank from Murray Park down to the Baring Cross railroad bridge.  Engineering design for this structure is currently about 40% complete, however the costs of construction will be approximately $12 million dollars.  The City does not have the funding to proceed with construction once the design is complete.  Approximately $1.1 million was allocated by the Arkansas General Assembly from 2007 state general improvement funds to build a bridge for the trail over the Union Pacific right-of-way, and this money is still available in a city account.

Public Service Announcements: The City of Little Rock would also like BACA to help with a series of public service announcements to be aired on the city cable access channel focusing on basic bicycle safety and safe behavior in traffic.  Cassandra Davis, of the LRPD, is also willing to give up one of their “Crimestoppers” program on a monthly basis (or so) to focus on safe cycling.   The City would be able to provide cameras, film crew, and film editing, Coreen has additionally contacted a film editor who would be willing to assist with this project.  We need to schedule a meeting to work out the details; Claibanne was to set up a meeting, and at that point we would work within that group to finder a leader for this project.

Encouragement Efforts:  Another idea was the concept of holding a “Summer Streets” or “Cyclovia” event where a stretch of street would be closed off to vehicles and opened as a family and neighborhood event for pedestrians, cyclists, skaters, etc. for a weekend day.  Some ideas were for Riverfront Drive in either Little Rock or North Little Rock, or a similar stretch of street.  There was a substantial amount of interest in this, and the city Bicycle-Friendly committee members will be taking this idea back to their respective workgroups for consideration and possible implementation.

In cooperation with BACA’s ongoing Safe Routes to School network/partnership grant, Tom discussed the idea of holding a youth event, “Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day,” at North Little Rock’s Burns Park, and the north end of the Big Dam Bridge, where we would have an area set up and lead kids and family rides on the Pfeifer Loop mountain bike trail.  This was agreed as a good project as well, and steps are underway to sponsor it.  Save the date: Saturday, October 2, 2010 at the north end of the BDB. 

The Little Rock Bike Polo League is working with the City of Little Rock to refurbish the old street hockey courts in MacArthur Park for playing hardcourt bike polo.  The League has been playing here since late March this year and has had a great deal of success in attracting players and media attention to the sport, as well as helping to reduce the number of riff-raff that hang out in the park after dark.  LRBP plays on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 8:00 p.m., along with frequent pick-up games on weekends.  The Board voted to donate $200 to Little Rock Bike Polo in support of their efforts to refurbish and improve the polo courts.

River Mountain Road possible development:   A developer, North Slope Company, LLC, is planning to seek an easement from the City of Little Rock to allow access via River Mountain Road to a new housing development to be built on the north side of Walton Heights, overlooking the Arkansas River near the Two Rivers Bridge.  Since this area is landlocked, the developer will be filing a petition for the September 7th City Board meeting to allow for construction and resident motor vehicle access to this area via a road extension to be constructed along the bottom of the hill between the river bank and the Arkansas Midland Railroad right-of-way, and by a second road to be constructed approximately halfway up River Mountain Road.  This will greatly increase the amount of motor vehicle traffic on River Mountain Road as well as take the area currently used as a parking area behind the U.S. Coast Guard station.  The Board voted to take a position that it is concerned about the River Trail System and will take appropriate action to protect the integrity and accessibility of the River Trail System.  BACA will issue a statement about the proposed easement once we learn where it will be intersecting River Mountain Road, and will urge our members to write City Board members and attend the City Board meeting on September 7th.

September Meeting: We're set for Thursday, September 2, 2010 at the Oyster Bar for the September Board and General Membership meeting. 5:30 p.m. for the Board; 7:00 p.m. for the general membership. The Program will be someone from the Clinton Foundation to show us the design and associated plans for the Clinton Park/Rock Island Bridge renovation; we'll also have a short presentation and introduction from the Little Rock Bike Polo group and their contributions to trying to help make LR more bike-friendly.   Additionally, we should invite someone from North Little Rock to talk about the design for the north end of the Clinton Bridge.

With no further business pending, the meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m.

BACA Board Meeting Minutes -- June 3, 2010

Meeting called to order at 5:40 p.m.  Members in attendance: Jim Britt, Tom Ezell, Don Bearden, Ken Gould, Mike Erwin, Claibanne Williamson, Judy McDowell, Coreen Frasier, Gordon Fisher, David Holsted, Charlie Hight.

Treasurer's report: Currently $12,309.67 in account.

Close The Loop: Had a very successful event with the groundbreaking for the Clinton bridge; expect construction to begin in early July. Note by Ken Gould that the TF needs to coordinate more closely with the LR Bike Friendly Committee.

The President's report was submitted to the Board in writing prior to the meeting. Tom additionally reported on the outcome of a national conference call earlier today concerning the application of rumble strips to state highways across the country using ARRA stimulus funds. Ken Gould noted that Gene Pfeifer and several o the emeritus board members were proposing to meet directly with the Highway Commissioners on the rumbling issue. Board members were unanimously in support of this; Dave H. Made a motion to support this as a BACA initiative; motion passed.

A copy of the recent LAB rating on Arkansas's standing as a Bike-Friendly State and Tom's analysis of the application has been passed to Governor Beebe, we need to follow up on this, and can probably expect some support during the upcoming 2011 legislative session.

BACA web site: Gordon reported that he had not had much time to work on it; still cannot get the files to update or synchronize with those on the web site. Has not had any success in contacting Crystal to see what the problem might be. A good bit of discussion followed; should BACA send out a new RFP for web design and maintenance? Also consider soliciting a dedicated webmaster for the BACA site. Need to write Crystal and schedule a time to sit down and show someone from BACA hw the web site should work. Gordon will try to resolve the situation over the next two weeks, if no success by then, then Tom will formally contact Crystal to try and schedule a meeting and training session.

Also need to promote and use the BACA Facebook page; Willa set this up early last summer, and made Claibanne & Tom administrators for it when she moved to Colorado earlier this year.

Clinton Foundation presentation initially set for July, will now be set for the September general membership meeting.

Horse/livestock ban on Big Dam Bridge.  In late April, several local equestrians stirred up a fuss by riding their horses across the Big Dam Bridge on a crowded weekend afternoon, leaving a large amount of horse manure on the bridge, and creating a potential hazard for pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians alike is a horse should get spooked in the tight confines of the Bridge. Pat Dicker of the Pulaski County Quorum Court introduced an Ordinance at the May meeting that would ban horses and other livestock from the BDB and other bike/pedestrian bridges under county jurisdiction. Ordinance was tabled for revisions at the May meeting, but will be brought back up at the June meeting for a vote. Charlie Hight moved that BACA support the county legislation banning horses and similar livestock from the bike/pedestrian bridges under county jurisdiction. NLR has trail rules posted to this effect, and will initiate supportive resolution at their next city council meeting. After brief discussion, motion passed without dissent.  Tom will attend the June Quorum Court meeting on behalf of BACA and express BACA's support for the ordinance.

Ken Gould addressed the Board concerning an issue with state funding set aside for completion of the River Trail facilities in Little Rock. In the 2007 legislative session, Sam Ledbetter obtained a state General Improvement Fund appropriation of $1.1 million in state funds to construct a bike bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way on LaHarpe Blvd. The funds are currently in a City account awaiting use to help bridge the gap over the railroad. Subsequent to the 2007 legislative session, Sen. Mike Wilson of Jacksonville brought suit challenging the use of state GIF funds for local projects, specifically the funding of street lights in Bigelow.  Little Rock City Attorney Tom Carpenter has applied the resulting court ruling to mean that the 2007 appropriation cannot be used for a local project such as the River Trail. To settle this, and argument needs to be made that the Arkansas River Trail is a State asset, not necessarily a local one, due to the tourism and wide breadth of trail users that it attracts.  Gould believes that this problem needs to be resolved via a declaratory legal action to free these funds for use to extend the River Trail.  There are currently three options:  1) BACA files suit as a plaintiff (using prop bono legal services); 2) suit filed by a private individual; or 3) the Mayor may go ahead and spend the funds as appropriated anyway.  After discussion, Jim Britt moved that BACA support any necessary action to free up the appropriated funds for use in the Dillards/UPRR bridge.  Claibanne seconded, motion passed without dissent.

As is our usual practice, BACA will not hold general membership meetings in July and August.  The Board will use these meeting dates, however, to continue the strategic planning process begun last summer.  The Board will meet at 6:00 p.m. on July 1 and August 5 to address, update, and define the group's vision, goals and objectives, and prioritize projects for the next few years.  Charlie Hight offered the Argenta City Club on Pershing Street in NLR as a meeting location.

Board Meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. in preparation for the general Membership meeting.

General Membership Meeting:  Tom and other Board members led a group discussion and workshop on "Building Bicycle-Friendly Communities."

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BACA Board Meeting Minutes -- May 6, 2010

Meeting called to order at 5:45 p.m., May 6, 2010 at the Oyster Bar.

Present:  Judy McDowell, Claibanne Williamson, Don Bearden, Steve Bentley, Tom Ezell, Jim Britt, Julie Hendrix.  Guest: Justin Dove

Absent: David Holsted, Gordon Fisher, Charlie Hight, Mike Erwin

REPORTS:

Treasurer's Report:  Currently $9,754 in bank balance.  Bike summit reimbursements have been paid; one invoice outstanding ($60) for web site subscription. Bikes Belong grant check for this monh has not been received yet, but should be en route.  Tom E. turned in $100 proceeds from the April 17 Traffic Skills class.

By-Laws Committee:  Board agreed to table by-laws amendments pending additional strategic planning meetings in July/August to better develop organization vision and mission.

Close The Loop TF: Steve Bentley reported that shortly after the April BACA meeting, the Clinton Foundation announced that they had all the necessary funding in place to begin renovation of the Rock Island Bridge.  On May 3, they announced that a groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation will be held at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, May 28, the morning before Riverfest begins that afternoon.  Former President Clinton will be in attendance.  Most of the River Market area will be closed off for Riverfest, so access to the Clinton Library property (and parking) will be severely restricted.  All BACA members and trail users are invited, however we will have to submit a "guest list" to the Foundation by May 14 in order to get the folks we need admitted into the site.  Start of the Bridge renovation is a huge event for BACA, this is a goal we've been working toward for a long time.  Congratulations to Steve and the TaskForce for this success.

 Once the May 28th groundbreaking is accomplished, Task Force plans to shift its focus to getting the remaining gaps closed in the River Trail loop, particularly the section along Cantrell Road & Laharpe Blvd. Long discussion on how we can help Mayor Stodola in this effort, look for "low-hanging fruit," and find short-term, low cost improvements.  LR BFC committee has not been meeting on a regular basis, so little progress has been made since early this year.  Several possible alternative routes were mentioned, and will need further research.

 Safe Routes to School:  Julie Hendrix announced the next State Network Partnership conference call to be held next week, on May 12, at noon.  BACA will send out the contact information to the mailing lists.  On June 9, the State Network, in cooperation with the LAB's Bike-Friendly staff, will hold an open conference call for all comers on how to apply for and achieve designation as a bike-friendly community or business.  Need to get as many community representatives and business reps on that call as is possible.  BFC promotion is a component of the Network's complete streets action plan.

 Julie asked for assistance in contacting the local hospitals and health care providers in central Arkansas in order to get them interested in being more bike friendly and promoting cycling for its health benefits.  Claibanne noted that UAMS has been hesitant in the past, but now has a new chancellor with new ideas, has initiated a facility sustainabilty program, and may be more approachable now.

 OLD BUSINESS:

-- BACA Jerseys:  Idea was considered last year, but tabled awaiting a means to pay for them.  Would have to pre-sell 30 to 40 of them, and Jim Britt that jerseys are not a strong seller even for ABC.

 -- Web Site Progress:  Tom reported that Gordon is still working on this; has apparently found that specific software (Microsoft FrontPage) is required to update and maintain the web site.  Gordon has ordered a copy, and is continuing to work on the problem.  At this point, still can't update the web site.

 -- Bike to Work Week:  BTW week is set for the week of May 17-21, with our actual BTW Day rally on Friday, May 21.  This is also the day that Riverfest will close off access to the River Market area for their festival setup, so it's fortuitous that we had begun planning to hold this year's rally at the RV Park pavilion in NLR.  David H. has contacted Mayor Hays, and reserved the RV Park Pavilion for us on May 21.

 This year's event will be similar to those in past years, with riding groups assembling at Burns Park and Murray Park, then meeting at the entrance to NLR's Riverfront Park and riding down to the RV Park from there.  The NLR side of the Rivertrail is supposed to be open during Riverfest this year, a change from years past.

 May 19 will feature the national Ride of Silence in memory of cyclists killed in traffic crashes over the past year.  ABC is sponsoring the ride; we will meet at the LR foot of the Big Dam Bridge, then at 7:00 p.m., ride in double file to the end of Riverfront Drive, past the Verizon offices.

 Earth Day:  BACA sponsored a booth at the April 24 Arkansas Earth Day event, which was weather-challenged this year.  A good turnout of BACA members (Jim Britt, David Holsted, Steve Bentley, and Gordon Fisher) manned the booth during the course of the day.

 Nothing new at this time on the Neighborhood USA (NUSA) convention scheduled for 26-29 May.  BACA will be hosting two bike rides during this event, a River Trail ride to the Big Dam Bridge and return on Wednesday, 5-26, and a Central High School tour on 5-29.

 NEW BUSINESS:

-- Rock Island Bridge progress and renovation – noted in Close The Loop committee report

 -- ABC Riverfest booth support.  Jim B. has all shifts covered for the weekend; note that the booth is on the Little Rock side of the river this year.

 --  Committees Review:  Two committees are currently without chairs and have been inactive for some time.  Sustainability Committee, formerly led by Danielle de Prieux, and Outreach, formerly led by Jennifer Shaw. Arkansas Sustainability Network has pretty much abandoned their bike program, and Jennifer has taken a new job in Texas and will be moving there after the end of the spring semester at UAMS.  Julie H. noted that Little Rock is looking at establishing some sort of community sustainability program in the near future, but there isn’t much concrete yet.  Consensus of the Board was to leave these two committees in a closed or inactive status for the time being.

 --  Education Committee:  Still very active, previously chaired by Tom E., who has moved up to the President’s position.  Tom has approached a couple of potential candidates as a new chair, but who declined.  Tom will continue to chair this committee for the time being.

 -- Close The Loop Task Force:  Currently chaired by Steve Bentley, still very active, has had a good deal of recent success with the Rock Island Bridge project.  Committee will continue to monitor the bridge renovation, and shift its priority in advocacy to closing the remaining gap in the RiverTrail between Rebsamen Park and the River Market District.  Steve will continue as Chair.

 --  Ways & Means Committee:  In the past year, BACA’s finances have become increasingly more complex with the implementation of a membership dues structure as well as the application for and award of several grants.  Tom proposed the establishment of a ways & means, or finance committee whose function will be to oversee the organization’s finances and develop an annual budget as well as fundraising plans.  After brief discussion, board unanimously approved this.  Don Bearden (treasurer) will chair this committee, Julie Hendrix and Justin Dove will assist.

 --  Trails and Infrastructure Committee:  Another proposal by Tom, suggested in the by-laws, this committee would oversee and coordinate the various community efforts to research and develop new trails and bike facilities around the community.  Close The Loop would remain an active committee focused on the River Trail system problems; T&I would coordinate new initiatives such as the Rose Creek Trail project as well as similar efforts in the Heights & Stifft Station communities.  It was noted that this would overlap a great deal between ongoing efforts by the various Bike-Friendly Community committees in LR and NLR.  The idea was tabled, pending additional consideration and strategic planning by the Board.

 --  Strategic Planning Process:  In consideration of Julie’s remarks last month about the incomplete strategic planning sessions, Tom proposed to use the July and August meeting dates, when BACA traditionally does not hold a membership meeting, to continue Julie’s sessions for strategic planning, with specific goals to refine the group’s vision statement, mission, and short, mid, and long term goals.  The Board’s consensus was that this would be a worthwhile activity.

 With no further action pending before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.

 

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Meeting called to order at 7:05 p.m. with approximately 30 members present.

Julie Hendrix announced the pending monthly conference call for the State Safe Route to School Network, as well as the June 9 conference call to develop Bike-Friendly Community and Business applications.

Tom Ezell announced the recent press releases by the Clinton Foundation that funding had been completed for the Rock Island Bridge refurbishment; followed by last week’s announcement of the groundbreaking ceremony for May 28th, 9:45 a.m. in front of the Clinton Library.  All BACA members and trail users are invited, however due to Riverfest closures and security reasons we will need to submit a guest list to the Foundation by May 14 in order to get everyone passed through the perimeter at Riverfest.

Tom and Julie then announced our guest speakers, candidates for the 2nd Congressional seat, Republican Tim Griffin, and Democrats Robbie Wills, John Adams, and Sam Ledbetter speaking on behalf of Democratic candidate Joyce Elliott.   Each candidate was given several minutes to introduce themselves and make a general statement, then the floor was opened for questions and a panel discussion, as each candidate was invited to respond.

Rumble strips, especially the AHTD’s recent policy of rumbling the edges of narrow two-lane highways, was probably the hottest topic of the evening.


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BACA Board Meeting Minutes -- April 1, 2010

Meeting called to order at 5:40 p.m.  Members in attendance: David Holsted, Gordon Fisher, Julie Hendrix, Tom Ezell, Judy McDowell, Don Bearden, Mike Erwin, Judy Lansky.

Julie Hendrix reported on the Safe Routes to School grant. The Network has been established, and teams are working to develop a state action plan and develop the initial policy studies now due on April 2. Using Survey Monkey to prioritize the ten issues. 20 States are involved with the State Network Partnership at this point.

  • Complete Streets is leading as the highest priority project, followed closely by outreach and education.

  • Complete Streets committee is planning to use the LAB Bike-Friendly Community program as a tool to advance the issue, encouraging communities to pursue BFC eligibility and realize the importance of building and maintaining complete streets.

  • Arkansas will be hosting a conference call with the League later this month for any community or organization interested in the BFC program. Should we consider doing a BACA program on Complete Streets later this year?

By-Laws committee: Still working; at a bit of an impasse on defining goals and objectives, need to re-write the language on the new membership dues. Will incorporate the last round of comments and run it back past the Board.

Treasurer: $11,118.73 currently in the bank account. Need to check with Ken Gould, in the past City of Little Rock paid for one or two of the Bike Summit attendees. Are they still able to do that?

PayPal issue is still open in re-working the web site. Needs to have an e-mail address and password for the BACA funds manager; then can begin importing the PayPal script.

May 21 is Bike-to-Work day. Will be holding in North Little Rock this year; River Market is not available due to its closure for Riverfest setup. So will be held Friday morning, 5/21, at the NLR Riverfront RV Park pavilion. NLR will be host, strong support from Mayor Hays. Do we need to arrange for police/traffic support on Cantrell Road? Consensus that we did not.

General Membership meeting: Held annual elections; no additional nominations were received from the floor.  The 2010 slate of elected officers is thus President: Tom Ezell; Vice-President: David Holsted; Secretary: Mike Erwin; Treasurer: Don Bearden; Members-at-Large, Charlie Hight and Judy McDowell.

Tom Ezell presented a summary from the National Bike Summit in DC in mid-March; reviewed the past year of BACA's accomplishments.
 

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BACA Board Meeting Minutes -- March 4, 2010

Meeting called to order at 5:40 p.m.  Members in attendance: David Holsted, Don Bearden, Claibanne Williamson, Tom Ezell, Jim Britt, Gordon Fisher, Steve Bentley, Julie Hendrix, and Judy McDowell.  Reported absences: Coreen Frasier, Jennifer Shaw.

1.  Announcement of event and dates for the Mississippi River Trail exploratory ride down Crowley's Ridge from Cape Girardeau, MO to Helena, AR.  Info is in the BACA newsletter.

2. Treasurer's report:  $14,505 is current bank balance.  Don noted that when we deposit checks, he needs a copy or at least a note of where the funds came from so that he can issue the appropriate receipt for deductible donations.

  • The first check from the Bikes Belong grant has been received and deposited.  This will be $1833 monthly for the next 12 months.  Of this, Julie Hendrix will be paid $1666 monthly; the remaining $167 per month will be held in reserve to cover ongoing expenses (supplies, mileage, etc.) related to the grant.  At the close of December, any remaining balance from this reserve will be paid to Julie.  BACA will provide Julie with an IRS Form 1099 for tax reporting purposes; BACA will also need to submit a Form 990 to the IRS to report its receipt and disposition of income over $25,000.
  • Don Bearden noted that we will likely need to engage a CPA to help track these finances, the SRTS grant staff assured the Board they could find one on a pro bono basis.

3. By-laws Committee report.  The Committee has come up with some suggested revisions; discussions & coordination is still underway.  Copy of current draft was provided to the Board along with the e-mail with the agenda.  Committee will complete discussions and report back with a recommendation at the April 2010 Board meeting. 

3.  Slate of officers for 2010.  Most of the meeting time was consumed in this discussion.  Most current elected officers have agreed to stay on for another year.  However, there were no eager candidates for the offices of President and Vice-President.  Discussion continued on the responsibilities of these positions, and some methods to make them less burdensome.  Jim Britt suggested the formation of a Programs Committee to find and schedule programs for the monthly meetings, Tom, Claibanne, Jim, Steve, and Coreen would help with this effort.

After long discussion, the following slate was proposed to the general membership for the elected officers for 2010:

  •         President:             Tom Ezell

  •         Vice-President:     David Holsted

  •         Secretary:             Michael Erwin

  •         Treasurer:             Don Bearden

  •         At-large Director:   Charlie Hight

  •         At-large Director:   Judy McDowell

(At-large Directors serve two-year terms to assist in providing longer-termed, overlapping experience in Board operations.  Directors Gordon Fisher and Claibanne Williamson were re-elected in April 2009, and so will be up for re-election or replacement in April 2011.)

(Committee chairpersons are appointed by the Board, so these members will remain in place until they resign or are replaced by a vote of the Board.)

The Board adjourned its meeting at 6:50 p.m. in preparation for the General Membership Meeting at 7:00 p.m.

General Membership Meeting

March 4, 2010 7:00 p.m.

1.  Announcement of details on the Crowley's Ridge tour sponsored by the Mississippi Rive trail

2.  Proposed slate of officers for 2010:

  •         President:             Tom Ezell

  •         Vice-President:     David Holsted

  •         Secretary:             Michael Erwin (incumbent)

  •         Treasurer:             Don Bearden (Incumbent)

  •         At-large Director:   Charlie Hight

  •         At-large Director:   Judy McDowell

Elections will be held at the April general membership meeting; additional nominations may be made from the floor at that time.

3.  Arkansas Earth Day -- North Little Rock will be hosting a fair observing this on April 24; Russellville is hosting their first on April 17, the previous Saturday.  BACA has been asked to provide a booth and display at each of these, and will be seeking volunteers to help out.

4.  Neighborhoods USA convention in Little Rock on May 26-29, BACA and ABC will be leading rides on the first and last days.  Members are invited to come help lead the rides, or simply ride along.

5.  Tour de Rock Training rides will begin next Saturday, March 13, starting at 20 miles.  Meet in front of River Trail Rentals, will continue each Monday up to the event on June 12.

6.  BACA will be hosting Bike to Work Day on May 21st this year, details to be announced at the April meeting.

7.  Educational Class schedule:

  • March 6, 2:00 p.m.   Cub Scouts Bicycling Belt Loop class, at Northshore Park and Big Dam Bridge.
  • April 16-17: Traffic Skills 101, in North Little Rock
  • May 8, 2010:  Boys Scouts Cycling Merit Badge course, Arkansas State Capitol and 1515 Building parking lot
  • May 21, 2010:  Bike-to-Work Day in Jonesboro, NE Arkansas Bicycle Coalition.
  • May 21, 2010:  Bicycling 123 Youth Instructor seminar, Jonesboro, 4:00 p.m. Craighead Forest Park Pavilion #1
  • May 22, 2010:  Cycling Skills for Children clinic, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Craighead Forest Park Pavilion #1 and 3, Jonesboro
  • May 22, 2010:  Cycling Skills for Adults clinic, 1:30 p.m., Craighead Forest Park Pavilion #1 and #3, Jonesboro
  • October 2, 2010: IMBA/NMBP's "Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day," 9:00 a.m. Cook's Landing, North Little Rock

Ken Richardson, City Director for Little Rock's Ward 2, gave the feature presentation on the City's efforts to create a "livable community" in the 12th street corridor between I-630, Fair Park Boulevard, Battery Street, and Asher Ave.

Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

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 Minutes of BACA board meeting February 4, 2010

 Attendance; David Holsted, Jim Britt, Coreen Frasier, Tom Ezell, Jennifer Shaw, Julie Hendrix, Michael Erwin

 1. Concerns had been raised about BACA accepting grant money and subcontracting to Julie Hendrix to become State Network Supervisor for Safe Routes to School. BACA will need to file form 990EZ if it handles more than $25,000.00 dollars a year as well as file a 1099 form on Julie’s wages with the IRS. It was voted to go ahead with the project.

 2. The Bike Plan for Little Rock committee has met twice. A citizens committee is needed to help map bike routes in Little Rock. Coreen is looking for volunteers.

 3. North Little Rock is funded for a program called Fit to Live, Mayors Challenge for Healthy Living. Mayor Stodola is interested in starting a similar program in Little Rock. Jennifer Shaw is advising him on setting up the program.

 4. A committee was formed consisting of Judy McDowall, Tom Ezell, Claibanne Willimson and Julie Hendrix was formed to write and revise the BACA by-laws. They should be ready to vote on by the April board meeting.

 5. Tom Ezell has hand-out listing curriculum and classes available from the League of American Bicyclists.

 6. BACA and the ABC are jointly sponsoring Tom Ezell, Julie Hendrix, Coreen Frasier and Dan Brown to the National Bike Summit. Additionally Arkansas will be represented by Terry Eastin, Buddy Villines and Patrick Hays.

 7. Elections for new officers is in April. Coreen suggests there be a program chairman in the future.

 8.Treasurer report; $12,247.73 in account.

 9. Rough plan for Bike to Work to be presented at March meeting.

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Minutes of BACA board meeting January 10, 2010

 Board met 5:30 p.m. at the Oyster Bar.  Attendance: Coreen Frasier, Clayton Bell, Claibanne Williamson, Jim Britt, Tom Ezell, Don Bearden, Mike Erwin, Judy McDowell, Willa Williams, Julie Hendrix

1. A grant (Safe Routes to School State Network Project, from Bikes Belong) that Jennifer Shaw and Joy Rockenbach submitted in behalf of BACA has been funded; allowing Julie Hendrix to be hired as state network organizer for Safe Routes to School.  BACA serves as the 501(c)(3) organization administering the grant funds, AR Coalition for Obesity Prevention (ARCOP) will provide office space for housing the Network and its organizer.

2. Willa Williams is relocating to Ft. Collins, Colorado. A motion passed unanimously for David Holsted to take over her duties as vice-president until April and to head up this year’s national bike to work day activities.  

3. Ed Levy has been appointed as chairman of the Little Rock Bike Plan sub-committee.

4. Treasurers report; $5,370.00 collected from donations and t-shirt sales in 2009. Currently $11,254.72 in bank account.

5. A motion was passed to offer recognition on the web page rather then merchandise for dues and donations to BACA.

6. Rob Lambert was nominated to replace Steve Shepard as the BACA representative to Central Arkansas Regional Transit

7. A motion to budget $3,000.00 to help sponsor attendees to the National Bike Summit on March 9-12 in Washington D. C. was passed.

8. Coreen will ask for a leader to the NLR bike to work ride at the BACA meeting.

 9. Claibanne Williamson is going to lead a BACA sponsored family ride with the ABC once a month.

 10. Don Bearden and Gordon Fisher agreed to attempt to set up a pay-pal account on the BACA web site to collect dues and donations.

 11. Club by-laws will be voted on at the March meeting.

 12. Adjourned 6:43 p.m.

 Michael Erwin, Secretary

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