Here are the notes from the February meeting, followed by the current task
list. Remember that you can access both of these documents at any time from
http://westbrooksafemobility.org/, under the "Working Documents" section at
the bottom.
Our next meeting will be March 21, same time and place (5:30 PM,
Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church).
--------
Meeting Notes, February 21 2018
Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church, 5:30 PM
In attendance: John Brooking, Abigail Cioffee, Ann Peoples, Leelee Prince,
Kim & Dustin Tarbox, Agy Wilson
-
Winter Walk Audit: Reach decision about location and date in March;
discuss.
We changed course and decided not to have a walk audit in March. Agy
suggested that having Immersion Days first would help participants be more
cognizant of the issues faced by different categories of road users during
walk audits later, so the Committee agreed that was a good idea. The walk
audits could still be scheduled close to the immersion day(s), but
afterwards. Two of the major categories of immersion days are from the
perspective of wheelchair users, and of visually impaired persons with
white canes. These should be done separately, but perhaps sequentially on
the same day.
Ann recalls that someone in Kennebunk had some kind of machine that was
used during a walk audit to aid in documentation. John will ask Paul
Niehoff for more information on that.
Abigail suggested a good place for a walk audit would be “downtown” area of
Main Street, between Bridge and Stroudwater Streets.
No dates were set. Will plan more next time.
-
Sidewalk/Crosswalk Forum: Discuss a new proposal from Ann.
Ann clarified that sidewalk upgrades will be included in the DOT Cumberland
Triangle project, regardless of what was stated at the public meeting a
year ago. The Committee agreed that this makes our letter to the City
regarding CBDG funding for a separate sidewalk project unnecessary.
Regarding other issues, Ann feels like a public forum would be useful in
getting information out about this and other construction related items.
This forum should include representatives from Westbrook Public Services,
the DOT (including Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator Patrick Adams, as well as
our DOT “Area Engineer” [we are in Region 1, “Southern Maine”
<http://maine.gov/mdot/about/regions/southern/>]), and PACTS
<http://www.pactsplan.org/> (Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation
System), maybe Paul Niehoff.
Ann volunteered to put this together. It will probably be after the middle
of April, since the Council is working on the budget until then. It could
be on a Monday, as part of a City Council meeting.
-
Brochure: Leelee will present a brochure design for feedback.
Group reviewed Leelee’s initial draft, generally positive. Suggestions:
-
Colors used on mission statement are hard to read. Agy suggests black is
better than white, so might be best to lighten the background enough that
black text will show up well.
-
Serif fonts are easier to read than sans-serif. (What’s a serif
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serif>?)
-
John suggests that the middle text could use a heading to indicate what
it’s about. Agy suggests that the text could be more oriented towards what
WSMAC will do.
-
Information about meetings should include the time and place.
-
An email contact should also be included. John will look into setting up
“info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx”.
-
For the Facebook link, Agy suggests creating a short URL from bitly.com.
John is concerned that such a URL is harder to remember, but Agy says that
people don’t need to remember it because they will probably bookmark it if
they’re interested. However, if Facebook URL is used, it can be just “
http://www.facebook.com/groups/wsmac” is all that is needed.
-
Photo needs to be higher resolution for print quality.
-
John will ask someone about using the “Safety is a Two Way Street” logo.
Also note that business cards would be good to have.
-
Brief Updates:
-
Immersion Days - see above under Winter Walk Audit.
-
Stroudwater/Main crosswalk flags - no update
-
Website update - still under construction by Pouncing Tiger
Photography (Leelee’s friend Jarod Bowling). Agy notes that it
is important
that the website will contain information on what WSMAC will do
for people;
that is what people will go to the website looking for. It should help to
establish Westbrook as a pedestrian destination.
-
Committee updates - none
-
Testimonials - Leelee requested them again.
-
Ann provided the Committee with a folder from AARP about their
“Age-Friendly Communities” program. John took the folder home to review.
-
Ann suggests we need to think about how to integrate this Committee
better with other processes underway.
-
Leelee wonders if meeting date & times are not convenient for some
people, leading to low attendance. Reviewed reasons for current, but came
to no conclusion. Agy suggestions we could do more online communication
such as real-time chats.
-
John suggests an idea to increase our online profile: Spring pothole
photo contest, with promise that we will forward the top 10 to Public
Services.
-
Leelee talk to Megan Perry about slap bracelets
-
Agy will talk to Tina about video production, which several of us are
interested in. Maybe invite to next meeting.
-
Abigail will have to miss next meeting, for a meeting about the
Metrobus expansion. Forward any suggestions about this to her.
-
We need to talk about fundraising. Maybe next month's agenda?
-------
Task List (blue = new)
Task Assigned To Assigned On Completed On Urgency Importance
Get back in touch with American Journal John, Leelee 1/23/2018 2 - Medium 2
- Medium
Check with Channel 8 (6?) Leelee 1/23/2018 2 - Medium 2 - Medium
Check sidewalk ordinance re: businesses and shoveling Leelee 1/26/2018 1 -
Low 2 - Medium
Work on public forum on transportation Ann 2/21/2018 2 - Medium 1 - High
Get info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx John 2/21/2018 2 - Medium 1 - High
Ask about using "Two Way Street" logo on our brochure John 2/21/2018 2 -
Medium 1 - High
Ask Paul Niehoff about machine used in Kennebunk for walk audits John
2/21/2018 2 - Medium 2 - Medium
Talk to Megan Perry re: slap bracelets Leelee 2/21/2018 2 - Medium 2 -
Medium
Talk to Tina about video production, maybe invite to next meeting Agy
2/21/2018 2 - Medium 2 - Medium
Review AARP Age-Friendly Communtities folder John 2/21/2018 1 - Low 2 -
Medium