HomeMy Public PortalAboutResolution 2020-77, Establishing MRT/DCBT Connector Advisory Committee, September 22, 2020tio
RESOLUTION 2020-77
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE MRT/DCBT CONNECTOR ROUTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, The City of Riverdale, Iowa ("City") is a Municipal Corporation, organized and
operating under the laws of the State of Iowa, and;
WHEREAS, the Riverdale City Council affirmed its previous decision to construct a locked
gate across the sidewalk extension between the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) and S.
Kensington Street (ref. Resolution 2020-49, attached) by voting down a re -consideration
resolution on August 25, 2020 (ref. Resolution 2020-64, attached), and;
WHEREAS, members of the City's business community, Quad Cities biking and running
communities, and the City of Bettendorf have expressed their concern about these
decisions and the perceived safety of the remaining alternative routes that connected
the MRT to the Duck Creek Bike Trail (DCBT), and;
WHEREAS, members of the Quad City Bike Club and members of the Riverdale City
Council proposed the possibility of convening an ad hoc committee of concerned
parties to discuss possible remedies to investigate, discuss and explore possible solutions
to the perceived safety issues, and;
WHEREAS, the City Council acknowledges the importance of continually improving the
perception of safety in areas of public access within the City limits, and;
WHEREAS, the Mayor has drafted a proposed mission and a set of goals and objectives
for such a committee (Exhibit "A").
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIVERDALE, IOWA,
Section 1. That the City Council of Riverdale asks the Mayor to invite members of the
public and concerned interest groups to participate in an ad hoc committee focused
on discussing possible solutions to address the perceived safety issues faced by cyclists
and pedestrians attempting to make the connection between the MRT and DCBT;
Section 2. Furthermore, the City Council endorses and fully supports the stated
mission, goals and objectives of such a group as presented by the Mayor (ref. Exhibit
"Al;
(con)
Resolution 2020-77: A Resolution Establishing the MRT/DCBT Connector Route Advisory
Commitee
Section 3. Furthermore, the City Council asks the Mayor to include an allocation of
$25,000 in the FY22 budget to be considered by Council for suggested improvements
recommended by the advisory committee;
Section 4. Finally, that the MRT/DCBT Connector Route Advisory Committee make an
interim progress report no later than March 31, 2021 and its final report/presentation to
the Riverdale City Council no later than Tuesday, November 9, 2021.
Passed and approved this 22nd day of September 2020.
APPROVED
Michael Baw en, Mayor
ATTEST
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Katie Enloe, Deputy Clerk
RESOLUTION 2020-49
A RESOLUTION SETTING A STANDARD OF A LOCKED GATE BETWEEN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
TRAIL (MRT) AND KENSINGTON STREET ON THE CITY OF RIVERDALE'S PROPERTY
WHEREAS, The City of Riverdale, Iowa ("City") is a Municipal Corporation, organized and
operating under the laws of the State of Iowa, and;
WHEREAS, residents of the City have expressed concern with bicycle and pedestrian
traffic in Haven's Acres since the Mississippi River Trail was extended through the City
and in several open meetings from January 2018 to present; and,
WHEREAS, Kensington Street is not a designated bicycle or pedestrian trail, nor is there a
designated bicycle or pedestrian lane of travel, nor is there a sidewalk; and,
WHEREAS, bicycle and pedestrian traffic on Kensington Street between the Mississippi
River Trail and the Duck Creek Bike Path trailhead represents a safety hazard (ref.
EXHIBIT "A"); and,
WHEREAS, the residents of Haven's Acres have expressed overwhelming support of the
installation of a locked barrier between the Mississippi River Trail and Kensington Street
(ref. EXHIBIT "B"); and,
WHEREAS, a temporary barrier has been erected at said location, and the City is in the
process of installing said barrier; and,
WHEREAS, per the City's attorneys, the City is within its legal rights to install a locked
barrier on its own property; and,
WHEREAS, per the City's attorneys, there is no violation of the Americans with Disabilities
Act for said locked barrier to be installed; and,
WHEREAS, it is not a violation of City ordinance, or state or federal law, to install said
locked barrier.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIVERDALE, IOWA,
Section 1. That the current temporary barrier at the intersection of Kensington Street
and the Mississippi River Trail on the City's property shall remain intact and not removed
aside from an emergency situation in which emergency vehicles need to enter Haven's
Acres via the Mississippi River Trail.
(con)
City of Riverdale, Iowa 110 Manor Drive, Riverdale, Iowa 52722 • (563) 355-2511 • www.riverdaleiowa.com
Resolution 2020-49
A Resolution Setting a Standard of a Locked Gate between the Mississippi River
Trail (MRT) and Kensington Street on the City of Riverdale's Property
Section 2. That if an emergency situation occurs and the temporary barrier must be
taken down, that, at the conclusion of the emergency, or as soon thereafter as can
reasonably be expected, the temporary barrier will be reinstalled to the same
specifications as it was when it was taken down.
Section 3. That once installed, permanent gates at the intersection of Kensington
Street and the Mississippi River Trail on the City's property shall be set and kept in a
locked position.
Section 4. That the locks on said gates will be accessible for emergency personnel
only and only in the event of an emergency in which emergency vehicles need to
enter Haven's Acres via the Mississippi River Trail.
Passed and approved this 9th day of June 2020.
APPROVED ATTEST
chael BawdeMayor
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Mary Frdnces Blevins, Clerk
City of Riverdale, Iowa 110 Manor Drive, Riverdale, Iowa 52722 • (563) 355-2511 • www.riverdaleiowa.com
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RESOLUTION 2020-64
A RESOLUTION TO RE -CONSIDER AND RESCIND RESOLUTION 2020-49, ADOPTED BY THE
RIVERDALE CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 9, 2020
WHEREAS, The City of Riverdale, Iowa ("City") is a Municipal Corporation, organized and
operating under the laws of the State of Iowa, and;
WHEREAS, on June 9, 2020, the Riverdale City Council passed Resolution 2020-49 (Exhibit
"A"), which stated the Council's preference to keep in place the temporary barrier
erected between the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) and the dead end at the south end of
S. Kensington Street in the Havens Acres neighborhood, (Section 1), to allow for the
removal of the temporary barrier in the event of an emergency in the neighborhood
(Section 2), to require the City to lock the permanent gate erected over the sidewalk
extension connecting the MRT and S. Kensington Street once the new fence and gates
are installed along the perimeter of the neighborhood (section 3), and to specify that
the locks on the gates should be accessible to emergency personnel in the event of an
emergency (Section 4), and;
WHEREAS, in reaction to the passage of the resolution, various parties from outside the
City and local businesses within the City have asked the Council to re -consider their
decision and rescind the resolution, and;
WHEREAS, the leadership of the Quad City Bicycle Club has made a presentation
regarding cyclist safety along the MRT and, specifically, at the crossing of the trail and
US Hwy 67 (State Street) to City officials and interested citizens, and;
WHEREAS, various affected parties have made themselves available for numerous
discussions and work sessions to attempt to address concerns about safety issues facing
both trail users and residents in the Havens Acres neighborhood, and;
WHEREAS, City Council recognizes its responsibility for ensuring the safety of all vehicles,
pedestrians and cyclists using its streets and trails.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIVERDALE, IOWA,
Section 1. The City Council hereby rescinds its Resolution #2020-49 and orders the
gate across the connector path between the MRT and S. Kensington Street to remain
open until a suitable, alternate connector path has been constructed and opened for
use by cyclists and pedestrians.
(con)
Resolution 2020-65
A Resolution to Re -Consider and Rescind Resolution 2020-49, Adopted by the
Riverdale City Council on June 9, 2020
Section 2. That once the alternate connector path has been opened for use, the
gate across the connector path at South Kensington Street will be closed and locked
from sunset to sunrise each day.
Passed and approved this 25th day of August 2020.
APPROVED ATTEST
Michael Bawden, Mayor Katie Enloe, Deputy Clerk
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Memorandum
Date: September 18, 2020
To: Riverdale City Council
From: Mayor Mike Bawden
Re: Proposed Mission, Goals and Objectives for an Ad Hoc Committee
Looking at Alternative Connecting Routes between the MRT and DCBT
Following up on our discussion at a recent City Council meeting, I'm proposing we set
up an ad hoc, advisory committee to focus on figuring out ways to address the safety
concerns expressed about the way people are supposed to connect between the MRT and
DCBT. This would be an advisory committee, only - there would be no decision -making
authority.
Mission
The committee should discuss and explore options for making the connection between
the two trails in a safe manner and, eventually, those recommendations should be
presented to the City Council for consideration and action.
Adoption and implementation of those recommendations is the City Council's
responsibility, not the ad hoc committee's.
In addition to authorizing the mission and goals/objectives for the committee, I also
think it makes sense for the Council to make a preliminary commitment as to what kind
of financial backing any recommendations would receive should they be adopted by
Council later this year (for implementation during FY 22). Frankly, I think it makes the
advisory committee's job easier to have some budgetary guidelines when it comes to
evaluating recommendations for Council consideration.
Goals & Objectives
I propose the committee have the following goals and objectives:
• Across-the-board Representation: The committee should consist of
Riverdale residents; representatives from Riverdale businesses affected by the
decision to close and lock the gate at S. Kensington; users of both trails (both
cyclists and non -cyclists); representatives from the City of Bettendorf; and one or
two members of the City Council.
City of Riverdale, Iowa 110 Manor Drive, Riverdale, Iowa 52722 • (563) 355-2511 • wwrw.nverdaleiowa.eorn
Memo re: MRT/DCBT Ad Hoc Advisory Committee Goals & Objectives
September 18, 2020
• Hard Deadlines/Due Dates: The committee should begin meeting before the
end of the year and complete its business in time to make a report of
recommendations to the City Council no later than Tuesday, November 9, 2021.
• Actionable Recommendations: The committee should present its
recommendations in priority order (from highest to lowest) and take into
consideration the proposed FY22 allocation for investments suggested by the City
Council.
City of Riverdale, Iowa 110 Manor Drive, Riverdale, Iowa 52722 • (563) 355-2511 • www.riverdaleiowa.com