John / all -
Just a reminder that tonight you'll be at the beginning of the Rec & Con
Commission
agenda for our monthly meeting - and along those lines, as our meetings often
last close to 3 hours - we need to stick as closely to our time allotments as
possible. We have an incredible amount of discussion topics and voting items
to get through.
Your grant discussion, like most of the agenda items, will be allotted 10
minutes. Many are actually allotted less - at 3, 5, or 7 min.
I am hoping that your presentation will be a finite idea or two that we can
discuss efficiently and quickly, and then vote on. In the interest of time -
and I'm as guilty as anyone - sometimes have to caution each other on our
commission that too much discussion on a singular topic potentially cuts short
other agenda items later.
See you tonight John!
Phil Spiller, Jr.
Captain, JetBlue Airways
Commander, US Navy Reserves
Westbrook, ME Municipal Advocate
850-529-3283
Honor the Past. Engage in the Present. Embolden the Future.
On Jun 15, 2017, at 8:35 AM, John Brooking <johnbrooking4@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
This morning I want to try to summarize our discussion so far.
Ann, Agy, and Jill all mentioned a top priority of "bike paths, lanes,
trails, route signage, and bridges". I am told that lanes and/or paths were
also discussed between Sylvia (Ernie's) and Sarah. I brought up specifically
the path behind Stroudwater Street leading to the Middle School. We will
hopefully hear more path or trail related ideas at the Recreation &
Conservation meeting tonight. (6 PM, Community Center).
In email conversation with Phil Spiller, he mentioned some things that could
be done around the Warren Outdoor Recreation area. I think he means that area
where there's the statue of the boy and the dog, near the baseball field and
the pool. I don't know exactly what projects he has in mind. I suggested it
would be great to pave that dirt trail around it.
Agy, you mentioned development of a curriculum for kids. Can you expand on
that? If you mean bicycle and pedestrian safety, the Bicycle Coalition
already has such a curriculum, which you can read about here. Along the right
side of that page are some downloadable handouts such as "Be a Safe Bike
Driver" and "Be a Safe Walker". However, Kat O'Neill and I a few weeks ago
discussed the potential of getting those translated into some other languages
for the immigrant community, maybe Arabic and French (apparently a common
language for a lot of the Africans). Again, this is really not
Westbrook-specific, but maybe that's okay, if we decide it is?
Jill, thank you for mentioning that MaineDOT grant. We should definitely look
into that. I'm not sure what is the "Cumberland Mills" project you mention.
That's all the discussion I'm seeing so far. Lee and I will touch base after
tonight's Rec & Con meeting and decide the plan for tomorrow. Is the group
okay with deputizing her and me to make the decision?
On Thu, Jun 15, 2017 at 6:30 AM, Clarrage, Katherine C.
<Katherine.C.Clarrage@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I will not be able to attend this meeting…do know I’m interested in
following this group, but my time for meetings is limited at this time.
Good luck! Kathy
Kathy Clarrage, COMS
State of Maine, Division for the Blind & Visually Impaired
151 Jetport Blvd
Portland, ME 04102
207-423-5448
Katherine.c.clarrage@xxxxxxxxx
From: wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of Lee Prince
Sent: Wednesday, June 14, 2017 10:16 PM
To: wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wsmac] Re: Very Important! Please read and respond ASAP!
I'm pretty sure I can make both meetings. We can get together here no
problem, just that I may not have enough chairs etc to sit in! ;)
On Wed, Jun 14, 2017 at 10:23 AM, Agy Wilson <agywilson@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Okay, only one sip of coffee, I now realize that one thing was actually two,
lol.
On Wed, Jun 14, 2017 at 10:22 AM, Agy Wilson <agywilson@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I might be able to make the meeting. I think one of the things we really
have to put our thinking hat on, is first, HOW WE ACTUALLY USE the place. I
know there's a lot of cut-throughs, especially with kids headed to school or
traversing the neighborhoods. Second, look at the underused (like you
pointed out with the Landing Road trail, and the best way to promote them.
I'm on the promotions committee, and the mobility and activities of
Westbrook are one of the things I'd really love to see promoted. It would
benefit everyone in oh-so many ways. Quality-of-life kind of thing.
On Wed, Jun 14, 2017 at 10:06 AM, John Brooking <johnbrooking4@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Thanks for the ideas!
I'm sorry I've been out of the discussion. I've had a lot going on for the
last two weeks, and am just starting to come out of it.
First off, I've been in touch with the Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) and
gotten permission to extend our deadline for the letter one day, until
Friday. This is because I've been in email communication with Phil Spiller
for the Westbrook Recreation & Conservation Committee, and they are going to
discuss this at their meeting Thursday evening, which I plan on attending.
Others are welcome too! It's at the Community Center @ 6 PM.
I also confirmed with BCM that if we are not selected this year, or even if
we don't submit anything this year, we can try again next year. I was
concerned that we aren't going to have a very detailed proposal by the end
of the week, just a general idea. But we might as well try.
Here's my contributions to the ideas pool: I noticed yesterday while riding
on Landing Road (the new road connecting Stroudwater by the Animal Refuge
League to Spring near the Springbrook housing) that there is actually an
official trail of Portland Trails that crosses it, and goes out towards the
Middle School. I had heard that there were trails there, but I haven't ever
used them. I was told by someone walking there that students do sometimes
use it to walk or bike to school, but it seems to me that it could use more
promotion, signage, and possibly more work? I haven't tried it, so I don't
know how good shape it's in the whole way. (I was also told that there are
sometimes transient camps along it, but that's a separate issue.)
We need to start planning how and when we will decide, and how the letter
gets written. I'm willing to take a try at writing it, unless someone else
would rather. I think Abigail is probably the most experienced at this (I
haven't done it before), but I'm sure she's very busy too. Maybe Kathy,
Jill, or Ann have experience too? In any case, I'm not sure how much of it
we can write until we decide what the project is.
Can those of us interested in guiding this through meet after the Rec & Con
Committee meeting Thursday evening? Phil is putting us first on their
agenda, so we can leave as soon as that discussion is over, and perhaps we
just find another room at the Center, or come back into town to Lee's house
if that's more convenient for her, as early as 7 PM. Could enough people do
that? Then the letter could get written late Thursday night or Friday
morning, with some passing around by email for approval.
- John
On Tue, Jun 13, 2017 at 11:09 PM, Agy Wilson <agywilson@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thank you Jill. Just out of curiosity. looking at the idea of creating a
curricula for kids and older, with pamphlet and website to match, is useful
for far more than just Westbrook, though of course it would be a focus. Some
great suggestions. I also like your idea of prioritizing bike paths, lanes
and trails.
On Mon, Jun 12, 2017 at 9:21 AM, Lee Prince <leeleeprince51@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Ty Jill!
On Mon, Jun 12, 2017 at 9:15 AM, Jill Johanning <JJohanning@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I would also support prioritizing bike lanes/paths.
Also I apologize if it has already been suggested, but there is MaineDOT
funding available for Bicycle and Pedestrian programs:
http://www.maine.gov/mdot/pga/funding/
The challenge is that the City of Westbrook actually has to apply for it
directly, funding is spoken for until 2020, and there is a local match
requirement. I was told by DOT that Westbrook has never applied for it, and
the Cumberland Mills project would rank very high if it was submitted. Just
a thought for the group to advocate for the city to apply – we have a little
time as applications are due in August.
Jill S. Johanning, AIA
Maine Licensed Architect
Access Design / Alpha One
accessdesignme.org
207.619.9281
<image001.jpg>
From: wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wsmac-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On ;
Behalf Of Agy Wilson
Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2017 8:44 PM
To: wsmac@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [wsmac] Re: Very Important! Please read and respond ASAP!
I think the bike, paths. lanes, trails, route signage, and bridges would be
a first priority.
The next for me would be the End-of-trip facilities such as bike racks, bike
parking, bike repair stations, and bike storage (further encouraging
community interaction, downtown business and overall health benefits- less
cars, more bikes, perhaps).
Bike Parks and pump tracks
then the Mountain and BMX facilities.
Take all of this with a grain of salt, I'm ambulatory more than a rider.
On Sun, Jun 11, 2017 at 7:30 PM, Lee Prince <leeleeprince51@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Ty Ann for your imput ;)
On Sun, Jun 11, 2017 at 4:55 PM, Ann Peoples <annpeoples11630@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
They, obviously, are all important! If I had to prioritize it would be:
- 1
- 3
- 4
- 2
- 5
On Sun, Jun 11, 2017 at 12:59 PM, Lee Prince <leeleeprince51@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hey WSMACers!
Our next topic/project to focus on is getting the Letter of Interest *LOI*
out to the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. Their deadline to receive this letter
is approaching fast - June 15th!
Here’s your part in helping us achieve such a goal.
The Grant would fund the following:
· Bike paths, lanes, trails, route signage, and bridges
· Mountain bike facilities
· Bike parks and pump tracks
· BMX facilities
· End-of-trip facilities such as bike racks, bike parking, bike
repair stations, and bike storage.
Does any of the above catch your attention? If so which ones?
Also please let us know if you've already had conversations with others
about this, and what their thoughts were.
Please reply to the list no later than Tuesday, June 13th, to let us know
what infrastructure project/s you would like to see funded. The core group
will make the final decision and write the LOI next week.
--
Agy Wilson
http://www.amazon.com/Agy-Wilson/e/B007JRPH5U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
www.agywilson.com
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http://society6.com/agywilson
http://www.redbubble.com/people/agyw13
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@agywilson Twitter
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--
Agy Wilson
http://www.amazon.com/Agy-Wilson/e/B007JRPH5U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
www.agywilson.com
http://www.zazzle.com/imagynations
http://society6.com/agywilson
http://www.redbubble.com/people/agyw13
https://www.facebook.com/agywilsonwork
@agywilson Twitter
@agyw Instagram
--
Agy Wilson
http://www.amazon.com/Agy-Wilson/e/B007JRPH5U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
www.agywilson.com
http://www.zazzle.com/imagynations
http://society6.com/agywilson
http://www.redbubble.com/people/agyw13
https://www.facebook.com/agywilsonwork
@agywilson Twitter
@agyw Instagram
--
Agy Wilson
http://www.amazon.com/Agy-Wilson/e/B007JRPH5U/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
www.agywilson.com
http://www.zazzle.com/imagynations
http://society6.com/agywilson
http://www.redbubble.com/people/agyw13
https://www.facebook.com/agywilsonwork
@agywilson Twitter
@agyw Instagram
