Agenda Item # 3


Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting

November 8, 2016

Agenda Report # 55



TO: Mayor and Councilors

SUBJECT: Memorandum of Understanding with Midtown, Inc. for a Minimum Grid Demonstration Project INITIATED BY: Engineering Department

Recommendation: Approval is requested to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Midtown, Inc. for a Minimum Grid Demonstration Project to include bike lane signage and re-striping along 13th Street from Cherokee Avenue to Delauney Ave on the north side of the street and Midway Drive on the south side of the street, Delauney Ave. to from 13th Street to 14th Street, 14th Street from Delauney Ave. to 13th Avenue, 13th Avenue from 14th Street to Linwood Blvd., and Linwood Blvd. from 13th Avenue to 10th Avenue.

Background: Midtown, Inc. applied for and received a grant from the Knight Cities Challenge in 2015 to better connect the Core Community of Midtown and Uptown. This application was in response to “What’s your best idea to make cities more successful?”.

Analysis: Midtown, Inc. work with Gehl Studio to prepare the Minimum Grid, Maximum Impact: A Public Space and Mobility Plan for the Core Community. This demonstration project was to create a safe, inviting environment for people to walk and bike on 13th Street and enhance the connectivity between Midtown and Uptown. As a demonstration project, it will test how a permanent street redesign could function.

Financial Considerations: Midtown, Inc. will provide reimbursement up to $45,000 for bike lane signage and re-striping costs associated with this project. The City will provide the intersection improvements at 13th Street and 13th Avenue required by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) when funding is identified and approved by City Council.

Legal Considerations: The City Attorney has reviewed the MOU.

Recommendations: Approval is requested to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Midtown, Inc. for a Minimum Grid Demonstration Project to include bike lane signage and re-striping along 13th Street from Cherokee Avenue to Delauney Ave on the north side of the street and Midway on the south side of the street, Delauney Ave. to from 13th Street to 14th Street, 14th Street from Delauney Ave. to 13th Avenue, 13th Avenue from 14th Street to Linwood Blvd., and Linwood Blvd. from 13th Avenue to 10th Avenue.


Midtown MOU REV.pdfMidtown MOU REV.pdf13that13th.png13thRhodes.jpg13thVirginia.jpgDelauney14th.jpg


A RESOLUTION
NO. ________

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH MIDTOWN, INC. FOR A MINIMUM GRID DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

WHEREAS, Midtown, Inc. was awarded a grant from the Knight Cities Challenge in 2015 answering the question, “What’s your best idea to make cities more successful?”; and,

WHEREAS, Midtown, Inc. worked with Gehl Studio to prepare the Minimum Grid, Maximum Impact: A Public Space and Mobility Plan for the Core Community; and,

WHEREAS, a component of this plan is to implement a demonstration project identified as the connection from Midtown to Uptown; and,

WHEREAS, the demonstration project provides for signage and designated bike lanes or shared bike lanes (sharrows) on 13th Street from Cherokee Avenue to Delauney Avenue on the north side of the street and Midway Drive on the south side of the street, north on Delauney Ave to 14th Street, west on 14th Street to 13th Avenue, north on 13th Avenue to Linwood Blvd and west on Linwood Blvd. to 10th Ave; and,

WHEREAS, Midtown, Inc. will reimburse the city up to $45,000 for the cost of bike lane signage and re-striping the route designated on the attachments.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

That the City Manager is hereby authorized to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Midtown, Inc. to implement the demonstration project as outlined.
_________________________

Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the _________ day of _____________, 2016 and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of ____________ members of said Council.


Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Garrett voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.



_______________________________ __________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor