Title
Resolution to Direct the City Administrator to Proceed with the Design of a Healthy Streets Deployment for Spring of 2021, and to Appropriate $40,000 from the General Fund Fund Balance (8 Votes Required)
Body
Whereas, The coronavirus pandemic is expected to continue to be present in the community throughout 2021;
Whereas, Due to the coronavirus pandemic, at least 6-foot social distancing is necessary;
Whereas, Ann Arbor strives to provide the safest environments for 6-foot safe social distancing in our community;
Whereas, Sidewalks, pathways and the public right-of-way should provide an opportunity for safe social distancing for pedestrians, cyclists, and other modes of transportation;
Whereas, Nighttime illumination is imperative for safe social distancing in the roadway;
Whereas, Safe social distancing can be enhanced when the complete width of sidewalks, pathways and bike lanes are free of obstructions, such as potholes, trip hazards, overgrown vegetation and construction debris;
Whereas, The fall deployment of Healthy Streets concluded in November and modifications can be made to a future Healthy Streets deployment based on what was learned and the feedback received;
Whereas, No funding was included in the FY2021 budget to support Healthy Streets and funding is needed to advance the design for a spring deployment;
Whereas, A future budget request for funding the implementation will come before City Council at a subsequent meeting once the design informs the project cost;
Whereas, At their December 16, 2020 meeting, the Transportation Commission recommended “that City Council pursue Healthy Streets implementation and necessary budget allocations for April 2021. Further, to include neighborhood streets in the implementation. We strongly recommend identifying locations where previous Healthy Streets reconfigurations could be made permanent.”
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator identify preliminary design and cost estimation to use portions of City streets to expand safe social distancing for pedestrians and cyclists, through shared or dedicated roadways;
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator proceed with the preliminary design and cost estimation of a Healthy Streets deployment for Spring of 2021;
RESOLVED, That $40,000 be appropriated from the General Fund Balance to fund the design of Healthy Streets for a Spring 2021 Deployment;
RESOLVED, That the designs will be based on the emerging best-practices in slow streets; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take the necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.
Sponsored by: Mayor Taylor and Councilmembers Griswold and Briggs
As Amended and Approved by Ann Arbor City Council on January 20, 2021