OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Pedestrian Bicycle Advisory Commission Meeting - December 9, 2025

Boards and Commissions — Tuesday, December 9, 2025
BodyRochester, Minnesota
SessionBoards and Commissions
DateTuesday, December 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:21:49

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

With myself, Mike Schmidt, I'm here.

0:04

Sarah Stevens here.

0:07

Dave Pesh.

0:09

Aaron Buckley.

0:10

President.

0:12

Ethan Swanson.

0:13

President.

0:14

Daniel Grubery here.

0:16

And then I believe the next people.

0:19

Well, so I'm looking at the old one, but Mike is Mike is still a member.

0:23

Is it okay?

0:23

Mind you?

0:25

And then Kieran and Paula are stepped down, right?

0:30

No, Paula's reappointing.

0:32

Oh, that's what that's what it is.

0:33

I think Karen's stepping down.

0:34

Okay, so Karen's stepping down.

0:35

So Paula Right.

0:37

Paul rights.

0:38

Okay, so she's now hearing.

0:39

Well.

0:41

All right.

0:42

Then we will have our open comment period.

0:45

We have five minutes for people to have comments on anything related to pedestrian bicycle commission.

0:54

Yeah, I have a few comments on this time.

0:57

And not about the stuff I normally talk about, so different stuff.

1:01

Um the first, I had mentioned the first item already, but I just want to mention it again.

1:06

Uh the amendment, my understanding about this committee that we're going to try to get out the agendas a week in advance.

1:13

Now I understand they don't legally have to get it out until uh three days or before, but we don't have to be the you know meet the legal works uh possibility.

1:23

It'd be nicer for everybody if you want to recruit people to come here for particular topics.

1:28

It would be nicer if you could get it out like the other committees do about four or five days of their bands rather than waiting for the last possible moment.

1:36

So that's point number one.

1:38

Point number two about that is that this is the only committee that I I look at, the only one, including the city council and the HPC and other committees that I've been on where they don't list the names of the people that speak, the only one.

1:53

And I and I really want to know the reason for that.

1:55

Personally, I find it somewhat insulting that I come here, they don't even bother to put my name on, and every other boarding commission in Rochester does it.

2:03

And so there's no reason why we shouldn't follow the protocol.

2:06

Every other commission does.

2:09

So that's that's that item.

2:12

Another item uh has to do with snow removal.

2:15

I think there's a problem with the snow removal policy because basically we have a big storm like we had the other weekend, we had four and a half inches or whatever.

2:24

And and the the law says that you can enforce the snow regulations if there's one flake that comes down the next day.

2:32

So you have that, and then it freezes in, and then you have a minute of like just one flake or two flakes, and it just postpones the enforcement.

2:42

And for people like me who have rollators, the like that you can't even get people to shovel the sideboard sometimes.

2:49

So it makes it very, very difficult for people with disabilities to get across the street.

2:54

Yeah, I suggest that they have change the rules so that if we have a snow and there's only one inch the next day, I don't think we should avoid giving penalties for 24 hours after that inch is fall.

3:06

And then if there's an inch the next day, people pushing it further and further back.

3:11

So that's not good.

3:12

I know there are other cities that actually have the city actually plow the snow.

3:16

So they and because a lot of people in Rockstar do not want to squeal on their neighbors, and it tends to be the same people every year who don't show their sidewalk, and we don't think anyone would dare call in and then squeal on them.

3:30

And I think that's a big problem because the people just don't want to do that to their neighbors.

3:34

So I think in terms of we have to think of a better way for snow room because it isn't working, you know, for people with disabilities.

3:42

The other thing I want to mention in the packet today on the sidewalks, um, I think wayfinding, I think it'd be enough detail to not just say the wayfinding should not just be this day.

3:58

Uh that you that were closed this way, we should give a little detail, enough detail so people know which roads are are it's connecting to.

4:08

So I think that's kind of important.

4:10

And the other two things is I don't really think we should have signs that advocate going to specific restaurants.

4:17

I totally disagree with that.

4:18

I think I if you look at the package, um, I think it's page 14, you'll see uh that that in there it's I've seen that on the streets when I walked by now.

4:28

We'll say this way to a particular hotel for a great meal.

4:32

I mean, that is not appropriate for us to pick out or have somebody pay us to sort of use city sign and give the impression if the city is pushing people for specific restaurants and specific um hotels.

4:46

I just don't think that's a good idea.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Transportation█████████████████████████████29%
Public Engagement█████████████████████████25%
Active Transportation████████████████████████24%
Urban Design██████████10%
Procedural██████6%
Accessibility and Inclusion██2%
Technology and Innovation██2%
Public Safety█1%
Winter Maintenance█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Pedestrian Bicycle Advisory Commission Meeting - December 9, 2025

The City of Rochester Pedestrian Bicycle Advisory Commission convened on December 9, 2025, to review the consent calendar, address public comment regarding operational protocols and snow removal, and hear informational updates on downtown wayfinding, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, and the newly established Mode Shift Coordinator role.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the minutes from the November 10, 2025 meeting.
  • Adoption of the 2026 meeting schedule, set for the first and second Mondays of the month at 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room 104 (or Room 320 if Council business is required), with the next meeting scheduled for January 12, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Darren (Member):
    • Position on Meeting Agendas: Expressed a strong preference for agendas to be distributed four to five days in advance, rather than waiting for the three-day legal minimum, to better facilitate public recruitment and attendance.
    • Position on Public Comment Protocols: Expressed deep dissatisfaction and a feeling of "insult" that the commission does not record the names of public speakers, contrasting this practice with the City Council and other commissions (like the HPC) where names are recorded. Speaker argued that since minutes are no longer video-based, written minutes must identify speakers, and suggested a standard operating procedure requiring all board members to say their names before speaking to ensure they are captured in the record.
    • Position on Snow Removal Policy: Argued that the current snow enforcement rule (waiting 24 hours after a single flake or inch) creates a loophole that disproportionately harms people with disabilities and rollators. Speaker advocated for removing the 24-hour grace period after the first inch of snow, proposing that penalties should be enforceable immediately after the first accumulation. Additionally, speaker expressed support for the city taking on more snow removal responsibility (plowing) rather than relying on residents to "squeal" on neighbors.
    • Position on Wayfinding Signs: Strongly opposed signage that directs pedestrians to specific restaurants or hotels, arguing it implies city endorsement or constitutes advertising. Speaker suggested using generic categories (e.g., "Restaurants") instead of specific business names to avoid "branded messaging" and "propaganda" about future construction.

Discussion Items

  • Downtown Wayfinding Update (Mike Collins, City of Rochester):

    • Proposal: Presented a new temporary wayfinding system to be deployed in 16 locations to navigate downtown construction and sidewalk closures. Plans include "Trailblazer" style kiosks with maps, directional signs pointing to key institutions (e.g., Mayo Clinic), and QR codes leading to a dedicated web page for real-time closure updates.
    • Clarification on Branded Messaging: Speaker clarified that while business names might appear on signs if they are acutely impacted by construction (e.g., SpyHouse), the general strategy is to use generic categories (e.g., "Medical Center," "Restaurants") rather than specific business names to maintain neutrality. Specific business names will only appear on detailed Trailblazer signs once approaching the destination.
    • Map Orientation: Speaker acknowledged member concerns regarding map orientation, confirming that all maps will include a compass rose indicating North and will be designed to face North for usability.
    • Bike Parking: Acknowledged a gap in signage but noted that a GIS layer for bike parking locations is being developed for digital access (devices) rather than static signage at this time.
    • Long-term Strategy: Confirmed that temporary signs are designed to inform the development of a permanent city-wide wayfinding system once construction concludes.

  • BRT Update (BRT Project Team):

    • West Transit Village: Road work is ongoing; bus terminal and electric charging infrastructure are planned. The station footprint is being prepared.
    • 19th Avenue: Westbound station work is underway with footings for the north side being laid; south side footing work is deferred until Spring 2026. Bike lanes will be located behind the station.
    • St. Mary's Area: Demolition of the north-side building occurred; underground tunnel and vertical circulator (stairs/elevators) construction is planned for the winter months, with an intent to keep the road open.
    • 6th Avenue: No BRT work has started yet; the station design does not include a behind-station bike lane. Concerns were raised regarding intersection congestion with the adjacent "SpyHouse" and existing construction; future mitigation will be studied as part of the "Reimagining Sixth Avenue" project.
    • Downtown Terminus & Eastern Area: Work at the downtown station and Library stop is deferred pending Mayo coordination. The eastern terminus near the roundabout is the furthest along, with footings nearly complete and an anticipated opening in August 2027.

  • Mode Shift Coordinator Role (Matt Lynch, City of Rochester):

    • Context: Introduced the new role aimed at achieving city Comprehensive Plan targets: 30% transit, 13% walking/biking, and a 28% reduction in single-occupancy vehicle trips.
    • Priority Areas: Outlined six priorities, including reviewing existing plans (Active Transportation Plan, Transit Development Plan), developing a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plan, and integrating TDM principles into pre-development review and Unified Development Code (UDC) updates.
    • Partnership with PBAC: Stated that the role will serve as a strategic partner to PBAC, seeking input on equity, safety, and network impacts for proposed projects (e.g., Reimagining 6th, Link BRT, future park updates) and utilizing PBAC as a sounding board for barriers faced by active travelers.
    • Shared Mobility: Mentioned plans to explore a car-share pilot in 2026 and monitor shared scooter/e-bike performance.

Key Outcomes

  • Agenda Adoption: The November 10 minutes and 2026 meeting calendar were formally approved.
  • Operational Correction: The President committed to recalling and correcting the rule regarding public comment name-taking to ensure all speakers are identified in future minutes.
  • Informational Referrals: The commission received briefings on the wayfinding, BRT, and Mode Shift initiatives without formal action items or votes required. The next meeting (January 12, 2026) is scheduled to focus on the "Reimagining 6th Avenue" project concepts.
  • Snow Removal Follow-up: A member reported a specific snow clearing issue on a bridge on the Bear Creek Trail near the 20th Street extension; staff confirmed the issue was resolved and directed the member to the City's online snow map and 311 system for future reporting of un-maintained trails.

Meeting Transcript

With myself, Mike Schmidt, I'm here. Sarah Stevens here. Dave Pesh. Aaron Buckley. President. Ethan Swanson. President. Daniel Grubery here. And then I believe the next people. Well, so I'm looking at the old one, but Mike is Mike is still a member. Is it okay? Mind you? And then Kieran and Paula are stepped down, right? No, Paula's reappointing. Oh, that's what that's what it is. I think Karen's stepping down. Okay, so Karen's stepping down. So Paula Right. Paul rights. Okay, so she's now hearing. Well. All right. Then we will have our open comment period. We have five minutes for people to have comments on anything related to pedestrian bicycle commission. Yeah, I have a few comments on this time. And not about the stuff I normally talk about, so different stuff. Um the first, I had mentioned the first item already, but I just want to mention it again. Uh the amendment, my understanding about this committee that we're going to try to get out the agendas a week in advance. Now I understand they don't legally have to get it out until uh three days or before, but we don't have to be the you know meet the legal works uh possibility. It'd be nicer for everybody if you want to recruit people to come here for particular topics. It would be nicer if you could get it out like the other committees do about four or five days of their bands rather than waiting for the last possible moment. So that's point number one. Point number two about that is that this is the only committee that I I look at, the only one, including the city council and the HPC and other committees that I've been on where they don't list the names of the people that speak, the only one. And I and I really want to know the reason for that. Personally, I find it somewhat insulting that I come here, they don't even bother to put my name on, and every other boarding commission in Rochester does it. And so there's no reason why we shouldn't follow the protocol. Every other commission does. So that's that's that item. Another item uh has to do with snow removal. I think there's a problem with the snow removal policy because basically we have a big storm like we had the other weekend, we had four and a half inches or whatever. And and the the law says that you can enforce the snow regulations if there's one flake that comes down the next day. So you have that, and then it freezes in, and then you have a minute of like just one flake or two flakes, and it just postpones the enforcement. And for people like me who have rollators, the like that you can't even get people to shovel the sideboard sometimes. So it makes it very, very difficult for people with disabilities to get across the street. Yeah, I suggest that they have change the rules so that if we have a snow and there's only one inch the next day, I don't think we should avoid giving penalties for 24 hours after that inch is fall. And then if there's an inch the next day, people pushing it further and further back. So that's not good. I know there are other cities that actually have the city actually plow the snow. So they and because a lot of people in Rockstar do not want to squeal on their neighbors, and it tends to be the same people every year who don't show their sidewalk, and we don't think anyone would dare call in and then squeal on them. And I think that's a big problem because the people just don't want to do that to their neighbors.

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