OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Commission Meeting - August 11, 2026

Boards and Commissions — Tuesday, August 11, 2026
BodyRochester, Minnesota
SessionBoards and Commissions
DateTuesday, August 11, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
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0:02

And so we'll take uh Rolf, Mike Schmidt.

0:05

I'm here.

0:09

Aaron Buckley.

0:12

Is that Izzy Hushley?

0:13

Yep.

0:14

Okay.

0:16

Um Paula Raphael is not going to make it.

0:21

Mike Jew.

0:23

Mike Jew.

0:26

Kim Golson.

0:27

Here.

0:29

Here.

0:30

Stevens.

0:31

Here.

0:32

And Karen, how do you say it?

0:34

Raider.

0:34

Raider.

0:35

All right.

0:36

Great.

0:36

Welcome.

0:38

All right.

0:39

So let's see.

0:42

I think before we get started, we will do just an informal quick kind of round table because we do have a new network tonight.

0:47

Um, which is fantastic.

0:48

So I guess I'll start and we'll have you go last.

0:52

Everybody do their kind of what they are, and then we'll have you do yours.

0:55

Um so my name is Mike Schmidt.

0:57

I'm the chair.

0:57

I've been on pedestrian bicycle commission for three-ish years.

1:01

I took over somebody, and I'm in my last um rotation through, and then I'm going to um be off.

1:08

So um I'm a avid runner, a bicyclist, advocate for all modes of transportation outside of automobiles to help make our community more safe.

1:18

Um I've been in Rochester for almost 27 years.

1:21

Work for IBM and yeah, I'm here for all things.

1:29

I am Dave Pash, I'm vice chair.

1:32

I have to ask a question of the chair here.

1:34

Yeah.

1:35

Are you saying that this is your first three-year term?

1:39

This is my this is my third year on the commission.

1:43

And after this, I will attrition off because I have three, you get three consecutive terms.

1:50

Oh, uh a term is one year.

1:52

So I believe so, right?

1:54

I didn't put the resolution because I've never here.

1:57

You get two three-year terms.

1:58

Yeah.

1:58

Oh, so maybe maybe this isn't my last year.

2:02

Maybe I should maybe I should read it more closely.

2:04

Yeah, that's why Dave's asking the talk.

2:12

Um whatever.

2:13

Whatever trainings do you get there.

2:15

Right.

2:16

All right.

2:16

I might have one.

2:17

I might have one more year left in me then.

2:19

So we'll see.

2:20

Uh uh I I'm a lot of what Mike is saying.

2:26

I've been here 28 years.

2:28

Been here 27 years.

2:30

And I've been on this committee.

2:31

I think this is, I think I'm ending my third year.

2:35

I think so, but I'm not 100% sure.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation Safety███████████████████████████████31%
Urban Design██████████████████18%
Public Transportation███████████11%
Public Comment█████████9%
Traffic Management██████6%
Community Engagement█████5%
Public Engagement█████5%
Public Works████4%
Procedural███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Commission Meeting - August 11, 2026

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Commission met on August 11, 2026, to discuss mode shift initiatives, a downtown corridor project, and future agenda items. The meeting included a public comment period, presentation on transportation demand management, and an update on the Reimage 6th Avenue W. project. No formal votes were taken beyond approving the consent agenda.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes of the June 8, 2026 meeting.
  • Received the Bike to Work Day 2026 Recap (information only).
  • Received the Multimodal Parking Inventory Update and Routine Audits (information only).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Barry, a long-time meeting observer, suggested that meeting agendas should be posted by Wednesday or Thursday rather than Friday to allow time for corrections. He also urged that mode shift communications use plain language rather than trade jargon to be more accessible to the public and committee members. He expressed concern about the cumulative impact of construction on disabled residents, citing upcoming roadwork around Charterhouse, and called for renewed enforcement of live-school room rules.

Discussion Items

  • Mode Shift and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) – Matt Lynch, Mode Shift Coordinator, presented a framework for making sustainable transportation choices more practical and safe. He reviewed commute mode share data (driving alone down 10 points since 2013, but mostly due to remote work, not mode shift), and shared early data from 12 multimodal counters (85% walking, 12% cycling, 2% scooters, with downtown Thursday peaks). He asked the commission to identify coverage blind spots and corridors where low counts may reflect barriers rather than lack of demand. Members suggested locations such as West Circle Drive (poorly maintained trail), 19th Avenue, and areas with challenging crossings. Discussion also touched on data privacy concerns regarding potential surveillance from counters.
  • Reimage 6th Avenue W. Project Update – Steve Samson Brown (Public Works) and Amy Mincy (Tool Design) presented the design concept approved by City Council. The project includes a protected two-way bikeway, wider sidewalks, raised shortened crosswalks, signalized intersections at 2nd St and Center St, and a mixed-use path on 2nd St NW. Construction is planned to start March 2027 with completion in August 2027. The corridor will feature landscaping, benches, and green space. Future connections north of Civic Center Drive were noted as longer-term.

Key Outcomes

  • The consent agenda was approved by voice vote (motion by Dave, second by Mike).
  • No formal action was taken on the mode shift or Sixth Avenue presentations; the commission provided feedback.
  • The commission agreed to add future discussion items on: (1) enforcement and safety concerns regarding motorized bikes on trails (raised by a member), and (2) the justification and impact of Flock cameras and automatic license plate readers on pedestrians (raised by a member).
  • The next meeting is scheduled for September 14, 2026, location to be determined.
  • The meeting was adjourned by voice vote (motion by Karen, second by Sarah).

Meeting Transcript

And so we'll take uh Rolf, Mike Schmidt. I'm here. Aaron Buckley. Is that Izzy Hushley? Yep. Okay. Um Paula Raphael is not going to make it. Mike Jew. Mike Jew. Kim Golson. Here. Here. Stevens. Here. And Karen, how do you say it? Raider. Raider. All right. Great. Welcome. All right. So let's see. I think before we get started, we will do just an informal quick kind of round table because we do have a new network tonight. Um, which is fantastic. So I guess I'll start and we'll have you go last. Everybody do their kind of what they are, and then we'll have you do yours. Um so my name is Mike Schmidt. I'm the chair. I've been on pedestrian bicycle commission for three-ish years. I took over somebody, and I'm in my last um rotation through, and then I'm going to um be off. So um I'm a avid runner, a bicyclist, advocate for all modes of transportation outside of automobiles to help make our community more safe. Um I've been in Rochester for almost 27 years. Work for IBM and yeah, I'm here for all things. I am Dave Pash, I'm vice chair. I have to ask a question of the chair here. Yeah. Are you saying that this is your first three-year term? This is my this is my third year on the commission. And after this, I will attrition off because I have three, you get three consecutive terms. Oh, uh a term is one year. So I believe so, right? I didn't put the resolution because I've never here. You get two three-year terms. Yeah. Oh, so maybe maybe this isn't my last year. Maybe I should maybe I should read it more closely. Yeah, that's why Dave's asking the talk. Um whatever. Whatever trainings do you get there. Right.

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