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Safe Routes to School Final Draft Minutes March 20, 2014 M I N U T E S Safe Routes to School Committee Meeting March 20, 2014 3:30 P.M. The Safe Routes to School Committee met during a regular meeting on March 20, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. at McKinley Elementary School, 1201 North Butler, Farmington, New Mexico. Present: Coordinator: Anngela Wakan MPO & City of Farmington Staff Steve Krest Ofcr. Michele DeLese Joe Delmagori June Markle Duane Wakan Attendees: Principal Marilee Dexel Deanna Maurer, Mesa Verde Leslie Nord, McKinley Due to the MPO Policy Committee Meeting in Bloomfield, MPO Staff did not arrive until 4:00 p.m. for the SRTS Meeting. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m. by Mrs. Wakan and the following proceedings were duly had and taken. The minutes from the February 13, 2014 meeting were not discussed due to the absence of the MPO members. EDUCATION & ENCOURAGEMENT San Juan Regional Medical Center Mrs. Wakan reported that SRTS had received a $200 grant from which will be used to purchase backpacks for the walking school bus leaders. The group reviewed all the contest entries for the walking school bus t-shirt design. Mrs. Wakan said that all the drawings had been submitted by Mesa Verde students. The group narrowed their top choices down to five drawings. These drawings will next be reviewed by student leaders and some staff at Mesa Verde and the final selection made. SRTS Coordinator Workshop in Albuquerque Mrs. Wakan reported on the state-wide SRTS Coordinator Workshop held in Albuquerque on February 28. She stated it was helpful to meet the other leaders and hear how their programs were running and what was working for them. She said it was interesting to note that the three places that had walking school bus routes were all for remote drop-offs and were led by the Safe Routes Coordinators. Mrs. Wakan said that this discussion was not as useful for Farmington, since we followed PedNet’s designs and used parent and volunteer leaders. Mrs. Wakan went on a walking/driving tour of the ---PAGE BREAK--- Safe Routes to School Final Draft Minutes March 20, 2014 Corrales SRTS program area where they use the ditch banks along the canals for their walking school bus program. REPORTS FROM PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS Apache Apache Elementary will not be holding their Trade Your Junk for Spunk event this year as they are working with Smith’s on a different activity. Ladera There was no news to report from Ladera Elementary. McKinley McKinley Elementary is having difficulty finding a way to get the students’ cards punched for the Walk Across America program. With students walking to school from every direction, teachers do not always know who has walked to school and there is no central area for students to go and get their cards punched. It was suggested that the library could act as a location students can come and get their cards punched. Mrs. Wakan will also deliver some punches and zip ties to Ms. Nord for the program. Mrs. Wakan stated that one walking school bus leader is moving, but there is an afternoon route that has started up. Mesa Verde Mrs. Maurer will use the school’s morning announcements to remind students of the walking program at Mesa Verde. UPCOMING EVENTS Bike Rodeos Mrs. Wakan reported that a bike rodeo was being planned for April. She is waiting to hear from Apache Elementary on their interest in a bike rodeo. National Bike/Walk to School Day The National Bike to School Day is May 7, 2014. Mrs. Wakan said she would like to organize bike trains for each of the schools: Ladera – from Del Norte Park Mesa Verde – from Beckland Hills Park – take Kingsway down to Buckingham and then west to Victoria Way and cross at crosswalk Apache – from Brookhaven Park east taking the glade trail McKinley – from Jaycee Park – take Zuni to Acoma Place and then Butler for 200 feet and cross at crosswalk Mrs. Wakan said she had hoped to have Mayor Roberts lead one of the bike trains, but he will be out of town. Ms. Nord suggested contacting Councilor Dan Darnell who she thought might be interested in participating. There is also a teacher at McKinley who rides her bike every day to school. Mrs. Wakan and Ms. Nord will check to see if she would be willing to lead a bike train for McKinley students. Mrs. Wakan said the state SRTS organization will be providing prizes for the bike/walk to school day again this year. Last fall over 1,200 prizes were handed out. She said that each student who walks or rides their bike on May 7 will receive a prize. ---PAGE BREAK--- Safe Routes to School Final Draft Minutes March 20, 2014 Mrs. Wakan also plans to have mascots from area schools at each of the schools for the event that morning. She will also contact to see if Juan Heart will participate again this year. ENGINEERING: Mr. Krest reported that construction contracts would be awarded on April 1 for the raised crosswalk on Monterey (McKinley), a sidewalk on Victoria Way (Mesa Verde), and sidewalk improvements on Apache Street (Apache). If there is money remaining following the completion of these three projects, the HAWK pedestrian device on College Boulevard for Mesa Verde Elementary would be considered. The sidewalk on Victoria Way will likely be the first of the three projects. ENFORCEMENT: Officer DeLese reported that there were 800 children who attended Safety Days during the week of March 10-14, 2014. They are considering holding an additional mini version of Safety Days for those students who were unable to attend the March event. Officer DeLese said holding the event at the larger Civic Center location worked much better and it has been booked already for next year’s event. EVALUATION: The group discussed when to schedule the spring student arrival counts. The tentative dates are: April 15, 16 & 17 at McKinley and Apache: April 22, 23 & 24 for Mesa Verde and Ladera. Mrs. Wakan will speak with Mesa Verde to see if these dates work for them. Mr. Delmagori stated that Mr. Dan Burden with the Walkable & Livable Community (WALC) Institute will be in Farmington in May for a Complete Streets presentation. Additionally, a member of Mr. Burden’s staff coming with him is involved with and knowledgeable in SRTS. He will provide an overview of SRTS, conduct a walk audit of a selected local school and review the morning drop-off at that school. The group discussed whether this school should be Animas or Mesa Verde. It was decided that since Animas Elementary has named a new principal, that Mrs. Wakan and Officer DeLese will speak with her about scheduling an event at the school. Mr. Delmagori said this should be well advertised and invitations to participate sent out to the school district office and all MPO area schools and teachers. There were no additional concerns or topics for discussion. The next meeting will be on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. at Mesa Verde Elementary. The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.