Commission moves to redesign BPAC into broader Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee; staff to post notice

The commission voted to direct staff to prepare a public notice and draft structure for a new Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee that would broaden the current Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) remit to include roadway, freight and parking issues.

The motion, which passed by roll call, asked staff to develop a notice seeking five at-large candidates with staggered terms and to include designated seats for an NPDC representative and a county commissioner or selectboard designee. “I moved to authorize staff to develop a public notice and a plan for discussion at our June 23 meeting to, establish a new transportation parking advisory committee with 5 at large members, with staggered terms,” one commissioner said when making the motion; another seconded it.

Commissioners discussed overlaps with existing committees, the importance of staggered terms for continuity, and whether inactive committees (for example, a parking-benefit or right-of-way committee noted in discussion) should be consolidated. Staff said the proposal would be brought back to the June 23 meeting with draft public notice language and an opportunity to recommend committees that could be sunsetted or folded into the new structure.

The commission noted that current BPAC terms expire June 30 and agreed there could be a short gap while a new committee is formed; staff suggested the commission could temporarily reappoint existing BPAC members if necessary. The vote authorized staff to return in June with the draft notice and recommended committee scope.