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TAB approves minutes, adjourns early; members press city on snow‑and‑sidewalk clearing and winter access
Summary
The Transportation Advisory Board approved its Nov. 18, 2024 minutes and adjourned early. During matters of the board, members raised concerns about snow removal and sidewalk accessibility for people with disabilities and asked staff to continue evaluating winter maintenance policy and outreach.
At the Jan. 22 meeting of the Transportation Advisory Board, members approved the Nov. 18, 2024 meeting minutes and later moved and seconded to adjourn early.
Procedural actions recorded in the meeting transcript: TAB voted to approve the Nov. 18 draft minutes (motion moved and seconded; minutes approved by voice) and later adopted a motion to adjourn (mover not specified; second by TAB member Mike; motion seconded and carried).
In matters of the board, members raised winter maintenance concerns after hearing public comment and personal observations. Darcy (TAB member) said she encountered a wheelchair user — Craig Teller of the Center for People with Disabilities — who had been traveling in the street because sidewalks were impassable. Darcy urged the city to “do more to help property owners understand the importance of removing snow from sidewalks” and suggested outreach, incentives or contests to encourage compliance.
Trini and other TAB members described steep local streets and sidewalk pack/ice that block bike and pedestrian travel, noting recent City Council action to focus snow clearance on multiuse paths but stressing remaining gaps on neighborhood streets and sidewalk connections to transit. Garrett Slater, acting director for the meeting, said staff are monitoring the Snow and Ice Response Program performance and will relay comments to council and the city manager’s office.
Why it matters: Impassable sidewalks create safety and equity issues for people who walk, use mobility devices or rely on transit; the board’s comments signal an expectation for the city to revisit outreach, enforcement and program design for winter maintenance.
What’s next: TAB members asked staff to continue monitoring winter maintenance performance, bring community feedback to council, and consider program adjustments or outreach as appropriate. Details about any specific policy changes were not provided in the meeting.
