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Coos Bay Parks Commission advances plan for bicycle and pedestrian fact‑finding committee
Summary
The Coos Bay Parks Commission agreed at its Oct. 3 work session to refine a mission and advertise for an eight‑member bicycle and pedestrian fact‑finding committee, with a minimum of two and up to three Parks Commissioners serving on the panel; staff will bring a draft to city council for approval and the appointments will be included on the Oct. 17 agenda.
The Coos Bay Parks Commission on Oct. 3 instructed staff to prepare a mission and application for a new bicycle and pedestrian fact‑finding committee and asked that the proposed committee be placed on the City Council agenda for approval and appointments.
Commissioner Kirk Vanwood, who presented the draft language, said the group’s role would be limited to gathering information: "The pedestrian and bicycle fact finding group is charged with researching and presenting information to the Parks Commission on pedestrian and bicycle issues affecting the City of Coos Bay. This includes but is not limited to specific projects in Coos Bay, funding opportunities, and state and federal regulations. Its sole purpose is to provide information to the Parks Commission and not make recommendations." The commission discussed the importance of keeping the committee a non‑decision‑making, research‑focused body.
The commission debated the committee’s size and composition. Commissioners settled on a working target of eight members and discussed ensuring continuity by having a commissioner serve as chair. "Minimum of 2, maximum of 3," said Commissioner Ariane Lyons when discussing how many Parks Commissioners should be on the committee. Commissioners said having a commissioner chair would help provide continuity and a reliable liaison with staff.
Members stressed geographic diversity in recruitment — naming Eastside, Empire and Coos Bay proper as areas to represent — and cautioned against forming a panel composed solely of close‑knit biking enthusiasts. Commissioners said the committee should be flexible: it could meet monthly as a baseline but meet more often while conducting concentrated fact‑finding on specific projects. They also agreed that committee communications with city staff should go through the Parks Commission until the panel is formally independent.
Staff will incorporate the commission’s comments and present the draft mission, makeup and the proposed appointments to the City Council; staff confirmed the appointment of 2–3 commissioners to the committee can be added to the Oct. 17 agenda. "Would you like us also to include the appointment of the 2, 3 commission members to the committee?" a staff member asked, and commissioners agreed that should be done.
The commission did not take a formal vote at the session but reached consensus on the committee’s purpose, target size and next procedural steps. The commission asked the staff member identified as the drafter of the questions to forward those notes for inclusion in the draft materials to be posted with the Oct. 17 agenda.
