FOCUS - Friends of Concord / United South End

Meeting Notes January 22, 2003

Jan 28, 2003

FOCUS Meeting
January 22, 2003

A FOCUS meeting was held on January 22, 2003 in the offices of 20/20 at 72 North Main Street. Present at the meeting were the following persons:

Charlie Bauer, Phil Bilodeau (City of Concord General Services), Amy Currie, Ruth Engel, Steve Finch, Eric Halter, Mary Jo Hanson, Bill McGonagle, Randy Raymond, Amy Sheridan (20/20 Director) and Mike Tardiff.

Introductions C, Bauer opened the meeting and introduced Mary Jo Hanson representing the Conant School PTO, Phil Bilodeau from the City General Services Department and Amy Sheridan, Director of the 20/20 Initiative.

Prior Meeting C. Bauer reported on the Jan 15 meeting and discussion at that session with Roger Hawk, City Director of Community Development. He advised the meeting that Mr. Hawk had indicated the City would undertake a review of traffic problems in the South End and this would be done collaboratively with FOCUS. The 20/20 organization would assist the evaluation by securing technical assistance. This report was followed by a presentation from Amy Sheridan.

20/20 Support and Collaboration Amy Sheridan responded to the report of the meeting with Roger Hawk and stated the 20/20 program:
1. Is committed to assist with neighborhood evaluation of traffic issues and traffic calming concepts, notably for four streets indicated in the City Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for repaving in 2003. These are: Allison, Broadway, Carter and Pillsbury Streets, and
2. Intends to assist with neighborhood visions and aspirations inasmuch as the city-wide vision process had been completed and inasmuch as neighborhoods or "villages" were felt to be an important element of Concord's future development.

She stated FOCUS was welcomed as an agent for village participation and as a "partner" with 20/20 in defining South End aspirations that can be merged with a city-wide program. 20/20 can assist with FOCUS meetings since they intend to be inclusive and to elicit neighborhood involvement. She referenced prior meetings sponsored by 20/20 with Dan Burden and Michael Wallwork where a neighborhood had participated and had helped shape traffic calming proposals. 20/20 will fund a design "charrette" for the South End and may help fund traffic calming measures in a Concord neighborhood. She sketched a map with location of current proposals for traffic calming in the Rumford School area and described her understanding of the City approach to these proposals. She outlined the charrette process used with the Rumford School group (now formed as the Abbott-Downing Association). She stated her belief that this Association and FOCUS could attain results in controlling neighborhood traffic.

Ms. Sheridan indicated FOCUS could provide a model for a 20/20 neighborhood process and for village decisions. She suggested the range of issues that might be addressed could include: redevelopment of the former Blue Cross/Blue Shield property, re-use of the former B&M rail yard, neighborhood recreation and Conant/Rundlett School access and traffic. This led to discussion of the Conant School area and its traffic/student conflicts.

Ms. Sheridan then discussed a charrette for the South End that would involve Michael Wallwork. She suggested a date at the end of March. She asked FOCUS to help with the organizational work for such a session and for help in getting people to attend. After further discussion about roundabouts and their purpose and use, Ms. Sheridan finished her presentation.

C. Bauer stated that FOCUS should identify traffic problem areas and potential beatification areas as background for a March charrette.

Conant School Mary Jo Hanson described Conant School concerns about daily drop off and pick up of young students. She described the pattern of traffic and conflicts now occurring. It was agreed that solutions would require a long term approach with a number of steps involving school officials, city officials and FOCUS members. Discussion of Corriveau Square followed.

General Services Department Phil Bilodeau described the City road
maintenance program and the sequence involved in annual projects. The components include underground utility work, drainage maintenance and improvement, sidewalks and paving. The street maintenance program has a 30 year cycle; projects are undertaken annually based on priorities and evaluation by specific criteria. The present repaving program will be coordinated with the City Engineer's analysis and efforts to complete sidewalks where there are gaps in the existing system and around the city's schools. The maintenance program is seeking to include improvements defined in the City's neighborhood planning
project at Rumford School. However, the traffic calming/pedestrian measures are not included in the current City budget.

He stated repaving bid responses for this year's paving projects are expected in March, but work can be timed to allow for outcomes of a neighborhood charrette assisted by 20/20. Contract arrangements can be done to permit an opportunity for such a charrette.

Mr. Bilodeau explained modern paving techniques, the timing with utility work and the effect of equipment changes. He advised the meeting that city representatives (Fire, General Services and Engineering) had visited Cambridge, MA to review traffic calming measures in that municipality. He explained sidewalk curbing efforts and indicated residents could coordinate individual curbing projects with the city's annual program. He said the current CIP did not
include a budget category for traffic calming measures, but a budget category might be expected in the future.

Council McGonagle Councilor Bill McGonagle inquired about the role he might have with FOCUS. He was invited to attend meetings of the group. He asked that a FOCUS Web site include a link to his own so that constituents might reach him through a FOCUS connection. He advised the person with an option to purchase the former Blue Cross/Blue Shield building would like to visit with the FOCUS group to discuss development possibilities. It was agreed this opportunity
should be provided.

Next Meeting: The group will meet next on Wednesday, January 29, at 7:00 PM at 72 North Main Street.

Steve Duprey will be present to discuss his plans for the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Building (on which his company has an option to buy) and related South End issues.