OAKLAND GREEN TEAM The Oakland Green Team works to improve trail connections and create attractive public spaces. The team will identify, advocate, and implement greening and bike/pedestrian activities throughout Oakland.
Meeting Notes January 15, 2015 – 6:00pm – 7:45pm In attendance: Carlino Giampolo, David Manthei, Joan Dickerson, Millie Sass, Phil Garrow, Michael Medwed, Lauren Perine, Roy Weil, Mary Shaw, Eric Boerer, Mark Oleniacz, Hanson Kappelman, Janice Lorenz, Julien Comte, Melody Rocco, Patrick Hassett, Elly Fisher, Kevin Kerr, Barbara Brewton, David Zwier A.
Public Spaces i. South Oakland Fruit Trees: pruning workshop Saturday, March 14, 10:00 am ii. Joncaire Street hillside and parklet Thanks to Carlino Giampolo who along with volunteers has put a tremendous amount of time and energy into cleaning up Joncaire Street’s hillside and parklet
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Cyclists & Pedestrians i. Cyclists on the sidewalks: Councilman Gilman convened a ‘walk’ yesterday, 1/14, to look at where/how signage could improve pedestrian safety on South Craig Street and the surrounding area. Bike Pittsburgh working on an educational ‘bike hanger’ about safe/appropriate biking practices and routes in North Oakland.
Positive response to these efforts; the Green Team will focus the February meeting on brainstorming how to better advocate for people who walk and bike in Oakland.
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New Ideas i. Pat Hassett, Assistant Director at the City of Pittsburg’s Department of Public Works Joncaire Street steps reconstruction project. Presentation available on OPDC’s website Pat Hassett presented the City’s preliminary designs for rebuilding the Joncaire Steps. Project cost estimated at $480,000; $384,000 from Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) federal funding, and $96,000 in local matching funds. Department of Public Works (DPW) deliberating two-way vs. one-way bike ramp. If designs end up being for one bike ramp the width of the stairs will likely be 6’ wide. Bottom line: the steps are being used, but the steps are unsafe. The TAP funding provides an opportunity to improve
the steps, add lighting, potentially remove invasive plant species from the surrounding hillside, and improve the landscaping at the top and bottom of the steps. Green Team Feedback -
Landscaping: will this be included in the budget? By whom and how are the steps being used? This should inform the improvements made. Hillside should be analyzed for water/stormwater drainage.
Questions and comments should be sent to greenteam@opdc.org before the February 19 Green Team meeting. The comments will be assembled and passed along to Pat Hassett.
Next meeting: Thursday, February 19, at 6:00 pm at the Oakland Career Center, 294 Semple Street. Tentative agenda is to have Kyle Winkler, the City of Pittsburgh’s Recycling Supervisor, join us to talk about the City’s trash and recycling programs.