Complete Streets Subject For Upcoming Council Meeting
Oskaloosa City Hall
Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa City Council will take up the Complete Streets debate again at Tuesday evening’s city council meeting.
The meeting was moved to Tuesday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Complete Streets programs are developed with all users of the street area in mind.
Complete Streets refers to the practice of planning, designing, operating and maintaining roadways with all modes of transportation and all users in mind.
More than cars and motorcycles, Complete Streets looks to include those who walk, bike and use forms of public transportation.
Some aspects of Complete Streets are already in play in Oskaloosa. On Tuesday, the Oskaloosa City Council will further discuss how the city will move forward with future projects, and if they will include the Complete Streets concept, and the potential increase in cost that could accompany such work.
The resolution will give the city staff a way to determine the best streets and roads for Complete Streets within the City of Oskaloosa.
“Implementation of the Complete Streets Policy will guide the process of planning, funding, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of all new and modified streets in the City of Oskaloosa.”
Oskaloosa partnered with Oskaloosa Blue Zones to bring in a consultant on Complete Streets. That consultant offered a workshop and presentation on Complete Streets to the city council and city staff, along with any interested community members.
At the most recent city council meeting, consideration of approval on a resolution adopting a policy for Complete Streets design concepts resulted in a 3-3 tie, and the motion carries to the current meeting.
Resistance last time was voiced by Tom Jiminez, who said he didn’t want “to paint ourselves in a corner with this resolution.”
Jimenez expressed concern that the council needs to see what is planned when it comes to road construction and the spending of funds.
Council members raised concerns that the potential 20 percent extra cost might be best used for additional roads versus a Complete Streets project.
