Cyclists, cars and pedestrians often fight for space on Sun Valley Road in Ketchum. But a new plan is on the table to reroute bicycle traffic off that thoroughfare and on to Fourth Street. A pedestrian-activated traffic light would provide a safer way for non-motorized travelers to get across the street.
The idea is one of many being floated in Ketchum's Capital Improvement Program, a plan that identifies possible projects for fiscal years 2007 to 2012.
The Ketchum City Council discussed the plan Monday, April 17, but declined to vote on it that night.
"The CIP is an attempt to put all projects in front of the council at one time," said City Administrator Ron LeBlanc. It also takes urban renewal projects and folds them in. "By putting it all together we can manage it better."
Categories addressed in the plan are drainage, parking, parks and recreation, public facilities, streetscape, transportation, and wastewater, among others.
Ideas for fiscal year 2006-2007 include beginning work on parking structures at Sixth and Leadville, Second and Washington and underground on the town square property adjacent to Giacobbi Square.
LeBlanc said that while some aspects surrounding the town square concept might have to wait until the downtown master plan is complete, underground construction should be done first.
Exploration of geothermal uses in snow storage is tentatively planned, as are a parks master plan, burying utility lines, replacing the old water system downtown and the bike/pedestrian corridor on Fourth Street from Spruce Street to Second Avenue.
Although all members of the City Council want to move ahead with capital improvements to the city, not all share the same priorities.
Councilwoman Terry Tracy said parking had too high a priority.
"I'd hate to wait until 2012 to have a visitors' center with restrooms," she said.
The plan is meant to be flexible, LeBlanc said, and projects will shift in priority. Therefore, he said, adoption of the plan doesn't dictate every item's completion.
Supporting the plan are development impact fees, franchise fees, the urban renewal agency and its upcoming plan, and the forthcoming downtown master plan.
"This is not an overnight success," LeBlanc said. Rather, he said, it's the product of many years' work in establishing the system of fees and planning documents to make capital improvements.
Public enthusiasm on reinvigorating the city is such that many residents have come forward wanting to form a local improvement district, LeBlanc said.
"They're wanting to tax themselves above what we're doing," he said. "That's a good sign."
The arts community, too, is stepping forward, LeBlanc said.
Creative segments of society could be useful in helping to plan signage, pavement art and other visual aspects of a redesigned town.
"There might be some opportunity for whimsy," LeBlanc said.
The Ketchum Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of the CIP April 10.
The council decided to postpone any decision on approving or revising the document.
"We ought to be comfortable with what we're adopting before we go there," said Councilman Baird Gourlay.
