FAIRFAX TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STAFF REPORT
SPECIAL AGENDA ITEM #2
MEETING DATE June 4, 2025
PREPARED FOR Mayor and Town Council
PREPARED BY Bryn McKillop, Associate Planner
SUBJECT Interview Applicants for the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Consider Appointments
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend Town Council interview applicants and consider appointments for five (5) to seven (7) committee members for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC).
BACKGROUND
As stated in Resolution 25-15 adopted on May 21, 2025, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) has been formed to assist in the development of the Town’s update to its Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. The Town has received grant funds through the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM) which will be used to hire a qualified consultant to help with the preparation of the Master Plan by working with the BPAC and Town Staff. Through the BPAC, the Town will provide a public forum for resident input on bicycle and pedestrian issues, while providing guidance to elected officials and staff on the Master Plan’s content. All BPAC meetings will be noticed, open, and public and in compliance with the Brown Act, Gov. Code Section 54950 et seq.
DISCUSSION
The BPAC membership will consist of five to seven members, to be appointed by the Town Council. To qualify, as stated in the approval resolution, applicants must reside in the Town’s jurisdictional boundaries.
Upon review of the 11 eligible applications, staff advise the Council to select five candidates to serve on the committee. Choosing five members rather than a larger number allows for quicker decision-making, clearer communication, and a higher level of engagement amongst all members. The Resolution forming the BPAC allows the Council to select up to seven members.
Town staff identified a group of individuals with relevant expertise and experience, while also considering the benefits of selecting varied perspectives and interests. From the applicant pool, the Town selected parents, age-friendly residents, pedestrian advocates, cycling enthusiasts, and those who utilize emerging technologies (e-bikes, for example) to serve on the BPAC. The staff’s BPAC selections are as follows in alphabetical order:
2 Applicant Recommendation Reasoning
Erick Betancourt Erick volunteers locally with Safe Routes to School and emphasized improving the Town’s bicycling culture as his vision for Fairfax. Erick will bring experience with a local organization, youth, and bicycling planning to the committee discussions.
Ian Walton Ian can provide a perspective on using a cargo bike in Town and being a newer resident. He also shared in his application a desire to plan for all modes and for safety.
Liz Gottlieb Liz brings multiple perspectives to the table such as mother, teacher, cyclist, runner, and experience serving on another Fairfax Committee. Her desire to center accessibility, safety, and equity will be an asset on the BPAC.
Marc Vendetti Marc is a long-term resident of Fairfax and a co-founder of the Bicycle Museum in Town. It will be useful to include a member of a local bicycling organization on the BPAC. He emphasized infrastructure improvements as his vision for the Town.
Virginia BaloghRosenthalVirginia will provide a perspective that emphasizes Fairfax becoming a better place for pedestrians. Her experience with mediation training and other walking and biking advocacy groups will be an asset to the BPAC.
Staff recommends that the Council interview all eleven eligible applicants, listed on the attached BPAC Candidate Score Card prior to making any appointments to the BPAC. The Score Card is intended as a tool to help the Town Council complete the difficult task of picking five or seven members to serve on the BPAC from the list of eleven exceptionally qualified applicants.
As a part of the engagement plan, Staff will reach out to the local business community and other important stakeholder groups to address their specific concerns. Staff will also welcome the continued participation and input of all BPAC applicants throughout the process.
To represent the youth perspective, Staff will be reaching out to schools and other local organizations seeking a non-voting BPAC youth member. At the first BPAC meeting, the youth member will be invited to an interview with the BPAC.
One applicant was disqualified due to residing outside of the Town’s limit. To appoint a non-Fairfax resident to the BPAC, an amendment to the approval resolution would be required.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
ATTACHMENTS
A. BPAC Applications (Redacted)
B. BPAC Candidate Score Card
C. Resolution 25-15 Forming the BPAC
ATTACHMENT A
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
APPLICATIONS
BPAC Interview Notes Add a check when a candiate mentions one of the following to help remind you of their interests and concerns Infrastructure
improvements
Pedestrian
concerns
Cyclist
concerns
Safety Equity Youth/Par
ent
Changes to
culture
Age-friendly E-bikes Good
communication
skills
Policy evaluation and/or
Town committee
experience
Andrew
Hobbs
Charles
Barbiere
Emily
McFarland
Erick
Betancourt
Ian Walton
Jeffrey Guild
Joey Shepp
Kyle Jamison
Liz Gottlieb
Marc
Vendetti
Virginia
BaloghRosenthal
ATTACHMENT B
RESOLUTION NO. 25-15
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF FAIRFAX
ESTABLISHING A TEMPORARY BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BPAC)
WHEREAS, the primary purpose of the BPAC will be to assist in the development of the Town's update Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Town has received grant funds through the Transportation Authority of Marin ("TAM") which will be used to hire a qualified consultant to help with the preparation of the Bicycle and Pedestrian plan by working with the BPAC and Town Staff; and WHEREAS, the Town of Fairfax has General Plan policies to encourage bicycling for both commuting and recreational purposes, and to encourage pedestrian activity; and WHEREAS, the Town desires to provide a public forum and for resident input on bicycle and pedestrian issues and provide advisory guidance to elected officials and staff toward the preparation of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan; and WHEREAS, the establishment of the BPAC is not a "project" pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15378; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Council of the Town of Fairfax does hereby establish the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (BPAC), as follows:
1. The primary duty of the BPAC will be to work with the consultant and Town Staff to help update the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
2. Members of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (BPAC) be residents of Town of Fairfax and reside within the Town limits of Fairfax.
3. The BPAC membership shall consist of five (5) to seven (7) members and a youth member, to be appointed by the Town Council, who shall serve without compensation.
The BPAC may include members from other Town commissions and committees.
4. All BPAC meetings shall be noticed, open, and public and in compliance with the Brown Act, Gov. Code Section 54950 et seq.
5. In serving in its advisory role, the BPAC shall act by majority vote. Information requested of staff should derive from the BPAC as a whole rather than individual members.
6. The BPAC will be automatically dissolved upon adoption of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Masterplan by the Town Council.
Resolution No. 25-15 Page 1 of 1
ATTACHMENT C
7. A Town staff member may be assigned as a staff liaison to the BPAC by the Town Manager.
The foregoing Resolution was duly passed and adopted at a meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Fairfax held in said Town on the 21 st day of May 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
Attest:
Egger, Ghiringhelli, Coler, Hellman, Blash
None
None None
Christinet oster, Deputy Town Clerk
Resolution No. 25-15