Official Minutes for CI&AC Meeting on January 29, 2025
Minutes were approved by the CI&AC on February 26, 2025
COUNCIL INFRASTRUCTURE & AIRPORT COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING Hybrid Participation - Digital Zoom Meeting/Hayward Executive Airport
January 29, 2025
5:30 p.m.
MEETING MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chair Salinas.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present:
Angela Andrews, City Council Member
George Syrop, City Council Member
Mark Salinas, Mayor/ Chair
Staff Present:
Alex Ameri, Director of Public Works
Amber Parras, Senior Secretary
Colin Patterson, Associate Transportation Planner
Douglas McNeeley, Airport Manager
Hugh Louch, Deputy Director of Public Works – Transportation Pamela Svrdlin, Airport Operations Supervisor
PRESENTATION
Airport GHG Emissions
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Melissa Milleman, a community member, highlighted the negative impact of jet emissions on her neighborhood near the airport, emphasizing that the air quality deteriorates during jet warm-ups. She called for green solutions, such as planting trees, to mitigate air pollution in affected areas.
Sandra Frost, a community member, reiterated her concerns about Skywest, noting that while particulate pollution is being addressed, noise pollution remains significant. She advocated for preserving Skywest as a crucial green space that helps buffer pollution and offers recreational opportunities.
Mary Clements, a Skywest HOA resident and Board member, raised alarms about fire hazards at the golf course, especially given the presence of combustible materials and overgrown trees. She questioned the City’s plans to mitigate these risks.
Steven Brown, a community member, expressed disappointment over the golf course's closure and criticized the potential use of its land for a jet runoff area. He emphasized the unique ecosystem in the area and argued against developing a business park, suggesting repurposing existing vacant buildings instead.
Liz Eisler, a community member, discussed wildfire risks and the need for proper maintenance of eucalyptus trees. She stressed the ecological value of Skywest and warned about potential flooding issues if development occurs.
Tyler Dragoni, a community member, emphasized the need to consider socioeconomic factors in planning, referencing how City of Livermore transformed a golf course into a recreational space. He urged the City to prioritize residents' health and well-being in planning decisions.
Alejandro Jasso, a representative of Bike Hayward and a board member for Bike East Bay, praised the City’s traffic calming efforts and reiterated the importance of preserving Skywest as a community space. He noted that improved infrastructure can influence biking habits and promote safer environments.
REPORTS/ACTION ITEMS
1. Update on the City Bike Voucher Program
Deputy Director of Public Works Transportation Louch provided a synopsis of the staff report and introduced Associate Transportation Planner Patterson who presented a PowerPoint presentation.
Public Comments
Tyler Dragoni, a community member, pointed out the lack of bike repair services in the City compared to the abundance of car repair shops. He proposed allocating funding for bike repair services, tools, and workshops to teach residents how to fix common issues like flat tires. This would help cyclists feel more confident and prepared while riding
Robert Prinz, Advocacy Director of Bike East Bay, praised Staff for their comprehensive funding package and highlighted the importance of addressing barriers to biking beyond infrastructure. He expressed enthusiasm for collaboration with local partners and mentioned expected funding in 2025 for projects that would support these initiatives. Mr.
Prinz emphasized volunteer engagement in bike-building initiatives to ensure sustainability and continued community involvement after the project’s initial phase.
Alejandro Jasso, a representative of Bike Hayward and a board member for Bike East Bay, echoed Mr. Prinz's sentiments and commended Staff for their efforts. He noted that Bike Hayward is actively reaching out to parents to initiate a bike bus program, believing this approach could effectively engage the community and address online concerns.
Sandra Frost, a community member from South Hayward, highlighted challenges families face in biking together due to parents lacking biking skills or not biking at all. She emphasized the need for safe learning spaces away from traffic, noting that Skywest has suitable trails for families. While she praised the City's efforts to provide bikes, she raised concerns about unsafe streets for practice. Ms. Frost proposed establishing a bike shop at
Skywest to serve as a central hub for biking activities, including bike repair classes and events, to promote biking within the community.
Liz Eisler, a community member, expressed her support for using Skywest for bike trails.
She noted that she has already seen people biking in the area and believes it's a fantastic idea to develop such a space.
Nicole Espinoza Roa from H.A.R.D. discussed potential collaboration with the City, highlighting efforts to incorporate bike parks and expand bike education programs. She mentioned that while a BMX track at Week’s Park is still in the early planning stage, a confirmed track will be developed at Tennyson Park. Additionally, she shared that bike education programs focused on road safety and riding skills for young cyclists will be implemented at Mission Boulevard and Mattox Road.
Committee Member’s Comments
CM Andrews inquired about Cyclepath’s new ownership and its role in the local biking community. She also requested updates on e-scooter regulations and highlighted the success of bike-sharing programs, emphasizing the need for strategic placement. She expressed interest in expanding bike-sharing options and suggested collaborating with the Economic Development Department to fund bike storage solutions for businesses.
Additionally, she proposed exploring a partnership with H.A.R.D. to establish bike repair programs using their existing spaces.
CM Syrop supported the City's biking initiatives and bike parking funding, emphasizing accessibility in high-traffic areas. He opposed means testing, advocating for inclusiveness.
He backed e-scooter integration and collaboration with the Economic Development Department to enhance bike infrastructure. He suggested repurposing parking spaces at Southland Mall for bike parking or repair stations and engaging property owners in this effort. He proposed a mobile bike repair clinic at locations like Week’s Branch Library or Chabot College. Additionally, he recommended Rich City Rides as a key partner for promoting bike culture in underserved communities and inquired about funding for helmets and locks to ensure cyclists’ safety.
Mayor Salinas agreed with the discussions and raised concerns about the safety risks of E- bikes and E-scooters, particularly fire hazards from charging them in apartments. He emphasized the need for product safety, citing past issues with poor manufacturing standards in bike-sharing programs. While acknowledging the benefits of E-bikes, he stressed the importance of addressing these risks. He also expressed appreciation for efforts to promote a biking culture and suggested sharing the presentation with the Hayward Youth Commission to encourage youth collaboration and engagement.
2. Implementation of Vision Zero and Complete Streets in Hayward - Review and Comment
Deputy Director of Public Works Transportation Louch provided a synopsis of the staff report and presented a PowerPoint presentation.
Public Comments
Alejandro Jasso, a representative of Bike Hayward and a board member for Bike East Bay, discussed the Traffic Injury Mapping System program by UC Berkeley, which collects and maps traffic injury data. He noted that two fatal crashes involving Chris Pena and Sai Ram Gollapalli at the intersection of Carlos Bee and Mission Blvd are not reflected in the data, raising concerns about accurate reporting. Mr. Jasso suggested integrating with the California Crash Reporting System (CCRS) to ensure traffic injuries are correctly reported.
Additionally, he mentioned UC Berkeley’s SafeTREC program, which conducts complete street safety assessments and safe speed limits evaluations, indicating its potential relevance to local safety initiatives.
Robert Prinz, Advocacy Director of Bike East Bay, praised the staff's presentation and highlighted the challenges of addressing serious and fatal collisions in the East Bay. He emphasized the value of bike infrastructure as a means to implement safety improvements for all road users. Mr. Prinz appreciated the City's quick response to the crash that killed Chris Pena on Mission Boulevard and inquired about the existence of a rapid response program for implementing quick fixes at serious crash sites. He advocated for such a program, noting it would demonstrate the City's commitment to preventing future harm.
He pointed out that fatal crashes occur on a small percentage of the City's roads, making it a solvable issue, and called for a formal program focused on data analysis and strategic investments to effectively address this challenge.
Tyler Dragoni, a Hayward resident, mentioned a fatal injury that occurred at the intersection of Mission Boulevard and Lewelling Boulevard. He noted that light bulbs had been removed under the freeway overpass, which falls under Caltrans' jurisdiction. Mr.
Dragoni expressed concerns about the challenges of working with Caltrans and their aging infrastructure in addressing safety issues in the area.
Committee Member’s Comments
CM Andrews recommended enhancing outreach efforts by installing signage with project details and a contact number for community inquiries. She also suggested working with the Community and Media Relations Division, to utilize social media in addressing concerns raised online. Additionally, she emphasized the Vision Zero aspect of the project and inquired about incorporating crosswalks with embedded lights to improve pedestrian safety.
CM Syrop highlighted the importance of communication regarding the bike lane strategy and Vision Zero initiative, noting the emotional responses tied to the "Put it Back" hashtag
concerning lane removals. He suggested that once residents learn these changes are due to a fatality, discussions tend to shift toward acceptance. He proposed sending an update to explain the initiatives clearly. Additionally, CM Syrop emphasized the need for improved lighting and visibility for cyclist safety, advocating for assessments of streetlight conditions during pavement improvement projects. He recommended a neighborhood-focused approach to enhance visibility and ensure mobility for residents at all hours. He expressed appreciation for the report and the importance of community understanding.
COMMITTEE MEMBER/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REFERRALS
Mayor Salinas wished everyone a Happy Lunar New Year, while CM Andrews announced that the piano keys had been featured in the East Bay Times newspaper.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Salinas adjourned the meeting at 7:39 p.m.
MEETINGS
Attendance
Present
1/29/25
Meeting
Present
to Date This
Fiscal Year
Excuse
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Absent
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Angela Andrews ✓ 6 0 0
Mark Salinas ✓ 6 0 0
George Syrop ✓ 6 0 0