CITY OF MERCED
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION
M I N U T E S
Via Teleconference
TUESDAY
August 25, 2020
Chairperson HOTHEM called the meeting of the Bicycle Advisory Commission to order at 4:00 PM.
(B) ROLL CALL
Present: Tom Hothem (Chairperson)
Lisa Kayser-Grant
Ann Thurston
Greg Friedman (Vice-Chairperson)
Dwight Ewing
Absent: Mitch Vanagten (Ex-Officio, Excused)
Five Vacancies: (Two Voting, Three Ex-Officio)
Staff Present: Stephanie Dietz, Interim City Manager
Venus Rodriguez, Finance Officer
Michael Beltran, City Engineer
Michael Hren, Principal Planner
Jessie Lee, Temporary Development Services Technician I
(C) APPROVE MINUTES OF JUNE 23, 2020:
M/S FRIEDMAN/THURSTON, AND DULY CARRIED BY THE FO LLOWING VOTE (2 VACANCIES), TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF JUNE 23, 2020 AS SUBMITTED.
AYES: COMMISSIONERS EWING, KAYSER-GRANT, FRIEDMAN,
THURSTON, CHAIRPERSON HOTHEM
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE (2 VACANCIES)
ABSTAIN: NONE
(D) ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Minutes
August 25, 2020
None.
BICYCLE AND PEDESTR IAN ADVISORY COMMISSION R EQUESTS,
INFORMATION ITEMS, AND SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
(E) INTRODUCTION OF STAFF
Mr. HREN introduced Stephanie Dietz, Interim City Manager, Venus Rodriguez, Finance Officer, and Jessie Lee, Temporary Development Services Technician I. Each member of staff briefly spoke to the Commission regarding their roles in supporting the Commission and the City.
As no membe rs of the public wished to speak on this item, public comment was opened and closed at 4:12 PM.
(F) FEEDBACK ON SHARROWS
Mr. HREN introduced the item and asked for Commissioners ’ opinions of the e poxy sharrows. Mr. BELTRAN explained that the majority of sharrows currently installed in Merced are thermoplastic r ather than e poxy. The Commission discussed signage and education to support users of all modes understanding the meaning and appropriate actions to take when sharrows are present. Mr. BELT RAN described the plan ned tr ansition between bike lanes and sharrows on M Street.
As no members of the public wished to speak on this item, p ublic comment was opened and closed at 4:25 PM.
(G) ATP PROJECT LIST
Mr. HREN introduced the item, expressing staff’s interest in hearing any modifications the Commission wo uld like to see to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Tables of the Active Transportation and Safe -Routes-to-School Plan. The Commission expressed that project PS9 appeared to be complete, project BS4 should be removed from the do cument and added to a regu lar maintenance s chedule, and that projects PS16 and PS15 require modifications to ref lect the correc t improvements needed . Mr. HREN noted that staff would be considering these and other modifications moving forward, and that additional recommendations would be accepted for this round of changes for the next three weeks.
Any recomme ndations re ceived after that would be retained for the next round of modifications.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Minutes
August 25, 2020
As no members of the public wished to speak on this item, publ ic comment was opened and closed at 4:44 PM.
(H) ELECTION OF OFFICERS
M/S HOTHEM/KAYSER-GRANT, AND DULY CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE (2 VACANCIES), TO ELECT GREG FRIEDMAN AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION.
AYES: COMMISSIONERS EWING, KAYSER -GRANT, FRIEDMAN,
CHAIRPERSON HOTHEM
NOES: THURSTON
ABSENT: NONE (2 VACANCIES)
ABSTAIN: NONE
M/S HOTHEM/THURSTON, AND DULY CARRIED BY THE FO LLOWING VOTE (2
VACANCIES), TO ELECT TOM HOTHEM AS THE VICE -CHAIRPERSON OF THE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION.
AYES: COMMISSIONERS EWING, KAYSER -GRANT, THURSTON,
FRIEDMAN, CHAIRPERSON HOTHEM
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE (2 VACANCIES)
ABSTAIN: NONE
(I) BPAC MEETING PROTOCOLS
Mr. HREN
M/S KAYSER-GRANT/HOTHEM, AND DULY CARRIED BY THE FO LLOWING VOTE (2 VACANCIES), TO CONDUCT THE REMAINING BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETINGS FOR 202 0 VIRTUALLY, AND TO ADDRESS HOW MEETINGS SHALL BE HELD IN 2021 AT THE LAST MEETING OF 2020.
AYES: COMMISSIONERS EWING, KAYSER -GRANT, THURSTON,
FRIEDMAN, CHAIRPERSON HOTHEM
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE (2 VACANCIES)
ABSTAIN: NONE
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Minutes
August 25, 2020
Mr. HREN discussed some c hanges that will be made to future agenda packets for t he Commission, including modification to the way minutes are voted on a nd addition of the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners asked questions about the changes. M r. HREN and Ms. DIETZ explained that th e City is looking to make all Boards and Commissions more consistent in the way that their agendas and other material s are presented . Some Commissioners question ed the need for the addition of the Pledg e of Allegiance. Mr.
HREN explained that other Boards and C ommissions already have it as a part of their regular agenda, and adding it brings the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission into conformity with current City practice. The Commission discussed the changes with staff.
As no members of the publi c wished to speak on this item, public comment was opened and closed at 5:09 PM.
(J) OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. H REN updated the Commission that he had reached out to the Me rced Bicycl e Coalition regarding language to include in a future City newsletter for safety on shared-use pathways. Mr. HREN stated that he had not yet heard back from the Bicycle Coalition. Mr.
HREN also provided an update on upcoming grant cycles. Mr. HREN also noted that there are currently four applications for the vacancies in the Bicycl e and Pedestrian Advisory Commission, and that they would be heard at the September 8th City Council meeting.
(I) ADJOURN TO OCTOBER 27, 2020, AT 4:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
M/S FRIEDMAN/HOTHEM, AND DULY CARRIED BY THE FO LLOWING VOTE (2 VACANCIES), CHAIRPERSON HOTHEM AD JOURNED THE MEET ING AT 5:21 P.M.
AYES: COMMISSIONERS EWING, KAYSER -GRANT, FRIEDMAN,
THURSTON, CHAIRPERSON HOTHEM
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE (2 VACANCIES)
ABSTAIN: NONE