City of Mountain View
Minutes - Final
Council Transportation Committee
6:30 PM Plaza Conference Room and Video Conference,
500 Castro St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Monday, May 15, 2023
SPECIAL COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE MEETING
This meeting was conducted with a virtual component. All members of the Committee and all speakers participated in-person unless otherwise noted.
CALL TO ORDER1.
At 6:30 p.m., Chair Kamei called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL2.
Chair Ellen Kamei, Member Alison Hicks, and Member Lisa MatichakPresent 3 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC - None3.
MINUTES APPROVAL4.
4.1 Approve Meeting Minutes
There were no public speakers in-person or virtually.
M/S Hicks/Matichak - To approve the Council Transportation Committee meeting minutes of April 10, 2023.
The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Yes: Chair Kamei, Member Hicks, and Member Matichak3 -
NEW BUSINESS5.
5.1 El Monte Avenue Corridor Study, Project 19-61
Senior Traffic Engineer Galang provided a presentation on the El Monte Avenue Corridor Study, Project 19-61.
Senior Traffic Engineer Galang, City Traffic Engineer Lopez, Assistant Public Works Director Arango, and Public Works Director Cameron responded to Committee questions about AB 43, Green Street elements, Safe Routes to School, lane widths, and other project elements.
The following members of the public spoke:
Cathy Koehler
Jacquie Tanner
Kristina Pereyra
Serge Bonte
Charles Mathes
May 15, 2023Council Transportation Committee Minutes - Final David Beggs
Pat Kong
(Virtual) Bruce England
(Virtual) Terry V. Bush
(Virtual) Bayaan Mengerink
(Virtual) Dan
(Virtual) Mary Dateo
(Virtual) Silja Paymer
The Committee provided the following comments: prioritize the completion of the Study and proceed with the design and construction of the project without any further evaluation of restricting the left-turn movement from northbound El Monte Avenue to westbound Ednamary Way, due to potential impacts to the businesses and residents along Ednamary Way; consider the upcoming Dark Sky Ordinance and its provisions when designing street lighting improvements for the corridor; design the pedestrian median refuge islands at Hollingsworth Drive to ensure that side street traffic has the ability to safely make left turns onto El Monte Avenue; and continue working with Caltrans to improve the signal operations, timing, and safety at the intersection of Escuela Avenue and El Camino Real.
M/S Hicks/Matichak – To recommend that the City Council approve Alternative 3, a road diet from four lanes to three lanes with buffered bike lanes, as the preferred concept for the El Monte Avenue Corridor Study, Project 19-61.
The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Yes: Chair Kamei, Member Hicks, and Member Matichak3 -
5.2 Miramonte Avenue Improvements, Project 20-01
Associate Civil Engineer Robertson provided a presentation on the Miramonte Avenue Improvements, Project 20-01.
Principal Civil Engineer Gonzales, Assistant Public Works Director Arango, and Transportation Manager Lo responded to Committee questions regarding bulb-outs, the cycle track on Hans Avenue, and the Hans Avenue and Miramonte Avenue intersection.
The following members of the public spoke:
Jeanne Sanders
Dan Rutherford
Serge Bonte
(Virtual) Silja Paymer
(Virtual) Mary Dateo
(Virtual) David S.
The Committee requested staff to work with the utility project contractor to remove gravel from the sidewalks/roads and discussed Miramonte Avenue’s pavement condition.
M/S Matichak/Hicks – To recommend that the City Council approve the road diet alternative on Miramonte Avenue.
The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Yes: Chair Kamei, Member Hicks, and Member Matichak3 -
May 15, 2023Council Transportation Committee Minutes - Final
5.3 Castro Street Bikeway Feasibility Study, Project 17-53 Transportation Planner Whyte provided a presentation on the Castro Street Bikeway Feasibility Study, Project 17-53.
The following members of the public spoke:
(Virtual) Silja Paymer
(Virtual) Bruce England
(Virtual) Mary Dateo
Member Hicks recused herself from deliberating on the Castro Street Bikeway Feasibility Study's Castro Street/Church Street intersection due to the proximity of her residence to the project location, and exited the Plaza Conference Room at 9:05 p.m.
Chair Kamei and Member Matichak recommended the traffic signal at the intersection of Castro Street and Church Street remain as is. Long-term decisions about the intersection should be considered in the future based on the results of the Downtown Precise Plan and other plans and initiatives affecting Castro Street.
Member Hicks returned to the Plaza Conference Room at 9:15 p.m.
Transportation Planner Whyte, Public Works Director Cameron, and Transportation Manager Lo responded to Committee questions about traffic flow and potential for bike lanes on Hope Street, the Active Transportation Plan timeline, existing trees on Castro Street, and the Downtown Precise Plan timeline.
The Committee would like all modes of transportation and the pedestrian experience to be considered for Castro Street. The Committee also indicated they would like to see more community and business engagement, and more detailed fiscal impact information. The Committee decided to defer a recommendation to the City Council of the Alternative for the Castro Bikeway until it can be considered in the context of the Downtown Precise Plan and other plans and initiatives underway for the Downtown.
COMMITTEE/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPDATES, REQUESTS, AND COMMITTEE REPORTS6.
6.1 Staff Comments
Public Works Director Cameron announced the next Council Transportation Committee meeting will be scheduled for September 2023, with the date to be determined at a later time. Following the September meeting, another Council Transportation Committee meeting is tentatively planned for October or November.
6.2 Committee Comments
Chair Kamei thanked Assistant Public Works Director Skinner for his notes related to the recent Valley Transportation Authority Policy Advisory Committee meeting.
ADJOURNMENT7.
At 9:52 p.m., Chair Kamei adjourned the meeting.
These Minutes were hereby submitted for approval by Laura Lo, Executive Assistant.
Approved on October 2, 2023.