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
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
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.
Member Alison Hicks, Member Lisa Matichak, and Chair Ellen KameiPresent 3 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC3.
The following members of the public spoke:
Serge Bonte spoke about the closed sidewalk caused by development at the intersection of Rengstorff Avenue and Latham Street. He commented that there was no alternative route and a temporary path should have been provided.
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 January 30, 2024.
The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Yes: Member Hicks, Member Matichak, and Chair Kamei3 -
NEW BUSINESS5.
5.1 Personal Delivery Device Program Update
Economic Development Strategist Hinds provided a presentation on the Personal Delivery Device (PDD) Program Update.
Economic Development Strategist Hinds and Economic Vitality Manager Lang responded to Committee questions about how many companies inquired about the program, how much of the program is overseen by the Community Development Department’s Economic Development Division or the Public Works Department’s Transportation Section, how the robots would be programmed to behave, if the robots’ contact information would be available 24/7, and whether the previous pilot program allowed robots to exit businesses' front doors onto Castro Street.
June 4, 2024Council Transportation Committee Minutes - Final The following members of the public spoke:
Cliff Chambers
Serge Bonte
(Virtual) Bruce England
(Virtual) Laura Risley
(Virtual) Carl Hansen
(Virtual) Theda Korns
(Virtual) April Webster
(Virtual) Evan Crow
(Virtual) Emil Abraham
The Committee provided the following feedback about the PDD Program. The Committee is open to implementing a PDD program but would like to ensure program safety and that robots do not take priority over pedestrians. The Committee would like purposeful distinctions that bike lanes are intended for bicyclists and e-cargo bicycles, sidewalks are intended for pedestrians, and PDD robots can utilize roads. There was discussion among the Committee members whether the PDD program should be a factor in the Active Transportation Plan. Committee members agreed that PDD robots should exit businesses into the alleyways, not onto Castro Street. They advised that the PDD program remain in the pilot phase until more data is gathered, including community feedback on which routes could pose conflicts. The Committee requested a draft of the potential PDD program network routes.
5.2 California Street (West) Complete Street Improvements, Pilot, Project 21-40 - Performance Metrics
Associate Civil Engineer Nguyen provided a presentation on the California Street (West) Complete Street Improvements, Pilot, Project 21-40—Performance Metrics.
Associate Civil Engineer Nguyen, Principal Civil Engineer Gonzales, Acting Public Works Director Arango, and Acting Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Cameron responded to Committee questions about how vertical element options will be evaluated, if staff are considering factors such as telework, potential changes to street parking, and how the pedestrian experience can be improved.
The following members of the public spoke:
Cliff Chambers
Serge Bonte
(Virtual) April Webster
(Virtual) Emil Abraham
The Committee generally agreed with staff’s pilot project proposal and expressed appreciation for the project moving forward. They advised that staff keep other future projects in mind to minimally affect the California Street (West) Complete Street Improvement Project’s infrastructure.
5.3 Vision Zero Action Plan and Local Road Safety Plan
Transportation Planner Ahmed provided a presentation on the Vision Zero Action Plan and Local Road Safety Plan (VZAP/LRSP).
Transportation Planner Ahmed, Acting Public Works Director Arango, Acting Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Cameron, Transportation Planner Whyte, and Principal Civil Engineer Gonzales responded to Committee questions about how bicycle/pedestrian plans will be prioritized, whether transportation plans can be consolidated, and whether there will be outreach/education efforts in the surrounding community. They sought clarification on prohibiting “right turns on red” and what a protected
June 4, 2024Council Transportation Committee Minutes - Final intersection entails. The Committee asked for more details about conflict points, if maps will be updated to reflect crash location data, and the expected completion timeline.
The following members of the public spoke:
Serge Bonte
The Committee expressed support for the VZAP/LRSP including “no right turns on red” at certain locations.
They asked staff to keep project feasibility in mind, to incorporate green improvements into safety improvements, and to avoid high injury locations in the safe routes to schools.
M/S Hicks/Matichak – To recommend that the City Council adopt the integrated VZAP/LRSP draft.
Committee Member Matichak requested an amendment to the motion, which the maker agreed to, to request that staff should update the draft with recent collision data included before presenting it to the City Council.
The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Yes: Member Hicks, Member Matichak, and Chair Kamei3 -
COMMITTEE/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPDATES, REQUESTS, AND COMMITTEE REPORTS6.
6.1 Staff Comments
Senior Civil Engineer Houghton provided a verbal update on the Castro Street and Rengstorff Avenue Grade Separation Projects.
6.2 Committee Comments
The Committee followed up with staff about the inquiry of a constituent, Serge Bonte, who would like to know if pedestrian detours should be available when sidewalks are closed for construction. Acting Public Works Director Arango confirmed that staff will respond to the constituent.
There were no public speakers in-person or virtually.
ADJOURNMENT7.
At 10:08 p.m., Chair Kamei adjourned the meeting.
These Minutes were hereby submitted for approval by Laura Lo, Executive Assistant.
Approved on September 3, 2024.