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, October 29, 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 6:31 pm, Chair Kamei called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL2.
Committee Member Hicks joined the meeting at 6:34 p.m.
Member Alison Hicks, Member Lisa Matichak, and Chair Ellen KameiPresent 3 - ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC3.
The following members of the public spoke:
(Virtual) Bruce England noted that the City of Santa Clara is considering speed cushions as a speed control measure for Benton Street. He suggested that although speed cushions and landscaping are not currently listed as Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan (NTMP) options, they should be in the future.
Bruce would like to see improvements in the traffic and parking situation near Landels Elementary School, including lowering the speed limit to 35 MPH regardless of when Assembly Bill 43 will be implemented.
CONSENT4.
There were no public speakers in-person or virtually.
MOTION – M/S – Matichak/Hicks – To approve the Consent calendar.
The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Yes: Member Hicks, Member Matichak, and Chair Kamei3 -
4.1 Approve Meeting Minutes
Approve the Council Transportation Committee meeting minutes of September 3, 2024.
4.2 2025 Council Transportation Committee Meeting Schedule Approve the 2025 Council Transportation Committee meeting schedule.
NEW BUSINESS5.
5.1 Personal Delivery Device Program Update
Economic Development Strategist Hinds provided a presentation on the Personal Delivery Device (PDD) Program Update.
October 29, 2024Council Transportation Committee Minutes - Final Economic Development Strategist Hinds and Economic Vitality Manager Lang responded to Committee questions about whether PDDs will yield to pedestrians; where PDDs will be stored when not in operation; and if there has been sufficient outreach to population groups including senior citizens, disabled citizens, and the neighborhoods of proposed PDD operation. The Committee sought clarification on safety requirements, PDD speed limits, and which City Department will be the PDDs’ point of contact.
The following members of the public spoke:
(Virtual) Bruce England
(Virtual) Silja Paymer
(Virtual) Catherine
No formal motion was required. The Committee expressed general support for the PDD Program but would like the program rollout to be thoughtful. They do not want PDDs to operate on sidewalks, park on sidewalks, or park in front of businesses. Staff were advised to do outreach with neighborhood groups, senior citizens, and disabled citizens; to clarify the priority of people, bicyclists, and animals; and to explain how the PDD pilot program will fit into the Active Transportation Plan and Safe Routes to School. The Committee requested that staff work with local companies to better understand sidewalk restrictions, but do not consider PDD companies to be “partners.”
5.2 Neighborhood Traffic Management Program - Wasatch Drive Senior Traffic Engineer Galang provided a presentation on the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program – Wasatch Drive.
Senior Traffic Engineer Galang, City Traffic Engineer Lopez, and Acting Public Works Director Arango responded to Committee questions about whether staff considered other solutions in the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) toolbox such as no-right-turns, if there is a tiered process of considering other treatments before implementing street closure, and if adding a tiered process to NTMP would require Council recommendation.
The following members of the public spoke:
Cheryl Walterskirchen
Giri Padmanabh
Yingjie Tang
Steve Giusti
James Barrett
Charles De Vogelaere
Harold Schapelhoman
Cynthia Haines
Matt Walterskirchen
(Virtual) Silja Paymer
(Virtual) Bruce England
(Virtual) Mary Dateo
The Committee expressed support for the staff recommendation and agreed that bikes should still have access during the street closure. The Committee requested that once the street is closed, the evaluation period be from February through November/December and for students to be educated/re-educated in August before the school year begins. The Committee would like staff to work with the school district to communicate the street closure to students, educate drivers in collaboration with Safe Routes to School, see what changes (if any) should be made to Safe Routes to School, monitor the impact on other streets, and consider how green measures can be incorporated.
M/S Matichak/Hicks – To review and recommend the City Council approve the closure of Wasatch Drive at Diericx Drive with the amendment of a 10-month evaluation period starting from the date of installation.
October 29, 2024Council Transportation Committee Minutes - Final The motion carried by the following roll call vote:
Yes: Member Hicks, Member Matichak, and Chair Kamei3 -
KEY PROJECT UPDATES6.
6.1 Castro Street and Rengstorff Grade Separation Projects Principal Civil Engineer Gonzales provided a verbal update on the Castro Street and Rengstorff Grade Separation Projects.
Principal Civil Engineer Gonzales and Acting Public Works Director Arango responded to Committee questions about the Castro Street and Rengstorff Grade Separation project estimates and whether there might be future design changes to save on costs.
There were no public speakers in-person or virtually.
6.2 Active Transportation Plan and Transportation Demand Management Ordinance
Transportation Manager Lo provided a verbal update on the Active Transportation Plan and Transportation Demand Management Ordinance, and responded to a Committee question about staff coordination with the City of Sunnyvale on the Evelyn Bikeway project.
There were no public speakers in-person or virtually.
COMMITTEE/STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS, UPDATES, REQUESTS, AND COMMITTEE REPORTS7.
7.1 Staff Comments
Acting Public Works Director Arango provided an update on bid results for the Annual Sidewalk Repair Project and the Grant Sleeper Intersection Project. He also provided a staff update that the new Public Works Director, Jennifer Ng, will start on November 18, 2024.
7.2 Committee Comments
There were no Committee comments.
There were no public speakers in-person or virtually.
ADJOURNMENT8.
At 9:01 p.m., Chair Kamei adjourned the meeting.
These Minutes were hereby submitted for approval by Laura Lo, Executive Assistant.
Approved on April 1, 2025.