City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
6:30 PM Telepresence Meeting: City Web StreamThursday, May 19, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
Pursuant to Government Code Subdivision 54953(e), the meeting was conducted telephonically; pursuant to state law, the City Council made the necessary findings by adopting Resolution No. 1089-21, reaffirmed on May 3, 2022.
Chair Mehlinger called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. via teleconference.
ROLL CALL
Chair Richard Mehlinger
Vice Chair Leia Mehlman
Commissioner Alex Bonne
Commissioner Arwen Davé
Commissioner Dan Hafeman
Commissioner Timothy Oey
Present 6 -
Dennis Ng, Transportation and Traffic Manager, Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer attended via teleconference.
Council Liaison Spitaleri (absent)
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Public Comment opened at 6:35 p.m.
Mr. Shiraff, member of the public commented on the following:
- A 9th grade student riding bike in bike lane going opposite direction on Evelyn Avenue. Car ran over foot at the Caltrain Station Driveway.
Pubic Comment closed at 6:40 p.m.
CONSENT CALENDAR
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Public Comment opened at 6:40 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 6:41 p.m.
1.A 22-0594
Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission Meeting
Minutes of April 21, 2022.
Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission Meeting Minutes of April 21, 2022 as submitted.
Commissioner Hafeman moved and Vice Chair Mehlman seconded the motion to approve item 1.A.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes Chair Mehlinger
Vice Chair Mehlman
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Davé
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Oey
6 -
No 0
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2 22-0595 Review FY 2022/23 Recommended Budget
Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer, made the following comments about the FY 2022/23 Recommended Budget:
- Available on Budget and Finance webpage on the City website - Focus on operating budget this year and next year will focus on Capital Improvement Projects
- Minor changes made to Capital Improvement Projects budget on an exceptional bases
- Fiscal Year 22/23 Recommended Budget workshop held on May 19 - Annual City Council Public Hearing on the budget will be held on Tuesday, June 7 - Budget adoption scheduled to be on Tuesday, June 21
- Volume One of the Recommended Budget contains the operating budget and Volume Two of the Recommended Budget contains the Capital Improvement
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projects for the City
- Page 3 - memo from City Manager
- Page 11 - budget highlights
- Starting on page 243 - budget supplements
- At budget workshop City Council voted to fund Study Issue DPW 22-06 - Re-evaluate Traffic Calming Program and Policy
- Volume One - Department of Public Works related projects start on page 455 - Operating Budget for program 13100 Transportation and Traffic Services start on page 461
- FY 21/22 to FY 22/23 proposed increase of 11.7% in the operating budget - FY 22/23 to 23/24 proposed increase of 3.1%
- Page 467 - total number of positions for Traffic and Transportation Services - FY 22/23 - unfreeze one full-time Transportation Planner position Public Comment opened at 6:46 p.m.
No speakers
Public Comment closed at 6:47 p.m.
Commissioner Bonne asked what the duties are of the full-time Transportation Planner position. Ms. Tsang stated the duties are intended to support programs as part of the implementation of the Climate Action Playbook.
Commissioner Hafeman asked and commented on the following:
- Page 5 - $1.9 million Covid response fund that the City of Sunnyvale is getting used for Quick Build Projects including Bike and Pedestrian. What projects are going to be used with this money and will the BPAC have any say on the selected projects? Ms. Tsang stated that 2 projects were brought to the BPAC last March for review. The money is allocated to projects but has not been spent yet. - Page 14 - Pavement Condition Index. Is there additional money coming in from gas tax for ATP type projects? Mr. Ng stated that the funds are from vehicle registration fee funds and additional SB1 funds that are related to gas tax. City Council determined that until the PCI reaches 80, all gas tax money goes to resurfacing roadways. Once the 80 limit is reached then the excess would go to congestion relief or Active Transportation projects or implementation or other things. - Page 245 - Was Tasman Study Issue funded? Ms. Tsang stated the Tasman Study Issue was approved and funded in June of last year. - Why isn't there discussion about staff being assigned to work on bike lanes in the budget. Such as in the ATP or Complete Streets? Mr. Ng stated there are budgeted FTE positions in the Traffic and Transportation budget under the 13100 program to
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improve the mode shift towards walking and biking and non automotive uses.
Also, in Volume Two there are CIP programs that talk about grant match for bicycle projects. Sign shop crews are budgeted to do striping and signing maintenance which maintain bike lanes and sidewalks related to the ATP network. - Recommends to list how many bike lanes there are in the City Commissioner Oey asked and commented on the following:
- Needs staff help with the rather large document on how the BPAC should review it - Would like to see more information in the workload indicators of how much bike infrastructure there is as well as sidewalk
- Recommends that there is a staff member specifically assigned to work on the ATP in the operation budget
- Does the Pavement Conditions Index(PCI) include the bike lanes? How is it calculated? Ms. Ng stated the PCI is representative of curb to curb, all the asphalt. - Recommends to calculate a PCI for bike facilities separately - How often and why does the City do Chip Seal? Mr. Ng stated that Slurry Seals and Chip Seals are two different types of maintenance that is done and the crews evaluate each year on what to fix.
Vice Chair Mehlman asked and commented on the following:
- Hard to determine if anything has been done with the ATP or Climate Action Plan in regards to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure
- Budget information needs to be presented in a clearer way to the BPAC in regards as to what has been accomplished and funded
- Recommends to have a line item that states how much money is allocated for bicycles and pedestrians
Chair Mehlinger asked and commented on the following:
- Challenge with viewing budget document for BPAC specifically - Recommends to include cross tabs in the document
MOTION: Chair Mehlinger moved and Commissioner Davé seconded to recommend for FY22/23 that the City budget include cross tab reports. Summarizing the relevant information for each of the Boards and Commissions as well as each of the Council's strategic priorities.
Commissioner Oey, Commissioner Davé, Commissioner Bonne are in favor of this motion because it offers more transparency to the BPAC and to the public.
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The motion carried with the following vote:
Yes Chair Mehlinger
Vice Chair Mehlman
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Davé
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Oey
6 -
No 0
MOTION: Commissioner Oey moved and Chair Mehlinger seconded to add maintained miles of bicycle infrastructure in the Workload Indicators on page 478.
Commissioner Oey commented on the following:
- This will give a good measurement of how much bike infrastructure there is in the City
Motion carried with the following vote:
Yes Chair Mehlinger
Vice Chair Mehlman
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Davé
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Oey
6 -
No 0
Chair Mehlinger asked about the following:
- Is there a graph showing PCI over time? How hard would it be to calculate PCI for bike lanes? Mr. Ng stated the information is there with the report being generated by MTC for the entire bay area. Mr. Ng stated it is hard to calculate PCI for bike lanes.
- When did City Council set the policy for PCI being the primary use for the funding streams? Mr. Ng stated it was determined many years ago. 3 22-0596
Report and Discussion of Recent Santa Clara Valley
Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian
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Advisory Committee (BPAC) Meeting
Commissioner Oey, VTA BPAC Sunnyvale Representative, gave the meeting summary report regarding the following topics:
- VTA Climate Action Plan - Survey open until June 3 at www.vta.org/climateplan - Bike to Wherever Days - Learn more about BTWD activities and sign up for adult bike education classes at www.bikesiliconvalley.org/vta - VTA is submitting an application for an Active Transportation Program Grant for Homestead Road Safe routes that covers Homestead Road from Los Altos into Sunnyvale/Cupertino as far as Hollenbeck.
- Approved the One Bay Area Grant Cycle 3 (OBAG 3) program and project selection criteria
- Approved $10 million for CMA/CTA planning and programming activities to be implemented and managed for fiscal years 2023-2026
- VTA BPAC Work Plan
Public Comment opened at 7:33 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 7:33 p.m.
4 22-0601
Recommend to City Council a Sunnyvale Representative to the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and
Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)
Ms. Tsang discussed recommending to City Council a qualified individual according to the VTA Bylaws for Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to represent Sunnyvale at the VTA BPAC meetings. The current member, Commissioner Oey's term, will expire on June 30,2022. Commissioner Oey will remain seated until the City makes a new appointment. Ms. Tsang pointed out the following key points in the by-laws:
- 2 year term, expires on June 30,2024
- All members shall work/live in Santa Clara County during their terms on the committee and maybe re-appointed multiple terms
- VTA employees are not eligible as well as any staff members from the agency that they represent
- Appointee is recommend to be a representative of the City's BPAC Commissioner Oey commented on the following:
- Encouraged other BPAC members to be the Sunnyvale VTA BPAC Representative
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- Would consider doing another term
- On a sub-committee for Wayfinding
Chair Mehlinger asked fellow BPAC members if they would be interested in serving on the VTA BPAC. Commissioner Bonne would consider it.
Public Comment opened at 7:40 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 7:40 p.m.
MOTION: Commissioner Oey moved and Vice Chair Mehlman seconded to recommend to City Council to appoint Commissioner Bonne as the Sunnyvale Representative to the VTA BPAC. Commissioner Bonne accepts the nomination.
The motion carried with the following vote:
Yes Chair Mehlinger
Vice Chair Mehlman
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Davé
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Oey
6 -
No 0
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES
None.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS
-Commissioner Comments
Commissioner Oey commented on the following:
- Bike to Wherever Days 2022 - Energize stations in Sunnyvale go to Bicyclesiliconvalley.org/events/btwd
- Drivers and bicyclists should follow the rules of the road and be well educated Vice Chair Mehlman commented on the following:
- Ari Feinsmith received award for Bicycle Champion from Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
- Tour De Coop - May 21 & 22, register at tourdecoop.org
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Commissioner Davé commented on the following:
- Ari Feinsmith's accomplishments within the Bicycle and Pedestrian community - What can be done about the bicycle accident at the Caltrain station Ms. Tsang commented on the following:
- Do more education on bicycle safety and make sure drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians are aware of their surroundings
Commissioner Oey commented on the following:
- The BPAC is doing everything they can do to make the streets safer for bicyclists and pedestrians
Vice Chair Mehlman commented on the following:
- Agrees with Commissioner Oey that cyclists and motorists need to be responsible for their own behavior and be aware of rules of the road, etc. - Recommends having cyclists record their own rides
Commissioner Hafeman commented on the following:
- Bicycle accident at Caltrain station
Chair Mehlinger asked and commented on the following:
- Bicycle accident at Caltrain station
- Requests update information on the Roadway Safety Plan on Evelyn Ave./Murphy Ave. intersection
Mr. Ng addressed the question.
Chair Mehlinger announced he is running for City of Sunnyvale City Council to represent District 5. Go to Richardforsunnyvale.com for more information. -Staff Comments
Lillian Tsang commented on the following:
- June 8 - Caltrain Grade Separation Project public meeting focusing on Mary Avenue
- June 9 - Caltrain Grade Separation Project public meeting focusing on Sunnyvale Avenue
- June 4 & 5 - Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival - Free bike valet services and free bike rodeo
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- OBAG 3 application
- Complete Street Checklist will be brought to the June BPAC meeting for review
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
22-0597 BPAC 2022 Annual Work Plan
22-0598 Active Items List May 2022
Chair Mehlinger asked for an update on the East/West Channel Trail at the next meeting.
Ms. Tsang stated staff will give an update on the East/West Channel Trail at the next meeting.
22-0599 2022 Deferred Study Issues
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Mehlinger adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
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