City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
6:30 PM Online and Bay Conference Room (Room
145), City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Thursday, September 21, 2023
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Oey called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Chair Oey led the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL
Chair Timothy Oey
Vice Chair Bryce Beagle
Commissioner Alex Bonne
Commissioner Arwen Davé
Commissioner Dan Hafeman
Commissioner Sharlene Liu
Commissioner Leia Mehlman
Present 7 -
Council Liaison Omar Din (absent)
PRESENTATION
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Public Comment opened at 6:35 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 6:36 p.m.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comment opened at 6:36 p.m.
No speakers.
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September 21, 2023Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
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Meeting Minutes - Draft
Public Comment closed at 6:37 p.m.
1.A 23-0900 Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission Meeting Minutes of August 17, 2023.
Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission Meeting Minutes of August 17, 2023 as submitted.
Commissioner Hafeman moved and Commissioner Mehlman seconded the motion to approve item 1.A.
The motion carried with the following vote:
Yes Chair Oey
Vice Chair Beagle
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Davé
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Liu
Commissioner Mehlman
7 -
No 0
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2 23-0922 Report and Discussion of Recent Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian
Advisory Committee (BPAC) Meeting
Commissioner Bonne, VTA BPAC Sunnyvale Representative, gave the meeting summary report regarding the following topics:
- Board of Directors met on September 7 to discuss a San Jose Council proposal to build emergency-need housing on VTA owned land, on four properties. Further discussion will be on October 5.
- 28 new bus drivers graduated on August 23. Reducing the gap from 70 to 13.
There will be two additional training classes this year. - The day of Beyonce's concert (August 30) there were 13,000 people transported.
Crowds boarded at Great America Parkway in less than one hour. - CEO ride on September 29. CEO's will ride to interact with the public. - Bascom Complete Streets update
- Homestead Safe Routes to School. Funding to 35% design, consultant hired.
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September 21, 2023Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
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Meeting Minutes - Draft
Project Manager coming to VTA BPAC to present design in Winter 2024. - Funding request will be submitted soon for the Central Bikeway Project. - Wheels on the Bus Project has been signed off and will begin on 09/22/2023. - Measure B update
- State Transportation Improvement Program 2024 (STIP) was presented by Marcella Rensi, DDR of Grants & Funds Requests, VTA.
- Two-year program block. State budgets the program in five year cycle. Funds employed by VTA on as-needed basis for specific projects - $17 million for Santa Clara County. MTC collects the region's projects and forwards to the state for funding approval
- Recommended projects should be greater than $5 million - VTP 2050 Progress Update presented by John Sighamony, Sr. VTA Planner - Ongoing work to develop project list with the goal to write 2050 document in the spring of 2024, with a presentation to Board of Directors in 2024 - Open house at Roosevelt Community Center in San Jose on September 27 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
- Project field trip end of October
- VTP 2050 public meeting in mid November
- Equitable VMT Mitigation Project Santa Clara County presented by Robert Swierk, VTA Planner
- SB 743 mandated switch from Levels of Service (LOS) to VMT in environmental analysis, mandated in 2020
- Goal is to reduce VMT from land use developments in Santa Clara County, working across municipal borders to improve travel options - Saturday, September 30 - Cupertino Family Bike Fest
- Helmet fitting
- Bike blender smoothie-making
- September is transit month
- Viva Calle San Jose will continue to meet 3 times a year Commissioner Liu commented and asked about the following:
- Did the City of Sunnyvale apply for the STIP funding? - The BPAC should look at the 280 Wolf interchange which is not only a car interchange but bikes and pedestrians can go through there as well and provide feedback if necessary
Commissioner Bonne and Mr. Ng addressed the question.
Commissioner Hafeman asked about the following:
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September 21, 2023Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
- Is the Sunnyvale Homestead Bike Lane Study and the VTA Safe Routes to School working in parallel or are they the same project?
Mr. Ng addressed the question.
Commissioner Mehlman asked about the following:
- Can someone present to the BPAC regarding the Homestead Safe Routes to School Project?
Mr. Ng addressed the question.
Public Comment opened at 6:55 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 6:55 p.m.
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES
3 23-0923 Hire an Active Transportation Planner (Consideration of Potential Budget Proposal)
Thinh Le, Transportation Engineer, stated that Commissioner Liu has submitted a Budget Proposal Form for hiring an Active Transportation Planner. The BPAC can discuss, review and vote to decide whether the Budget Proposal idea should be added to the list of Proposed Budget Issues. It would require a motion, second and a majority vote.
Commissioner Mehlman asked about the following:
- What is the significant difference between a Traffic Engineering Technician and a Transportation/Traffic Engineer in terms of the scope of what they can do? - If hired for the specific position can the BPAC be assured that the scope of the position will remain specifically focused on the Active Transportation Plan (ATP)? Mr. Ng addressed the questions.
Commissioner Davé asked about the following:
- Does a Study Issue take 1-2 years to study and is it done by someone other than staff?
- If the City were to hire an Active Transportation Planner were there be more staff available for conducting studies?
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Meeting Minutes - Draft
Mr. Ng addressed the questions.
Commissioner Bonne asked about the following:
- Could existing staff be reassigned to the proposed position instead of hiring someone new?
Mr. Ng addressed the question.
- Does the City employ adequate talent in grant writing? Would it help the City to have someone who is very skilled in grant writing?
- In the Active Transportation area were grants not submitted because there was nobody to work on them?
Mr. Ng addressed the questions.
Commissioner Liu commented on the following:
- List of responsibilities were compiled by talking to other Active Transportation Planners and thinking about what the City needs in terms of moving the Active Transportation Plan forward
- The position is to help move the Active Transportation Plan forward - The position could work on Study Issues related to the Active Transportation Plan Vice Chair Beagle asked about the following:
- How many people does the division currently employ and what percentage increase in hours is available for another engineer or technician? - Is overtime common?
Mr. Ng addressed the questions.
Chair Oey asked about the following:
- Is there currently anyone in the Traffic Department that specializes in active transportation?
- In order to move the Active Transportation Plan faster the City needs to hire a Traffic Engineering Technician or Transportation Traffic Engineer? - Is the department manager in favor of hiring an Active Transportation Planner? Mr. Ng addressed the questions.
Commissioner Bonne asked about the following:
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Meeting Minutes - Draft
- Is staffing of 8-9 typical for Sunnyvale's population and land area? Or is it above or below average?
Mr. Ng addressed the question.
Commissioner Hafeman asked about the following:
- How does the City of Mt.View have such a great bicycle infrastructure? Mr. Ng addressed the question.
Chair Oey asked about the following:
- What percentage of staff time on Active Transportation Projects versus other new development projects?
Mr. Ng addressed the question.
Public Comment opened at 7:31 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 7:31 p.m.
Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:
- Does not support the budget issue of hiring one Active Transportation Planner - Would support hiring two full-time employees in the Traffic and Transportation Division
- More employees would increase the efficiency of the department rather than having just one focusing on just one thing
Chair Oey asked about the following:
- Is there a proposal to increase the headcount by two people or can there be a budget proposal to increase headcount by two people?
Mr. Ng addressed the question.
Commissioner Liu commented on the following:
- BPAC should look at how to make progressed active transportation in the city not to improve the workings of the whole transportation department - Should do two separate proposals
MOTION: Commissioner Liu moved and Commissioner Hafeman seconded to move
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forward with the budget proposal and hire an Active Transportation Planner.
Commissioner Liu commented on the following:
- Having an Active Transportation Planner is important
- An Active Transportation Planner could commit all their time to special projects that staff would otherwise not have time to do
- An Active Transportation Planner would bike around the City to better understand all that is needed for bicyclists and pedestrians
- An Active Transportation Planner could keep track of all the projects in the ATP and the Vision Zero Plan
- Came up with the idea of hiring an Active Transportation Planner from the City of Mt. View and talking with an Active Transportation Planner at the City of Mt. View - Sunnyvale should have a normalized staff member as an Active Transportation Planner
- The City of Sunnyvale is growing and therefore needs to focus more on Active Transportation
Commissioner Hafeman commented on the following:
- There are fewer bikes on the road but traffic is everywhere - There needs to be a staff member that focuses on why the public isn't walking, bicycling and using transit more
- Looking at it like a person looking at sustainable transportation - Hiring an Active Transportation Planner would be a good position to hire Vice Chair Beagle commented on the following:
- The City would benefit from hiring an Active Transportation Planner dedicated to one task
- Supports the motion
Chair Oey commented on the following:
- Supports the motion because it is worthwhile to focus on active transportation which would make a bolder statement that the City is pursuing active transportation and prioritizing it in the City
- Other City's have that position with that title
The motion carried with the following vote:
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September 21, 2023Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
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Meeting Minutes - Draft
Yes Chair Oey
Vice Chair Beagle
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Davé
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Liu
6 -
No 0
Abstain Commissioner Mehlman1 -
4 23-0924
BPAC 2024 Study Issue Sponsorship (Scenario 1)
Thinh Le, Transportation Engineer, explained the Study Issue process. Highlighting the following:
- Designed to assist City Council with setting priorities for the upcoming calendar year
- Board and Commission members have two roles in the process:
- Advise Council regarding identification of policy issues to study - Advise Council on those issues Council has decided to study - Sponsorship means Study Issue is approved for ranking with a majority vote of the Board and Commission
- BPAC can vote to drop or sponsor the Study Issue, there needs to be a motion, a second and a majority vote. For Study Issues that are voted on to be sponsored, staff will write a draft Study Issue Paper including the fiscal impact which will be provided in the October BPAC agenda packet for BPAC to make comments on - Submit to City Manager first week of December
- Sponsor Study Issues as well as any deferred Study Issues that were under the BPAC's purview will be brought back to the BPAC for ranking in January 2024 - No Study Issue form was submitted before September 12, 2023 so there will be no scenario 2 sponsorship in October
The one Study Issue that is to be considered is as follows:
1. Hire an Active Transportation Planner
Public Comment opened at 7:56 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 7:56 p.m.
MOTION: Vice Chair Beagle moved and Commissioner Hafeman seconded the
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motion to sponsor proposed Study Issue to hire an Active Transportation Planner.
Commissioner Bonne commented on the following:
- Strong support for this motion to show the public and City Council that the BPAC is advocating for more active pedestrian, bike, walking and other modes of transportation
- Due to fall in ridership it is time to take the problem seriously and address it with a dedicated person
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes Chair Oey
Vice Chair Beagle
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Davé
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Liu
Commissioner Mehlman
7 -
No 0
NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS
-Commissioner Comments
Commissioner Liu commented on the following:
- October 29, 2023 - Silicon Valley Coalition fundraiser ride - October 14, 2023 - County Supervisor, Otto Lee is hosting a Day on the Bay.
Commissioner Liu will be leading the ride starting from Sunnyvale and Mr. Lee will lead the ride starting from his office in San Jose
Commissioner Bonne commented on the following:
- Remind the public of the importance of making safe bike routes - Removing parking from the streets is a good idea
- Need engineering controls when a car is parked on the street, opening the door will not harm a bicyclist
- Many members of the public do not want to bike because they find it too dangerous
Chair Oey commented on the following:
- Encourages everyone to participate in Day on the Bay
- Bike to the Future - Save our turtles team
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September 21, 2023Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
- Bike Fest in Cupertino
- Ways to avoid getting hit by a car door - Better training and no door zone bike lanes
Commissioner Hafeman commented on the following:
- Would like to see cross stripes for cars parked so bikes can't get hit from an open door
Commissioner Davé commented on the following:
- Public are confused by all the green things on the streets and the white stripes that accompany them
- Will look into ways to educate the public on what the new bike infrastructure means
-Staff Comments
Thinh Le commented on the following:
- October 17 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. - Climate Action Playbook Game Plan 2028 - September 23 from 9 - 1 p.m. - State of the City at City Hall
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
23-0925 BPAC 2023 Annual Work Plan
23-0926 Active Items List September 2023
Commissioner Liu asked about the following:
- Can item number 2 (Homestead Road Bike Lane Study) have a name change from "study" to "project" since it is out of the study phase or just take out "study" altogether?
- Keep all items on the "Active Items List" until they turn into a CIP project Mr. Le and Mr. Ng addressed the question.
Commissioner Hafeman asked about the following:
- Add a few words that say "pending CIP or funding"
23-0927
2023 Deferred Study Issues
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Oey adjourned the meeting at 8:19 p.m.
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