DRAFT Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Special Meeting Minutes of 1/29/2024 — Sunnyvale City Council, February 27, 2024

City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
6:00 PM Online and Bay Conference Room, City
Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Monday, January 29, 2024
Special Meeting - 6 PM

CALL TO ORDER
Chair Oey called the meeting to order at 6:05 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 Dan Hafeman
Commissioner Sharlene Liu
Commissioner Leia Mehlman
Present 6 -
Commissioner Arwen DavéAbsent 1 -
Commissioner Davé arrived late at 6:49 p.m.

Council Liaison Sell (absent)

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Public Comment opened at 6:08 p.m.

No Speakers.

Public Comment closed at 6:09 p.m.

CONSENT CALENDAR
None.

PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS

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1 24-0273 Consider Rescinding Jan.18, 2024 Ranking of 2024 Study Issues and Re-Rank 2024 Study Issues
Angela Wong, Transportation Engineer reminded Commissioners to rescind the action taken during the Jan. 18, 2024 BPAC meeting and to re-rank the 2024 issues.

MOTION: Commissioner Mehlman moved and Commissioner Liu seconded to rescind the action taken during the Jan. 18, 2024 BPAC meeting and to re-rank the 2024 issues.

The motion carried with the following vote:

Yes Chair Oey
Vice Chair Beagle
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Liu
Commissioner Mehlman
6 -
No 0
Absent Commissioner Davé1 -
Angela Wong, Transportation Engineer, explained that there are a total of 6 study issues to rank. Ms. Wong provided a brief summary for each study issue, and then stated that Commissioners would have a chance to ask staff questions afterwards.

Study Issue Summaries:

CDD 24-04
Peery Park Specific Plan Amendment (area east of Mathilda Avenue)

This study will examine amending the portion of the Peery Park Specific Plan located east of Mathilda. This portion is currently zoned for mixed commercial to service Peery Park Office uses including hotels, offices, and neighborhood retail.

Elements of the study include analyzing for mixed-use housing and retail in this area.

Staff supports this study issue.

DPW 23-03

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Develop Bicycle Wayfinding Signage Plan

The purpose of this study is to develop a comprehensive bicycle wayfinding signage program to help bicyclists navigate the City. The study will include review of existing wayfinding signs for bicyclists and determine locations for new signs based on public input and trip demand to popular destinations.

Staff recommends to drop this study issue.

DPW 23-05
Vision Zero Redesign of Borregas Avenue

This study issue will evaluate potential pedestrian and bicycle improvements along Borregas Avenue between Maude Avenue and Caribbean Drive based on recommendations in the Active Transportation Plan (ATP) and countermeasures in the Vision Zero Plan, and public input.

Staff recommends to drop this study issue.

DPW 23-08
Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting

This study would review the goals identified in the ATP and Vision Zero Plan and identify appropriate metrics to measure progress towards the goals. In addition, the metrics would be published on the city website to reflect recent data and progress.

Staff recommends to drop this study issue.

DPW 24-02
Complete Streets Redesign of Fair Oaks Avenue
This study will examine redesigning Fair Oaks Avenue between Fair Oaks Way and El Camino Real to improve safety and comfort for pedestrians and cyclists. This study will review sidewalk accessibility and inconsistent bicycle facilities.

Improvements will align with the City’s Vision Zero and Active Transportation Plan.

Staff supports this study issue.

ESD 24-02
Evaluate Adopting Transit-Supportive Policies for Sunnyvale

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This study will examine gaps in City policies to address and encourage transit enhancement and development in Sunnyvale to facilitate Vehicle-miles Traveled (VMT) reduction and reach goals set in the Climate Action Playbook. This study will focus on the policy areas regarding transit-oriented communities, bus rapid transit corridors and services, and draw from Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)'s “Transit-First Policy” framework.

Staff recommends to drop this study issue.

Commissioner Liu asked about the following:
- DPW 23-08 Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting
- Would it give the viewer a sense of the status of the plan, meaning the denominator being projects that are in the ATP? How far we are in the plan? Mr. Ng stated staff could work towards it but doesn't think that staff's initial update sheet for the near-term will have the same look and feel Vice Chair Beagle asked about the following:
- DPW 23-08 Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting
- What is the scope of the study issue?
Mr. Ng stated the study issue was proposed to develop metrics, get the information out to the public. It would develop metrics, identify metrics, identify the cost and the technical requirements to put onto the website. Then it would require a separate funding plan from City Council for actual implementation. - What makes it difficult to identify the metrics?
Mr. Ng stated as written by the study issue proposer it was to identify metrics. - What is the scope of the effort to figure out the metrics? Mr. Ng stated a consultant would go through the ATP, identify what the metrics would be and if there are certain metrics that weren't there, identify what those could be and where the data sources would be from and develop a SOP from that data and then understand how it could be published and update the information. - Are there more costs added onto the study issue at the end of the study issue even before the results are in?
Mr. Ng stated yes there would be more costs added on.

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Commissioner Mehlman commented and asked about the following:
- DPW 23-08 Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting
- Can staff give us more information because some of the elements that are requested are not necessarily presented or easily understandable or visually recognizable?
Mr. Ng stated at the last update staff did give the BPAC some of this data, like the mileage of different classes planned and how much was actually constructed similar to what was showed to City Council during the strategic session. - The study issue is making a point but needs to be more of a holistic presentation of the ATP data
Chair Oey asked about the following:
- DPW 23-08 Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting
- Is it an accurate assessment that staff's recommendation was that it did not merit discussion because the metrics actually are largely available? Mr. Ng stated the metrics are determined in the ATP and staff is working on it. - Is the primary reason for staff not recommending this study issue is because staff believes they are already accomplishing most of the metrics? Mr. Ng stated staff is working towards putting the metrics out there and then it would be up to the BPAC to determine if it's in the shape or fashion that they would like to see it.
- Without this study issue will there be just a very simple, not complicated metrics paper?
Mr. Ng stated he is not certain that there could be real time updates for monthly or quarterly updates. It would probably be closer to annual updates due to limited resources. The study issues allows us to identify resources and then we identify resources to get to that level.

Commissioner Hafeman asked about the following:
- DPW 23-05 Vision Zero Redesign of Borregas Avenue
- What were the authors of the study issue trying to aim at? Mr. Ng stated that it was written by Council member Richard Mehlinger and he

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wanted to have staff concentrate on Borregas Avenue and then doing a redesign.

The central spine was going from south Sunnyvale Avenue all the way through to the north. He wanted the spine built as quickly as possible. - Last year it didn't make the level of funding? It wasn't deferred last year? Mr. Ng states it was deferred.

Chair Oey asked about the following:
- DPW 23-05 Vision Zero Redesign of Borregas Avenue
- Is there a buffered bike lane as one of the other projects that was already in play along this corridor?
Mr. Ng stated in CIP 833000 Sunnyvale SNAIL Neighborhood Improvements which would restripe Borregas Avenue and would narrow down the travel lanes and add a buffer in there.

Public Comment opened at 6:37 p.m.

No Speakers
Public Comment closed at 6:37 p.m.

Commissioner Hafeman commented on the following:
- Items discussed at the BPAC January 18th meeting regarding dropping certain study issues should remain the same
- DPW 23-05 Vision Zero Redesign of Borregas Avenue - So much activity going on in the Moffett Park area and Google development. Already a plan to stripe the southern part of Borregas Avenue to put the buffer in.
- Shouldn't put a lot of focus beyond on what's already happening on Borregas Avenue
- Recommends either dropping or deferring it
- Been deferred before so cannot be deferred a second time - DPW 23-08 Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting - unless you spend many hours looking over the ATP you just can't tell how much progress is being made - Bring a consultant in to come up with a plan where a person without spending an incredible amount of time can see what our target is and what has been done - Ok to have an annual update
- Ranked #2 - DPW 23-08 Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting - Ranked #1 - DPW 24-02 Complete Streets Redesign of Fair Oaks Avenue Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:

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- If a study issue is deferred by City Council last year they will have to review it this year and either vote to drop it or proceed
- Ranked #1 - DPW 24-02 Complete Streets Redesign of Fair Oaks Avenue Commissioner Liu commented on the following:
- DPW 23-08 Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting - Agrees with Commissioner Hafeman about the metrics and it would be great to have a quick view of the status of the ATP
- If just going with the ATP then the BPAC will only get the annual presentations on the great projects that transportation is working on that the viewer will not quickly be able to figure out how far along we are in the ATP
- If the study issue is supported then the consultant could identify a way to report status similar to what other jurisdictions might do
- Knowing the status of a plan is very important to decision making - Need information for the projects to be informed on where to put resources - Ranked #1 - DPW 24-02 Complete Streets Redesign of Fair Oaks Avenue - Only good north/south connector for the City is Sunnyvale Avenue - No good connector from east of Borregas Avenue to Sunnyvale Avenue - Fair Oaks Avenue is a great street to make a good north/south connector - Supports ESD 24-02 Evaluate Adopting Transit-Supportive Policies for Sunnyvale - Just because another commission voted to defer it doesn't mean that the BPAC should do the same
- Recommends dropping DPW 23-03 Develop Bicycle Wayfinding Signage Plan and DPW 23-05 Vision Zero Redesign of Borregas Avenue
- Borregas is a lower priority. Safe and quiet street to bike on - Wayfinding signs are nice to have but it is not critical for cyclists Vice Chair Beagle commented on the following:
- Agrees with basically everything his colleagues have expressed regarding the study issue rankings
- DPW 23-08 Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting - Want the data to be collected, compiled and presented. The way the study issue is presented seems to be giving the consultant a bunch of busy work with no direct benefit - Should make the study issue to fund the metrics collection, presentation and analysis
Commissioner Bonne commented on the following:
- Agrees with staff and colleagues to drop DPW 23-03 Develop Bicycle Wayfinding Signage Plan

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- Agrees with staff and their study issue to drop
- Ranked #1 - DPW 24-02 Complete Streets Redesign of Fair Oaks Avenue - Ranked #2 - CDD 24-04 Peery Park Specific Plan Amendment (area east of Mathilda Avenue)
- Likes the idea of having metrics to let the public understand what the City is doing - The City as a whole should develop metrics not just for the bicycle commission - Recommends dropping - DPW 23-08 Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting in favor of a more holistic approach later on
Chair Oey commented on the following:
- Recommend dropping DPW 23-05 Vision Zero Redesign of Borregas Avenue - because there are a lot of different developments along Borregas Avenue - DPW 23-08 Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting - City of Sunnyvale prides itself in having a lot of metrics and is one of the more well measured cities - In favor of improving the cities metrics
- Progress has been made with metrics being reported
- Safe Routes to School metrics were not very thorough
- Would like to see more cause and effect and automative - Rank #1 - DPW 24-02 Complete Streets Redesign of Fair Oaks Avenue - Rank #2 or #3 - CDD 24-04 Peery Park Specific Plan Amendment (area east of Mathilda Avenue) or DPW 23-08 Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting - Drop - DPW 23-03 Develop Bicycle Wayfinding Signage Plan and DPW 23-05 Vision Zero Redesign of Borregas Avenue
- Defer - ESD 24-02 Evaluate Adopting Transit-Supportive Policies for Sunnyvale - Sustainability Commission wrote this study issue and they recommend to defer Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:
- Reason for dropping DPW 23-03 is because the VTA is coming up with guidelines within the next few years. Staff wants to wait until the recommendations or the standardizations come out so then staff can implement something that is in alignment with what VTA recommends.
- Rank #1 - DPW 24-02 Complete Streets Redesign of Fair Oaks Avenue - Rank #2 - CDD 24-04 Peery Park Specific Plan Amendment (area east of Mathilda Avenue)
- Drop - DPW 23-03 Develop Bicycle Wayfinding Signage Plan - Drop - DPW 23-08 Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting - By the time the study issue started it would be time to update the ATP

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Commissioner Hafeman commented on the following:
- Climate Action Plan built a roadmap that progress can be measured against - When the ATP will be completed and how are we going to get there - Ranked #1 - DPW 24-02 Complete Streets Redesign of Fair Oaks Avenue - Ranked #2 - DPW 23-08 Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting - Have a roadmap to measure progress
Commissioner Davé commented asked about the following:
- Some of the funding that is used to improve BPAC issues comes from grants - If the City gets a grant for a study issue that was previously dropped is the City prevented from putting that study issue idea forward?
Mr. Ng stated the study issues as proposed are not tied to any grant funding sources. All of the study issues for the BPAC come from the General Fund. The best candidate for the grant is used with grant money and from Traffic Impact Fees (TIF) or the general fund. Hard to apply to study issues. Grants are typically used for capital improvements.

MOTION: Commissioner Liu moved and Vice Chair Beagle seconded to drop DPW 23-03 Develop Bicycle Wayfinding Signage Plan. The motion carried with the following vote:

Yes Chair Oey
Vice Chair Beagle
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Liu
Commissioner Mehlman
6 -
No Commissioner Davé1 -
Commissioner Mehlman commented and asked about the following:
- In regards to the metrics and ATP - when ATP comes up for review, we can build in a roadmap for metrics into the ATP review
- Can modify the ATP when it is up for review
- Are there requirements by the state for reducing VMT for measurements or estimates on a regular basis? Mr. Ng stated the City provides estimates to ESD.

MOTION: Commissioner Mehlman moved and Vice Chair Beagle seconded to drop DPW 23-08 Define Metrics that the City Will Use to Evaluate Progress on Bicycle

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and Pedestrian Infrastructure for Future Reporting. The motion carried with the following vote:

Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:
- Because of time constraints making it a study issue to get metrics wouldn't be an efficient way to get this information
- Best to look for when the ATP revisions come up in order to specify what is needed
- Timeline for a study issue is 2 years, even if we get a study issue recommendation it still has to go before City Council then voted again and still need to get funding
- Even if approved by City Council there is no guarantee that funding will be there - Once funding is approved still another year or so for implementing Vice Chair Beagle commented and asked about the following:
- Agrees with Commissioner Mehlman's comments
- Concerns dropping it because the next ATP review won't be until 2028 - No guarantee that the City Council will approve the study issue - Recommends the BPAC go to City Council and explain the reason why the BPAC has dropped it
Chair Oey commented on the following:
- Last time the ATP was up for review there was a 17 year gap Commissioner Liu commented on the following:
- Long time away before start reviewing and redoing the ATP in 2028 - Doing the study issue now will not be wasted and would inform what can be put in the ATP
- Don't see it as redundant
- Benefit of doing the work now then it will be done by the time the ATP is up for review so then maybe can implement sooner
- Gives the City more flexibility in starting it earlier and start measuring metrics earlier
Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:
- Did not state that the metrics were redundant
- The information is already given but the study issue would provide a more specific metrics towards goals
Mr. Ng stated the ATP is scheduled to be updated for fiscal year 2030

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Yes Vice Chair Beagle
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Davé
Commissioner Mehlman
4 -
No Chair Oey
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Liu
3 -
MOTION: Commissioner Liu moved and Vice Chair Beagle seconded to drop DPW 23-05 Vision Zero Redesign of Borregas Avenue. The motion carried with the following vote:

Commissioner Liu commented on the following:
- Spoke earlier about it and don't have much to add
- It is a very safe, easy and quiet residential street
Vice Chair Beagle commented on the following:
- Safe corridor as is
- Should be focusing time elsewhere in the city
Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:
- A lot of changes has happened along this corridor since the study issue was drafted so it is moot at this point
Yes Chair Oey
Vice Chair Beagle
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Davé
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Liu
Commissioner Mehlman
7 -
No 0
MOTION: Commissioner Hafeman moved and Vice Chair Beagle seconded to defer ESD 24-02 Evaluate Adopting Transit-Supportive Policies for Sunnyvale. The motion carried with the following vote:

Commissioner Hafeman commented on the following:

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- Talked extensively at the January 18 BPAC meeting and nothing has changed - Important issue but respects the Sustainability Commission for choosing to defer it
Yes Chair Oey
Vice Chair Beagle
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Mehlman
5 -
No Commissioner Liu1 -
Abstain Commissioner Davé1 -
Ms. Wong stated the DPW 24-02: Complete Streets Redesign of Fair Oaks Avenue and CDD 24-04: Peery Park Specific Plan Amendment (area east of Mathilda Avenue) need to be ranked by the BPAC.

Vice Chair Beagle ranked the Study Issues as follows: