City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
6:30 PM Online and Bay Conference Room, City
Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA
94086
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Public Participation
Accessibility/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Notice
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Beagle called the meeting to order at 6:43 p.m.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Chair Beagle led the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL
Chair Bryce Beagle
Vice Chair Arwen Davé
Commissioner Alex Bonne
Commissioner Geeta Gollakota
Commissioner Dan Hafeman
Commissioner Leia Mehlman
Commissioner Jonathan Wilson
Present 7 -
Council Liaison Klein (present)
STUDY SESSION
A 24-1184 Review Complete Streets Checklist for Housing Incentive Pool Grant
Angela Obeso, Interim Transportation and Traffic Manager, gave a presentation.
Highlighting the following:
- Housing Incentive Pool (HIP) Funding
- Project Recommendation 1: Poplar Avenue Sidewalk Construction Project
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November 21, 2024Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
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- Project Recommendation 2: Sunnyvale/California Avenues Signal Upgrade Project - Project Recommendation 3: Mary/Maude Avenues Signal Upgrade Project Commissioner Bonne asked about the following:
- Regarding the Poplar Avenue Sidewalk Construction Project, why not build the sidewalks immediately once the funding is available versus waiting until summer? - Regarding the Sunnyvale/California Avenues Signal Upgrade Project, if it is upgraded, will it then be obsolete once the Caltrain underpass on Sunnyvale Avenue is complete and car thoroughfare is stopped?
Ms. Obeso responded to the questions.
Commissioner Gollakota asked about the following:
- How do you determine which intersections you have to replace? - Regarding Sunnyvale/California Avenues, can you provide examples of what you mean by accessibility accommodations?
- Are intersections with Braille push button signs indicative of Sunnyvale's latest standard of accessibility?
Ms. Obeso responded to the questions.
Commissioner Mehlman asked and commented about the following:
- Do any of these cycling improvement include the addition of left turn boxes for cyclists?
- Would like to see bicycle infrastructure improvement included on the checklist Ms. Obeso responded to the question.
Commissioner Hafeman asked about the following:
- Regarding Project Recommendation 1: Poplar Avenue Sidewalk Construction Project, with the million dollars, if it gets allocated, it would be fully funded, correct? - Is the order of the checklist the order of importance for Sunnyvale? Ms. Obeso responded to the question.
Vice Chair Davé asked about the following:
- How is a protected left turn implemented?
Ms. Obeso responded to the question.
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November 21, 2024Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Chair Beagle asked about the following:
- Could you give me an overview of where these funds come from? - Could you help me understand the timing of this funding and the projects? - Has waiting for the funding impacted the timeline for the Poplar Avenue project at all?
- When we approved the Transportation Development Act (TDA) Funding, we had said the construction cost was going to be around $895,000 but now we're requesting $1,000,000. What is the discrepancy in cost coming from? - Is the checklist finalized and is there flexibility to include other projects on the list? Ms. Obeso responded to the questions.
Commissioner Gollakota asked about the following:
- Do the chosen projects have any bearing on where the affordable housing is? - Will the curbs that are within 20 feet of intersections be painted red as part of these projects?
Ms. Obeso responded to the questions.
Public comment opened at 7:33 p.m.
Judy Pavlik, founder of the Sunnyvale Mobile Home Park Alliance (SMHPA) commented about the following:
- Inviting BPAC to a meeting with SMHPA
- Concerns about how Tasman Drive was chosen as a thoroughfare for bikes and its impact on local traffic
Edmund Drozek, resident of Santa Clara commented about the following:
- Sizing of bike lanes and their locations
- Conditions and maintenance along certain parts of the Bay Trail Public comment closed at 7:39 p.m.
Commissioner Gollakota commented about the following:
- Keep intersections accessible for visually impaired
Commissioner Wilson commented about the following:
- Regarding Sunnyvale/California Avenues it might be worth addressing that at
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Meeting Minutes - Draft
some point to include a continuous bike lane through the intersection.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Public Comment opened at 7:42 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 7:43 p.m.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Public Comment opened at 7:43 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 7:44 p.m.
1.A 24-1176
Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission
Meeting Minutes of October 17, 2024.
Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of October 17, 2024 as submitted.
Commissioner Hafeman moved and Commissioner Mehlman seconded the motion to approve amended item 1.A. The amendment was made by Commissioner Hafeman who stated on Page 5 that resident Daniel Karpolovich's comment stating "Studies in other cities of pedestrianizing and its effects on local businesses" should state "Studies in other cities of pedestrianizing and its positive effects on local businesses."
The amendment carried with the following vote:
Yes Chair Beagle
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Gollakota
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Wilson
5 -
No 0
Abstain Vice Chair Davé
Commissioner Mehlman
2 -
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Meeting Minutes - Draft
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2 24-1175 Annual Review of City Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials
Public Comment opened at 7:48 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 7:49 p.m.
All of the BPAC commissioners have acknowledged the receipt and review of the Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials. 3 24-1177
Approve Draft BPAC 2025 Master Work Plan
Approve Draft 2025 Master Work Plan
Commissioner Mehlman commented and asked about the following:
- Would like descriptors on agenda items/issues. For example as a study session, for comments, or for design review.
Ms. Obeso and Thinh Le, Transportation Engineer, responded.
Commissioner Gollakota commented about the following:
- Would like to see the Safe Routes to School presentation twice per year.
Ms. Obeso responded to the comment.
Vice Chair Davé asked about the following:
- Is the Tasman discussion in January the appropriate forum for members of the public who wish to discuss it further?
Mr. Le and Chair Beagle responded to the question.
Chair Beagle asked about the following:
- Where am I supposed to get work plan information from city council? - Is it my sole decision to approve the work plan?
Ms. Obeso responded to the questions.
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Public Comment opened at 8:02 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 8:03 p.m.
Commissioner Hafeman asked about the following:
- In February, we had a discussion about TDA Funding. Will we know the answer to the complete streets thing we talked about by February? - When is the follow up meeting going to be scheduled regarding the Class IIIB Bicycle Boulevards?
Mr. Le, Ms. Obeso, and Council Liaison Klein responded to the questions.
Commissioner Wilson asked about the following:
- Is adding to the agendas a possibility or does the yet to be scheduled list stay full throughout the year?
Ms. Obeso responded to the questions.
Vice Chair Davé asked about the following:
- What is the time frame of implementing any new Class III bikes lines in the coming year?
Chair Beagle commented and asked about the following:
- Agrees that the Class IIIB bike lanes getting added to the agenda should be a priority
- Are the utility bill inserts beneficial?
Ms. Obeso, Council Liaison Klein and members of the commission responded to Chair Beagle's question regarding utility bill inserts.
MOTION: Commissioner Mehlman moved and Commissioner Hafeman seconded the motion to approve amended item 3. The following amendments include prioritization of the Class IIIB presentation by staff and adding a parking lot item for broader community outreach and communication outlets.
FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: Commissioner Gollakota would like to add a second
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November 21, 2024Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Safe Routes to School presentation to the parking lot items, making the Safe Routes to School item into a bi-annual report. Commissioner Mehlman accepts the friendly amendment.
MOTION: Commissioner Mehlman moved and Commissioner Hafeman seconded the motion to approve amended item 3. The following amendments include the prioritization of the Class IIIB presentation by staff, adding parking lot item for broader community outreach and communication outlets and adding a second Safe Routes to School presentation to the parking lot items, making Safe Rotes to School item into a bi-annual report.
The amendment carried with the following vote:
Yes Chair Beagle
Vice Chair Davé
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Gollakota
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Mehlman
Commissioner Wilson
7 -
No 0
4 24-1178
Report and Discussion of Recent Santa Clara Valley
Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian
Advisory Committee (BPAC) Meeting
Chair Beagle called for a recess at 8:33 p.m. Chair Beagle reconvened the meeting at 8:43 p.m.
Commissioner Mehlman gave the meeting summary report regarding the following topics:
- Equitable Vehicle Miles Travel Mitigation Program will be back in February for an action item and the overall goal
- There is a Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) event on December 10 - There was a virtual meeting today (November 21)
- San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail extension
- Intersections where the current San Tomas Aquino Creek crosses are not cyclist or pedestrian friendly
- Public comment ends for the active transportation plan ends on November 24
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Commissioner Gollakota asked about the following:
- Are e-bikes an option for students as part of low income families? Commissioner Mehlman responded to the question.
Public Comment opened at 8:53 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 8:55 p.m.
STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES
NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS
-Commissioner Comments
Commissioner Gollakota asked the following:
- Can the city provide a traffic light or traffic mitigation on Mary Avenue at Olive Avenue?
- Bird feces on sidewalks creating accessibility issues Council Liaison Klein responded to the question regarding bird feces.
Commissioner Hafeman asked about the following:
- Will someone reach out to the lady who requested a meeting with the BPAC? Commissioner Mehlman commented and asked about the following:
- Tamsan Corridor Project
- Is there a place other than Access Sunnyvale where patrons can report obstructions?
Mr. Le and Council Liaison Klein responded to the question regarding Access Sunnyvale
-Staff Comments
Mr. Le commented about the following:
- December BPAC meeting cancellation with approval from the BPAC Chair and Vice Chair
- The next BPAC meeting in January 2025 will be held in the Redwood Room
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November 21, 2024Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
24-1179 BPAC 2024 Annual Work Plan
24-1180 Active Items List November 2024
24-1181 2024 Deferred Study Issues
24-1182 2025 Sponsored Study Issues
24-1183 2025 Proposed Budget Proposals
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Beagle adjourned the meeting at 9:14 p.m.
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