City of Sunnyvale
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
6:30 PM Online and Redwood Conference Room,
City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale,
CA 94086
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Public Participation
6:30 P.M. BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Beagle called the meeting to order at 6:38 p.m.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Chair Beagle led the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL
Chair Bryce Beagle
Commissioner Geeta Gollakota
Commissioner Dan Hafeman
Commissioner Leia Mehlman
Commissioner Jonathan Wilson
Present 5 -
Commissioner Alex BonneAbsent 1 -
Commissioner Bonne (excused absence)
Council Liaison Mehlinger (absent)
STUDY SESSION
25-0785 Annual reporting on collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists
Lieutenant Galazzo gave the annual presentation on collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists. Lt. Galazzo showed and explained slides on the following:
- 5-year Pedestrian and Bicycle Injury Collisions (2020-2024)
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July 17, 2025Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
- 2024 Major Collisions
- 2024 Summary of Enforcement
- Common Violations
- Pedestrian and Bicycle Injury Collisions 2025 (January - June) - The Three E's - Engineering, Education and Enforcement Commissioner Mehlman asked about the following:
- The cause of death in the passing of the person in the wheelchair - Whether this person was discharged to a home or skilled nursing facility - Statistics for enforcement of bike lane parking violations - Whether hit and runs are occurring more frequently in specific areas Officer Larks and Lt. Galazzo responded.
Commissioner Gollakota asked about the following:
- Why auto versus pedestrian collisions are going up
- Whether traffic complaints were up in 2024 from 2023
- Whether speeding is occurring more frequently in specific areas - Whether there's been a change observed in violations in the Fremont High School area since traffic engineering has been done
- Whether the City can consider an alternative software for tracking traffic violations and citations
Lt. Galazzo and Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer, responded.
Commissioner Hafeman asked about the following:
- Whether the jaywalking citations were due to crossing in an unsafe way - Whether the City has looked at what software other cities are using to track traffic violations and citations
- Whether hit and run collisions remain open for investigation Lt. Galazzo and Ms. Tsang responded.
Commissioner Wilson asked about the following:
- Whether there is speed data available for collisions between cars and bicycles - Additional information about officer's ability to cite distracted driving behavior Lt. Galazzo responded.
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July 17, 2025Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Chair Beagle asked about the following:
- Definition of traffic complaint
- What the response is for traffic complaints
- Definition of vehicle abatement
- What counts as 'speeding'
- Whether parking violations are enforced if the driver remains in the vehicle - Whether the City has communicated with app makers regarding drivers/vehicles following traffic laws
- Whether increased numbers of traffic injuries is a result of increased vehicle miles traveled
- Pedestrian decoy operations
Lt. Galazzo responded.
Commissioner Mehlman asked about the following:
- Whether analysis and/or intervention is done to bring down the number of pedestrian and bicycle injury collisions
- Is there forensic analysis done in fatal collisions
- What was the highest level citation issued in the City's fatal collision Ms. Tsang and Lt. Galazzo responded.
Commissioner Wilson asked about the following:
- How Sunnyvale ranks against other Bay Area cities of similar population in terms of rate of collisions per year
- Whether traffic enforcement finds any set of behaviors problematic coming from either pedestrians or bicyclists
- Whether traffic enforcement has a desire to grow the education programs they're currently offering
Lt. Galazzo responded.
Chair Beagle asked about the following:
- Whether traffic enforcement is occurring in the evening Lt. Galazzo responded.
Public Comment opened at 8:30 p.m.
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July 17, 2025Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Sharlene Liu, member of the public, commented on the following:
- Sunnyvale's crash statistics remaining flat
- 3 recommendations for Department of Public Safety (DPS) to improve crash statistics
- Should focus on driver behavior more than cyclist or pedestrian behavior - Reminder to DPS that one of their responsibilities is suggesting engineering improvements to Department of Public Works (DPW)
- Keeping track of dooring crashes
Daniel Karpelevitch, member of the public, commented on the following:
- The need to build self-enforcing streets
- Recommendation to get officers on bicycles
- Recommendation to increase daylighting enforcement
AJ, member of the public, commented on the following:
- Excessive speeding on Evelyn Avenue
- Request to have a radar speed sign and speed camera installed - Excessive speeding on Mathilda Avenue
- Reducing timing of green light
Steve Meier, member of the public, commented on the following:
- The need to look at safety and response times versus only response times, specifically in regards to the Tasman Study Issue
- Request for data on special enforcement actions at specific locations Public Comment closed at 8:16 p.m.
Chair Beagle called for a recess at 8:16 p.m. Chair Beagle reconvened the meeting at 8:27 p.m.
Commissioner Gollakota commented on the following:
- Having collision data mapped out and time stamped
Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:
- Seeking new software to track traffic incidences
- The need for more enforcement activity in the evening - Whether complaints are tracked
Lt. Galazzo responded.
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July 17, 2025Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Commissioner Wilson commented on the following:
- Increasing department staff as there seems to be a correlation between enforcement presence and improving driver behaviors
Chair Beagle commented on the following:
- The need to focus on traffic calming as a safety priority - Reprioritizing where staffing is needed
- Accessing underlying data and statistics
25-0786
Vision Zero Plan Progress Update
Angela Wong, Transportation Engineer, gave a presentation highlighting the following:
- Vision Zero Plan Background
- Collision Trends
- Completed Projects
- In Progress and Future Projects
Commissioner Mehlman asked about the following:
- What factors are contributing the most to the flat changes in bicyclist injuries and deaths
- Given the trends, whether the goal will be reached for 2029 Ms. Wong and Ms. Tsang responded.
Commissioner Hafeman asked about the following:
- Whether staff has information as to why the City is having fewer collisions while also having increased rates of serious injuries post-pandemic - If the slurry seal going to be completed and bike lanes put in this year on Homestead Road
- What is the definition of a dilemma zone
Ms. Tsang and Ms. Wong responded.
Chair Beagle asked about the following:
- How a dilemma zone operates
Ms. Tsang and Ms. Wong responded.
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July 17, 2025Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Commissioner Gollakota asked about the following:
- Whether there is a way in future presentations to have better analysis presented with more context
Chair Beagle asked about the following:
- If DPW believes Reduction Goal will be met by 2029
- Whether the Reduction Goal needs to be re-evaluated
- If the City has data on Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)
- If the curb extensions were always a part of the Peterson Middle School Pedestrian Improvements project
- If the list is available showing the high priority crosswalks being painted as part of the Daylighting Law
- Whether there are any projects that are incorporating raised crosswalks or continuous sidewalks
Ms. Tsang and Ms. Wong responded.
Commissioner Mehlman asked about the following:
- Of the issues in the high injury network that were identified in Vision Zero, how many of those projects are there in total, how many have been completed, how many are in planning phase and how many have not been started? Ms. Tsang responded.
Public Comment opened at 9:55 p.m.
Daniel Karpelevitch, member of the public, commented on the following:
- Pledges to not fatally hit or seriously injure anyone driving, biking or walking - Vision Zero progress in the City compared to other cities - The possibility of creating a new plan if Vision Zero isn't successful Steven Meier, member of the public, commented on the following:
- The pace of the study issue process
Public Comment closed at 10 p.m.
Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:
- Vision Zero projects are not addressing the root cause of serious injuries and fatalities
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July 17, 2025Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
- The need as the City to commit to creating safer streets for everyone besides cars Commissioner Wilson commented on the following:
- That it should be a high priority to pause and look at the plan progress to ensure efforts are moving in the right direction
Commissioner Hafeman commented on the following:
- Reminder that safety should be first priority over other transportation considerations
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Public Comment opened at 10:11 p.m.
Sharlene Liu, member of the public, gave a presentation and commented on the following:
- Hollenbeck Bike Lane Study Session
- Analysis showing Alternative 2 is unsafe and will not result in a significant increase in bike ridership
- Dangerous features of Alternative 2 such as door zone and a lack of buffers - Bike lane width is too narrow
Daniel Karpelevitch, member of the public, continued the presentation and commented on the following:
- Hollenbeck Avenue Parking Analysis
- Available parking on side streets exceeds the number of parked cars on Hollenbeck Avenue
- Nighttime parking on Hollenbeck Avenue south of Fremont Avenue - Nighttime parking on Hollenbeck Avenue north of Fremont Avenue - Parking Analysis near Hollenbeck Avenue-Danforth Drive intersection Genna Chiaro, member of the public, gave a presentation and commented on the following:
- A bollard located in Sunnyvale on the Sunnyvale-Los Altos border that she believes is in violation of Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) and Caltrans standards.
- Recounted a recent incident where she obtained an injury she believes is a result of this bollard
- Cited Bicycle Technical Guidelines prepared by the VTA - Public comments left on her Reddit post regarding the bollard
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July 17, 2025Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Public Comment closed at 10:26 p.m.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1.A 25-0787 Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of June 19, 2025.
Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of July 17, 2025 as submitted.
Public comment opened at 10:26 p.m.
No speakers.
Public comment closed at 10:27 p.m.
Commissioner Hafeman moved and Commissioner Mehlman seconded the motion to approve item 1.A.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes Chair Beagle
Commissioner Gollakota
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Mehlman
Commissioner Wilson
5 -
No 0
Absent Commissioner Bonne1 -
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
2 25-0788 Selection of Chair and Vice Chair for FY25/26 Ms. Wong and Ms. Tsang explained the Selection of Chair and Vice Chair process.
The term will serve from July 2025 and end in June 2026.
Public comment opened at 10:31 p.m.
No speakers.
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July 17, 2025Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
Public comment closed at 10:31 p.m.
Chair Beagle commented on the following:
- Is happy to continue as Chair but if someone else would like to take the opportunity to be chair, he will relinquish the position Commissioner Mehlman nominated Chair Beagle for the Chair position. Chair Beagle accepts the nomination.
Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:
- Would be happy to be Chair again or Vice Chair as she will term out in 2026 Commissioner Wilson asked what the roles are of the Chair and Vice Chair. - Chair Beagle, Commissioner Mehlman and Ms. Tsang explained the roles and responsibilities of the Chair and Vice Chair.
The motion failed by the following vote:
Yes Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Wilson
2 -
No Chair Beagle1 -
Absent Commissioner Bonne1 -
Abstain Commissioner Gollakota
Commissioner Mehlman
2 -
Commissioner Gollakota nominated Commissioner Wilson for the Chair position.
Commissioner Wilson accepts the nomination.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes Chair Beagle
Commissioner Gollakota
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Mehlman
Commissioner Wilson
5 -
No 0
Absent Commissioner Bonne1 -
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July 17, 2025Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
No Chair was appointed. Selection of Chair will be included on the next Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission meeting to follow the Selection of Chair and Vice Chair procedure outlined in Administrative Policy Ch. 1, Art. 15 Boards and Commissions.
25-0788
Selection of Chair and Vice Chair for FY25/26
Chair Beagle nominated Commissioner Mehlman for the Vice Chair position.
Commissioner Mehlman accepts the nomination.
Commissioner Mehlman spoke to her nomination, stating that this is her last year.
Has been serving since 2018 and hopes that the Commission thinks she's done a good job so far.
The motion failed by the following vote:
Yes Chair Beagle
Commissioner Gollakota
Commissioner Mehlman
Commissioner Wilson
4 -
No 0
Absent Commissioner Bonne1 -
Abstain Commissioner Hafeman1 -
Commissioner Wilson nominated Chair Beagle for the Vice Chair position. Chair Beagle accepts the nomination.
Chair Beagle spoke to his nomination, stating that he is happy to be Vice Chair but also thinks Commissioner Mehlman is a great fit for the role as well.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes Chair Beagle
Commissioner Gollakota
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Mehlman
Commissioner Wilson
5 -
No 0
Absent Commissioner Bonne1 -
Attachment 3
July 17, 2025Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory
Commission
Meeting Minutes - Draft
No Vice Chair was appointed. Selection of Vice Chair will be included on the next Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission meeting to follow the Selection of Chair and Vice Chair procedure outlined in Administrative Policy Ch. 1, Art. 15 Boards and Commissions.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
-Commissioner Comments
Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:
- There was no VTA meeting on July 9. Next meeting is in August on the first Wednesday after the first Thursday.
-Staff Comments
Ms. Wong and Ms. Tsang commented on the following:
- Reminder regarding jacket order
Ms. Tsang commented on the following:
- Staff will be bringing Tasman to City Council to select an alternative on Tuesday July 29
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
25-0789 BPAC 2025 Annual Work Plan
25-0790 Active Items List July 2025
25-0791 2025 Deferred Study Issues
25-0792 2026 Proposed Study Issues
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Beagle adjourned the meeting at 10:54 p.m.
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