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, August 21, 2025
Public Participation
6:30 P.M. BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Beagle called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.
SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Chair Beagle led the salute to the flag.
ROLL CALL
Chair Bryce Beagle
Commissioner Alex Bonne
Commissioner Geeta Gollakota
Commissioner Dan Hafeman
Commissioner Leia Mehlman
Commissioner Jonathan Wilson
Present 6 -
Council Liaison Mehlinger (present)
Staff requested to hear Agenda Item A, 25-0876, Active Transportation Plan Progress Update before Agenda Item 1, 25-0128, Recommend to City Council to approve the Design Alternative 1 to remove one southbound travel lane and install a Class IIB Buffered Bicycle Lane on southbound Mathilda Avenue between Ahwanee Avenue/Almanor Avenue and Maude Avenue, Find that the action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guideline Section 15301(c), and Direct staff to include the proposed improvements as a future unfunded project
The meeting proceeded with hearing Agenda Item A with no objections from the
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Commission.
STUDY SESSION
A 25-0876 Active Transportation Plan Progress Update
Chip Taylor, Director of Public Works and Jose Palma, Active Transportation Planner, gave a presentation. Highlighting the following:
- New City Staff - Jose Palma, Active Transportation Planner - Goals for the BPAC Study Session
- Active Transportation Plan Background
- Bicycle Improvement Projects
- Active Transportation Plan Bikeway Mileage
- Pedestrian Improvement Projects
- Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Improvement Projects
- Next Steps
- Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) Application and Online Survey - Sunnyvale Active Transportation Plan Progress Update
Commissioner Mehlman asked about the following:
- What reapplying for BFC certification does for the City Mr. Palma responded.
Commissioner Hafeman asked about the following:
- Where the 5.3 miles of new bike lane infrastructure were located Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer, responded.
Commissioner Gollakota asked about the following:
- Whether the City has considered going digital for surveys instead of mailing out postcards
- How locations for raised pedestrian crosswalks are determined Ms. Tsang responded.
Commissioner Bonne asked about the following:
- How long the City expects it'll take to reach the ATP bike lane goal of 160 miles and what the top steps are to achieve that goal
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Ms. Tsang responded.
Chair Beagle asked about the following:
- What the day to day responsibilities look like for the Active Transportation Planner - The goal of the Active Transportation Planner
- Where funding came from for the Moffett Park Drive and Intuitive Surgical completed projects
- The per class breakdown of miles that remain to full buildout of ATP bicycle infrastructure implementation
- Whether the SNAIL Neighborhood SRTS Improvements at Columbia Middle School & San Miguel Elementary School were listed in the ATP - What is required to reach the higher BFC certification levels and the difference between each level
- The purpose of the BFC Online Survey
Mr. Palma and Ms. Tsang responded.
Commissioner Hafeman asked about the following:
- What BFC certification level City of San Francisco is on Mr. Palma and Ms. Tsang responded.
Public Comment opened at 7:22 p.m.
Sharlene Liu, member of the public, commented on the following:
- The implementation of Class IIIB bike boulevards in Sunnyvale - The City getting a dashboard of all the projects in the ATP and their statuses - Desire to improve Sunnyvale's Safe Routes to School program - Would like the City to prioritize working on infrastructure over encouragement activities
Daniel Karpelevitch, member of the public, commented on the following:
- Layout of City website
- Added to Ms. Liu's comment regarding the City getting a dashboard of all the projects in the ATP and their statuses, but would like an interactive map view Public Comment closed at 7:30 p.m.
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Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:
- Agreed with Karpelevitch's idea of an interactive map on the City website of all ATP projects and their statuses
- Lack of bike/ped infrastructure in north Sunnyvale aside from the Moffett Park area which was mostly private funded
Commissioner Gollakota commented on the following:
- Lack of bike/ped infrastructure in north Sunnyvale and its effects on children and students in the area
Commissioner Hafeman commented on the following:
- Lack of clarity on the Class IIIB design guidelines
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
1 25-0128 Recommend to City Council to approve the Design Alternative 1 to remove one southbound travel lane and install a Class IIB Buffered Bicycle Lane on southbound Mathilda Avenue
between Ahwanee Avenue/Almanor Avenue and Maude
Avenue, Find that the action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guideline Section 15301(c), and Direct staff to include the proposed improvements as a future unfunded project
Alternative 1: Recommend to City Council to approve the Design Alternative 1 to remove one southbound travel lane and install a Class IIB Buffered Bicycle Lane on southbound Mathilda Avenue between Ahwanee Avenue/Almanor Avenue and Maude Avenue, find that the action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guideline Section 15301(c), and direct staff to include the proposed improvements as a future unfunded project.
Thinh Le, Transportation Engineer, and Nikita Petrov, Associate Engineer with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., gave a presentation. Highlighting the following:
- Project Overview
- Project Objectives
- Project Background
- Project Timeline
- Existing Geometric Conditions
- Proposed Concept Overview
- Alternative 1: Class IIB Buffered Bicycle Lane
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- 5-Year Collision Analysis (January 2019 - January 2024) - Vehicular Travel Time Comparison
- Community Engagement to Date
- Online Survey Findings
- Cost Estimates
- Recommendation to City Council
Commissioner Gollakota asked about the following:
- Objective of the online survey
Mr. Le, Ms. Tsang and Mr. Petrov responded.
Commissioner Mehlman asked about the following:
- Clarification on what constitutes a road diet
- Why higher standards aren't being applied to the bicycle infrastructure being installed
- Survey question associated with 63 respondents
Ms. Tsang responded.
Commissioner Hafeman asked about the following:
- Width of the drain pan on Mathilda Avenue
- Clarification on lane widths on Mathilda Avenue
Ms. Tsang and Mr. Petrov responded.
Chair Beagle asked about the following:
- What it would take to modify the ATP and what that would involve - Where the project boundaries end on the southern end near the Maude and Mathilda Avenues intersection
- Whether there is currently a bike lane on the southbound side south of Maude Avenue
- Whether travel time on slide 11 of the presentation is referring to average or worst case
- "No right turn on red" removals
- CEQA exemption
Ms. Tsang, Council Liaison Mehlinger, Mr. Petrov, and Mr. Le responded.
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Commissioner Wilson asked about the following:
- How the southbound bicycle lane will help bicycle connectivity Mr. Petrov responded.
Public Comment opened at 8:28 p.m.
Daniel Karpelevitch, member of the public, commented on the following:
- Opportunity to implement a protected bike lane
- Delaying paving project until design was ready so work could be done concurrently
- Bus and travel lane width
Public Comment closed at 8:32 p.m.
Commissioner Gollakota commented on the following:
- Opportunity for Class IIB bike lanes to be installed if funding is obtained - Whether surveys can be run by the BPAC
Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:
- Proposed a comment be added to recommendation that Class IIB lanes should be physically separated if funding can be found
Council Liaison Mehlinger responded.
Chair Beagle commented on the following:
- Responded to Commissioner Gollakota's comment regarding BPAC running the surveys
- Small increase in travel time
Commissioner Wilson commented on the following:
- Whether there is data on travel times going northbound Commissioner Hafeman made a motion to approve Alternative 1, with no comments on CEQA, and to recommend consideration of upgrading to Class IV facilities during the design phase. Commissioner Hafeman noted that the configuration would improve safety and roadway symmetry without negatively impacting traffic operations. Commissioner Mehlman seconded the motion, emphasizing that physical protection such as bollards would provide greater safety than painted
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buffers.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes Chair Beagle
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Gollakota
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Mehlman
Commissioner Wilson
6 -
No 0
STUDY SESSION
B 25-0878 VTA Measure B Education and Encouragement Potential Projects
Chair Beagle called for a recess at 8:55 p.m. Chair Beagle reconvened the meeting at 9:07 p.m.
Commissioner Gollakota left the meeting at 9:05 p.m.
Angela Wong, Transportation Engineer, and Mr. Palma gave a presentation.
Highlighting the following:
- Background
- Progress Update on FY 24/25 Projects
- Proposed FY 25/25 Projects
- Goal for Tonight's BPAC Study Session
Commissioner Bonne asked about the following:
- If the bike rodeo is conducted once per year and whether it's once per school or once in the district
Ms. Wong and Mr. Palma responded.
Chair Beagle asked about the following:
- Whether the City has examples of proposals made to VTA by the City that were rejected
Ms. Tsang, Ms. Wong, and Mr. Palma responded.
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Public Comment opened at 9:30 p.m.
Daniel Karpelevitch, member of the public, commented on the following:
- Supports bike valet and light distribution ideas
Public Comment closed at 9:33 p.m.
Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:
- Proposed adult introduction to cycling classes
- Proposed a high school program to reacquaint youth on bicycle safety rules Chair Beagle commented on the following:
- Support for bike valet
- Doesn't see value in training videos unless they're Sunnyvale specific - Asked whether bike buses have been considered
Commissioner Bonne commented on the following:
- Supports the intention to double the number of bike rodeos - Would like walk-to-school days increase in frequency throughout the year Commissioner Wilson commented on the following:
- Agrees that programming targeted at high schoolers would be beneficial Commissioner Hafeman commented on the following:
- Proposed a booth at City events on how to get to school without driving Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:
- Setting up a contest at each school where a prize is awarded to whoever bikes the most in a certain period
Commissioner Wilson commented on the following:
- Defensive bicycle riding education
Commissioner Mehlman commented on the following:
- Proposed developing a game that deals with bicycle safety Chair Beagle commented on the following:
- Proposed a training on how to bring your bike onto public transportation
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Public Comment opened at 9:53 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 9:53 p.m.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
CONSENT CALENDAR
2.A 25-0879 Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of July 17, 2025.
Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of July 17, 2025 as submitted.
Public Comment opened at 9:53 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 9:54 p.m.
Commissioner Hafeman moved and Commissioner Mehlman seconded the motion to approve item 2.A.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes Chair Beagle
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Mehlman
Commissioner Wilson
5 -
No 0
Absent Commissioner Gollakota1 -
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
3 25-0880 Report and Discussion of Recent Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian
Advisory Committee (BPAC) Meeting
Commissioner Mehlman gave the meeting summary report regarding the following
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topics:
- Countywide Crossroads Collision Database Workshop
- County Local Roadways Safety Plan (LRSP)
- Report will be brought to the County Roads Commissions and the Board of Supervisors in September or October
- Grant applications will be filed for those intersections identified in the high injury network which are under county control in the next available cycle of 2026. - Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure
Public Comment opened at 10:04 p.m.
No speakers.
Public Comment closed at 10:04 p.m.
4 25-0881
Rescind July 17 Action and Selection of Chair and Vice Chair for Fiscal Year 2025/26
Ms. Tsang explained rescinding July 17 Action.
Chair Beagle moved to rescind the action taken for RTC 25-0788, Selection of Chair and Vice Chair for FY25/26 at the July 17, 2025 BPAC Meeting.
Commissioner Mehlman seconded the motion.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Yes Chair Beagle
Commissioner Bonne
Commissioner Hafeman
Commissioner Mehlman
Commissioner Wilson
5 -
No 0
Absent Commissioner Gollakota1 -
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 10:09 p.m.
No speakers.
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Public Comment closed at 10:10 p.m.
Chair Beagle nominated Commissioner Wilson for the Chair position. Commissioner Wilson accepts the nomination.
Commissioner Mehlman nominated Chair Beagle for the Vice Chair position. Chair Beagle accepts the nomination.
No additional nominations were made for Chair or Vice Chair seats.
Commissioner Wilson was appointed as Chair and Chair Beagle was appointed as Vice Chair, both by general consent.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
-Commissioner Comments
No comments.
-Staff Comments
Ms. Wong commented on the following:
- Angela Obeso is officially the new Transportation and Traffic Manager - BPAC vacancy has been filled with a new commissioner, Diyi Zhu - Bike valet at farmers market beginning Sept. 20, every weekend through November 8
- Study session to evaluate the City's study issue process, OCM 24-02, being held on Aug. 26 at 5:30 p.m.
- Study session to evaluate new revenue strategies to fund new and increase service demands and/or unfunded capital investments, being held on Sept. 9 at 6 p.m.
- Staff ramping up for second round of outreach for East Channel project, starting in late September, tentatively ending in November
INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS
25-0882 BPAC 2025 Annual Work Plan
25-0883 Active Items List August 2025
25-0884 2025 Deferred Study Issues
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25-0885 2026 Proposed Study Issues
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Beagle adjourned the meeting at 10:15 p.m.
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