A meeting of the Sunnyvale Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) was held on April 15, 2004 in the West Conference Room, City Hall, 456 West Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale. Committee Chair Mayer called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
I. Discussion with Public Safety Staff
1. Update on DPS concerns with Bicycling Street Smarts Guides
Witthaus updated BPAC on conversations with Public Safety Captain Mark Stivers regarding the Street Smarts Guides. There is concern from staff that the last chapter contains incorrect information regarding situations where a traffic signal appears to be malfunctioning. Staff is in the process of ordering stickers to place on the booklets that address this issue. Mayer requested that BPAC review the content of the stickers before they are ordered. Staff will email the sticker text to BPAC for review, and will contact the booklet publisher in order to notify them of the concern.
Public Safety Lieutenant Lee discussed upcoming DPS events, including Operation Safe Passage and an anti-litter campaign for the Caribbean, Lawrence and Mathilda corridors. Higgins invited Public Safety staff to participate in the lunch-time bike ride planned for Bike to Work Day on May 20.
Jackson asked Lee about DPS enforcement ability for the bike lockers at the Caltrain Station. Public Safety and Public Works staff are working on this issue.
Mayer requested additional information concerning bicycle and pedestrian collisions in order to more effectively educate the public on safety issues.
II. Approval of Meeting Minutes from March 18, 2004
Jackson clarified that during the discussion of the meeting minutes from February 19, 2004, he had suggested that signage be installed that directs vehicles to change lanes when passing a bicyclist when the width of the outside lane has been reduced to 14 feet.
Motion to approve the meeting minutes from March 18, 2004 with corrections.
Granvold/ Wolnik – Unanimous (Cotton abstained).
III. Public Announcements
None.
IV. Citizens to be Heard
Jennifer Paedon of the Moffett Park Business & Transportation Association (MPBTA) discussed the lunch-time bike ride she is planning in collaboration with City staff to be held on Bike to Work Day (May 20). MPBTA is also hosting two energizer stations. Paedon encouraged BPAC members to attend the lunch-time bike ride, mentioning that she is looking for people to lead the bike ride.
Wolnik stated that she has obtained a confirmation that Hobee’s will donate 5 trays of coffee cake for the event.
Mayer stated that Walt’s is willing to donate certificates for a free safety check at his shop. Mayer will finalize the details of the agreement; staff indicated that the City will pay for the printing costs for the certificates.
BPAC members that will be contacting Safeway for donations should do so soon in order to allow enough time for processing the request. Paedon will be asking for coffee donations from Starbucks for all Sunnyvale energizer stations.
BPAC members volunteered for energizer stations: Mayer and Cotton will staff the Caltrain Station; Gregory will staff the Wolfe/El Camino Real station; Gras and Granvold volunteered to staff whichever station needs help. Staff will also contact former BPAC members to request that they volunteer at the energizer stations. Jackson suggested that all volunteers bring along a set of tools and pumps to address minor bicycle problems.
Staff will email BPAC members a reminder of their volunteer duties.
V. General Business/Public Hearings
1. Countywide Bike Plan Tier 2 Bicycle Project List (continued from last meeting)
BPAC asked several questions of staff clarifying the cost/feasibility analysis of some of the other Capital Improvement Projects discussed in the report.
Motion to approve the Tier 2 Bicycle Project List application submittals.
Wolnik/Granvold – Unanimous.
Jackson noted that the Sunnyvale representative to the VTA BPAC was displeased with the discussion of the Sunnyvale projects. Witthaus noted that staff does not agree with the VTA staff recommendation regarding the Sunnyvale projects. Witthaus will inform the VTA of the Sunnyvale BPAC endorsement of the application submittals and request that they list the projects on the Tier 2 list.
Jackson reviewed the ranking criteria for applications used by the VTA, suggesting that staff tailor applications to meet these criteria. Mayer suggested that staff request a letter of support from BPAC for application submittals.
2. VTA Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Representative
Motion to nominate David Simons for reappointment to the VTA BPAC.
Granvold/Cotton – Unanimous.
3. Discuss work scope for "Reconsideration of BPAC Functions and Responsibilities" for 2005 Study Issue Submittal
BPAC members reviewed each document that was attached to the staff report relating to the Committee’s Functions and Responsibilities, and identified areas to study for potential changes/updates.
BPAC requested that the same information be provided at the next meeting in order to continue this discussion, and that the attachments to the RTC #00-337 be included in the packet. In addition, BPAC requested that staff provide a detailed description of the BPAC discussion of these documents from this meeting.
4. Bike to Work Day Planning
BPAC discussed Bike to Work Day Planning with Jennifer Paedon of MPBTA during the Citizens to be Heard portion of the meeting.
VI. Non-Agenda Items and Comments
Jackson mentioned the VTA Countywide Deficiency Plan. Jackson stated that the Countywide Plan eliminates the need for a local deficiency plan. Jackson also noted frustration at Caltrain for not handling the enforcement of improper bike locker usage at the Caltrain Station. Mayer and Jackson requested that they be kept updated of the situation surrounding the Caltrain Station bike lockers.
Granvold noted the story in the Sunnyvale Sun highlighting the lighted crosswalk on Maude.
Cotton noted a mistake on the City’s Community Events Calendar on the City web site; it incorrectly lists the April BPAC meeting date for April 22. Cotton also noted the upcoming Volunteer Recognition event. Wolnik and Mayer stated that they had not RSVP’d for the event, but are planning to attend. Staff will inform the event organizers.
Mayer requested that staff distribute the VTA Pedestrian Technical Guidelines to BPAC members, staff and the Planning Commissioners.
VII. City Manager Communication
None.
VIII. Information Only Items
Approved February 19, 2004 Meeting Minutes - Accepted as Submitted.
Jackson requested additional information in the Active Items Report at the next BPAC meeting regarding Tier 1 projects.
BPAC Active Items Report - Accepted as Submitted.
Mayer asked staff what determination was made regarding the email request for a crosswalk. Mayer noted that the public should be aware the pedestrians have the right of way, even at unmarked crosswalks.
BPAC Email - Accepted as Submitted.
BPAC Calendar - Accepted as Submitted.
Mayer requested that staff provide additional information in the collision reports for pedestrians and bicycles in order to fully understand what occurred and what caused the collision. This information is important to BPAC in order to effectively educate the public on common collision factors.
Mayer requested additional information regarding the schedule for the 2004 Curb Ramp Installation List, noting that they are behind from last year’s list. Staff will email a schedule for the installations for 2003 and 2004.
Jackson noted the concerns raised by SNAIL in the Sunnyvale Sun article, indicating possible responses to the concerns listed in the article.
Higgins presented paper plots for the Right-Turn Study signs to be placed at three intersections. BPAC supported the "Right Turn Yield to Bikes" sign and the "Yield to Bikes" sign from Portland, OR. However, the majority of the BPAC were opposed to the installation of the conflict symbol sign from Stanford, expressing concern that this sign poses a danger to bicyclists through misinterpretation by motorists. Staff will investigate the results of the installation of this sign at Stanford.
BPAC requested that the Mathilda Bridge Review be included in the Public Hearing portion of next month’s meeting in order to provide opportunity for the public to observe this item on the agenda and provide comment.
Jackson noted a discrepancy between the length of parking area in the Wolfe Road Parking Study identified in the 1998 Bicycle Opportunities Study and the 2003 Parking Study. Jackson also noted that the 2003 Parking Study was not as comprehensive. Jackson voiced support for the off-street parking analysis on Wolfe Road described in the memo to Mayor Howe dated March 18, 2004.
Motion to support the analysis of off-street parking along Wolfe Road; if City funds are not available for this study, the use of BPAC discretionary funds may be used.
Jackson/Granvold.
Wolnik expressed concern over the use of BPAC discretionary funds, because she doesn’t expect that the City will eliminate parking.
Amendment to remove the reference to BPAC discretionary funds (Jackson).
Motion passed – Unanimous (Gras absent).
IX. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn.
Granvold/Wolnik - Unanimous (Gras absent).
Meeting adjourned, 10:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
_______________
Tanya Higgins
Casual Professional