MINUTES
SUNNYVALE Bicycle and pedestrian
Advisory committee

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee met in regular session in the West Conference Room, City Hall, 456 West Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, at 6:30 p.m. on June 17, 2004 with Committee Chair Mayer presiding.

ROLL CALL

Members Present:  Thomas Mayer

                             Kevin Jackson

                             Cynthia Cotton

                             Ginger Wolnik

Members Absent:     Kevin Gregory (excused)

                             Thomas Granvold (excused)

                             Gerald Gras (unexcused)

Staff Present: Tanya Higgins, Casual Professional
                     Mark Stivers, Public Safety Captain

                     Robert Bradshaw, Interim Public Safety Director

Visitors:           Rand Blakewood
                     Ralph Durham

SCHEDULED PRESENTATION

Prior to the scheduled presentation by Public Safety staff, the new interim Public Safety Director, Robert Bradshaw, introduced himself to BPAC and answered questions.

Presentation from DPS on the process for on-site accident investigation

Public Safety Captain Stivers handed out a collision report form and explained the process for completing the form and how it can be evaluated. Captain Stivers answered questions regarding situations in which accidents should be reported, situations in which citations are issued, and motorist insurance. Captain Stivers also described the responsibility of the responding patrol officer when he or she arrives at the scene of a collision. The Committee also discussed the role of the media in reporting on major collisions involving bicycles, and requested that Public Safety staff refrain from providing any statements to the media that may mischaracterize the severity of the repercussions for causing injury or death to a bicyclist.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: None

CONSENT CALENDAR

Jackson moved, and Cotton seconded, approval of the Consent Calendar. The motion carried unanimously.

1.A. Approval of Draft Minutes from May 20, 2004

1.B. Approval of Agenda

1.C. Approval of 2004 Calendar

CITIZENS TO BE HEARD None

PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS

2. Pedestrian Circulation and Enhancements Plan for Futures Area 7

Higgins presented the staff report. Higgins responded to Committee questions regarding bike lanes, curb extensions, and pedestrian destinations.

Cotton moved, and Jackson seconded, approval of staff’s recommendation with the condition that bike lanes are included where feasible throughout the plan area. Mayer offered a friendly amendment to require bike lanes on all streets within the plan area; Cotton and Jackson accepted this amendment. Mayer offered another friendly amendment to establish a curb bulb-out standard that will allow adequate space for bicycles by providing a 12-foot travel lane with a 5-foot shoulder or bike lane; Cotton and Jackson accepted this amendment. The motion carried unanimously.

Higgins presented the staff report. 

Jackson moved, and Cotton seconded, approval of staff’s recommendation, allowing staff to prioritize the use of funds for the listed projects. Jackson offered a friendly amendment to allow the use of discretionary funds for small consulting projects that are bicycle- and pedestrian-related; Cotton accepted this amendment. Cotton offered a friendly amendment to direct staff to investigate the use of discretionary funds to subsidize bike licensing for children; Jackson accepted this amendment.  Mayer offered a friendly amendment to direct staff to investigate the use of discretionary funds for donating safety vests to schools to be used by adults that are escorting school children on pedestrian field trips; Jackson and Cotton accepted this amendment. The motion carried unanimously.

Mayer requested that staff investigate whether there is a need for funds to be used for the purchase of bicycle helmets for the DPS program that distributes helmets through a safety class.

4. Pedestrian Safety/Opportunities Study – Work Plan Development

Higgins presented the staff report.

Wolnik suggested the work plan include a section on access paths.

Jackson suggested the work plan include an education component for both motorists and pedestrians, and that it discuss the need for curb cuts and red “no parking” curb painting at the access path locations. Jackson also suggested that the work plan include a pedestrian map, similar to the bike map.

Mayer recommended that the work plan identify a product that includes one list of prioritized projects. Mayer also recommended that the Committee be involved in the development of the methodology, including determining a formula to be used for scoring of project priority.

NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS

• BPAC ORAL COMMENTS 

Wolnik noted that bike licensing may be an appropriate topic for a future BPAC utility bill insert.

 

Cotton noted that there is a need for sidewalks around several doctor offices near the intersections of Mathilda and California and Sobrante. The Committee requested that staff investigate potential Sunnyvale Municipal Code violations at the nursery site located on the corner of Mathilda and California.

 

Cotton also requested an update on the status of the Sunnyvale Caltrain bike locker issue. Mayer requested that this item be placed on the upcoming agenda and subsequent agendas as a general business item until it is resolved.

 

Jackson noted that he has distributed information at several recent transportation fairs, and found a significant interest in bike/train commuting. He is concerned that the misuse of bike lockers so that they are not available for proper use will discourage this commute choice. Jackson also noted that the repeat offender for the Library bike lockers is misusing the lockers again.

 

Jackson also discussed the Wolfe Road Bike Route project, which recently went before the City Council for a bid award. Jackson requested a copy of the Sharrow report from San Francisco. He also discussed Council’s requirement that this project undergo a one-year review. Jackson stated that the focus of the report should not only address bicycle safety, but also how well the project attracts new bicyclists. Therefore, it will be important to obtain accurate bicycle counts prior to the project installation; Jackson also suggested the use of outside consulting services for this review.

 

Mayer requested that staff provide an update of the bicycle- and pedestrian-related projects that have gone before the City Council during the last month. Staff discussed the City Council action on the following projects: Connect North and South Sunnyvale for Bicyclists; Appointment to Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)

 

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee; Authorization to File Fiscal Year 2004/05 Transportation Development Act Article Three Applications for Pedestrian and Bicycle Projects.

 

Mayer inquired about the status of the request for bid for the Calabazas Creek Trail project. Staff will provide an update at the upcoming meeting.

STAFF ORAL COMMENTS

Higgins thanked Wolnik for her service on the BPAC, as this is her last meeting as a Committee member.

INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS 

Jackson expressed concern over the timeline for the preliminary engineering study for the Bernardo Under-crossing project, and whether it will still be eligible for Tier 1 funding.

Mayer expressed concern over the timeline for the Borregas Bridges project, and requested an update on the most current status of this project at the next meeting. Mayer is also concerned about losing the funding for this project due to the funding restrictions, and asked what can be done to get the project to a complete stage sooner.

ADJOURNMENT

Wolnik moved, and Cotton seconded, a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 9:15.

Respectfully submitted,

Tanya Higgins

Casual Professional