May 16, 2006
SUBJECT: Appointment to Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
REPORT IN BRIEF
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) requests that the City of Sunnyvale appoint its representative to the VTA’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) for the new term beginning July 1, 2006 (Attachment A: Letter from VTA).
At its May 4, 2006 meeting the Sunnyvale BPAC recommended appointment of Mr. David Simons to serve as the Sunnyvale’s appointee on the VTA BPAC.
BACKGROUND
The City Council annually appoints Councilmembers to a variety of intergovernmental agencies in order to represent the City’s interests and to influence policies and regulations of other agencies. At its discretion, the Council may also appoint non-Councilmembers to represent the City’s interest. (See excerpt from Council Policy 7.3.12 below)
Attachment B is a list of the 2006 Council Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Committee Assignments, including this new community member assignment.
EXISTING POLICY
Land Use and Transportation Element, Goal R1.3.1 – Participate in intergovernmental activities related to regional and sub-regional land use and transportation planning in order to advance the City’s interests.
Council Policy 7.3.12 – City Council Appointments to Intergovernmental Agencies, City Council Subcommittees and Council or Mayor-Created Advisory Task Forces. Excerpt:
F3. City Council appointment of a non-Councilmember to an IGR assignment:
The City Council may, on occasion, appoint a non-Councilmember to represent the City's interest on an intergovernmental body. These appointments must be made as part of a noticed agenda item at a regular meeting. In those circumstances:
A. Staff support is not provided to non-Councilmembers who serve on an intergovernmental body, although a staff member liaison will be designated by the City Manager.
B. Non-Councilmembers serving on intergovernmental bodies shall provide a summary written report to the entire City Council and the City Manager after each intergovernmental agency meeting they attend.
The staff liaison for this assignment would be Jack Witthaus, Transportation and Traffic Manager, Department of Public Works.
DISCUSSION
The VTA is a regional transportation agency responsible for major transportation capital improvements, transit service, and state, federal, and regional funding allocations in Santa Clara County. The VTA BPAC is a sixteen-member committee that advises VTA’s Board of Directors on planning and funding issues for bicycle and pedestrian projects. Sunnyvale has one membership position on this committee. The VTA BPAC bylaws specify that each member is appointed to a two-year term and that representatives may be re-appointed to consecutive terms. The VTA bylaws also stipulate that the Sunnyvale appointee must be a member of Sunnyvale’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), shall live, work or both in Santa Clara County during their term, and cannot be City of Sunnyvale staff.
The term for Sunnyvale’s current BPAC representative, Mr. David Simons, expires on June 30, 2006. Should Council wish to re-appoint Mr. Simons, VTA has again granted an exception to the requirement that Sunnyvale’s appointment must be a member of the Sunnyvale BPAC. VTA notes in their appointment request letter, Attachment A, that Mr. Simons is a member in good standing, has served the VTA BPAC well, and is eligible for re-appointment. Mr. Simons is not currently an active member of the Sunnyvale BPAC. At its May 4, 2006 meeting, the Sunnyvale BPAC was made aware of VTA’s re-appointment exception, and recommended re-appointment of Mr. Simons to serve as Sunnyvale’s appointee on the VTA BPAC.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to this report.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City’s web page, publication of the Council agenda in the San Jose Mercury News, and the availability of the report in the Library and the City Clerk’s Office.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Council re-appoints Mr. David Simons to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
2. Council appoints another member of Sunnyvale’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
3. Council takes no action at this time.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Alternative 1: Council re-appoints Mr. David Simons to the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
Reviewed by:
Robert Walker
Assistant City Manager
Prepared by: Coryn Campbell, Manager, Neighborhood and Community Resources
Approved by:
Amy Chan
City Manager
Attachments
A. Letter dated March 1, 2006 from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to Amy Chan (.pdf)
B. 2006 Council IGR Committee Assignments (.xls)