Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board

Municipal Service Center City of Santa Rosa South 69 Stony Circle Conference Room 5 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes - Final Thursday, April 20, 2023 4:00 PM 4:00 PM 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Badenfort called the hybrid meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. (Board Member Prindle arrived at 4:04 p.m.) (Board Member McKenzie arrived at 4:08 p.m.) Present 8 - Chair Kim Badenfort, Vice Chair Elizabeth Ridlington, Board Member Doug McKenzie, Board Member Dylan Prindle, Board Member Paul Schwarz, Board Member Paul Schwarz, Board Member Emily Kyle, and Board Member Tanya Narath Absent 1 - Board Member Tony Geraldi 2. STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION BY BOARD MEMBERS None. 3. COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS BY BOARD MEMBERS Vice Chair Ridlington inquired if all the Board positions were currently filled. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 4.1 January 19, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Board Member Narath, seconded by Board Member Schwarz, approved as submitted. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 5 - Chair Badenfort, Vice Chair Ridlington, Board Member Schwarz, Board Member Kyle and Board Member Narath Excused: 2 - Board Member McKenzie and Board Member Prindle Absent: 1 - Board Member Geraldi 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA MATTERS Dwayne DeWitt thanked everyone for having an in-person meeting, City of Santa Rosa Regular Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 6 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Regular Meeting Minutes - Final April 20, 2023 Board spoke about the Roseland Creek Concept Plan and asked the City to re-open the 20 year old plan, and expressed concern with heavy traffic near schools and children being safe either walking or riding bikes. Eris Weaver noted some noise issues on Zoom, and stated that May is Bike Month and there are lots of activities planned, and thanked staff for their assistance with picking up and transporting bike racks for the Earth Day event. 6. REPORT ITEMS 6.1 REPORT - Vice Chair Election BACKGROUND: The Board may elect a Vice Chair to serve a one-year term. RECOMMENDATION: The Board shall, by motion, elect a Vice Chair to serve a one-year term. PUBLIC COMMENTS Dwayne DeWitt inquired about the open Board position. Eris Weaver stated there is still a noise issue on Zoom. A motion was made by Board Member Schwarz, and seconded by Board Member McKenzie, to nominate current Vice Chair Ridlington for another one-year term as Vice Chair, who accepted the nomination. As no other nominations were made, the Board elected Vice Chair Ridlington to serve a one-year term as Vice Chair. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7 - Chair Badenfort, Vice Chair Ridlington, Board Member McKenzie, Board Member Prindle, Board Member Schwarz, Board Member Kyle and Board Member Narath Absent: 1 - Board Member Geraldi 6.2 REPORT - General Plan Update - Santa Rosa Forward Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Goals and Policies BACKGROUND: Staff will provide a draft of Santa Rosa General Plan 2050 Bicycle and Pedestrian Goals and Policies and seek feedback from the Board. City of Santa Rosa Regular Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 6 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Regular Meeting Minutes - Final April 20, 2023 Board RECOMMENDATION: This item is for Board discussion. No action is required. PUBLIC COMMENTS Dwayne DeWitt commented in favor of the new approach, mentioned the Roseland Creek Path, and asked for more collaboration and engagement in the Roseland community. Ken McNab wanted to bring attention to the Santa Rosa Avenue Corridor area, from Highway 12 to Todd Road and south, and asked that the area be kept in mind in planning. Chris Guenther spoke in favor of the emphasis on VMT and the centrality of goal for a safe and continued low stress network. He said there is a need to support the goal more assertively and specifically, and would like to see more of a commitment to low stress facilities with the best available standards; adoption of better metrics; better funding allocations to active transportation; and more sophisticated analysis of outcomes for equity. Cris Eggers spoke in favor of the connectivity in the plan and the need for more north/south access and connectivity, she stated that Class 4 bike lanes should be the default in the plan, and direct access and connectivity is needed for bikes from bike trails/paths to SMART and other forms of transit. Minona Heaviland appreciated the work on the plan, would like to see it carried further with clear, implement-able policies; connectivity especially to schools, work, libraries; to increase funding for bike and pedestrian infrastructure and have more resources allocated; and more emphasis on Vision Zero to lower speeds. Andy Rich asked for a better way to resolve the conflict of the needs of the local community and the needs of the broader community; requested to have specific goals for Class 4 bike lanes; and more respect to need of bike safety in regards to Fire Department access. City of Santa Rosa Regular Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 6 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Regular Meeting Minutes - Final April 20, 2023 Board Adrian Covert stated he is a housing advocate, not a bike advocate, and feels there is an opportunity to address bicycle safety; to concentrate on mileage goals for Class 4 bike lanes and specific mode shifts; and to collaborate with the Fire Department regarding access issues. Evan Wiig thanked the staff for the work and for making this a priority, and encouraged thinking of biking as a mode of transportation; the importance of connectivity and safety of bike lanes; and encouraged collaboration with the housing element of the plan. Eris Weaver stated TA2 is the most important element of this plan to prioritize active transportation, and would be happy if this is actualized and implemented. Jenny Bard supported all of the previous speakers and their suggestions; wants to reframe how we talk to the community and refer to people who like to ride bikes; the need for safe and connected and low stress as goals, and ways to make it happen; to reduce vehicle speeds and make it more comfortable to ride bikes; and suggested a possible pilot project on key corridors for protected bike lanes to get the process going. This item was received and filed. 6.3 REPORT - Bicycle Friendly Community Designation Application - 2023 Bicycle Friendly Business Designation Application - 2023 BACKGROUND: The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board may support submitting a Bicycle Friendly Community Application & Bicycle Friendly Business Application. RECOMMENDATION: No Action Required. The Board may support working with staff to submit a Bicycle Friendly Community Application and a Bicycle Friendly Business Application for 2023. PUBLIC COMMENT Cris Eggers stated she would rather see efforts focused on working City of Santa Rosa Regular Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 6 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Regular Meeting Minutes - Final April 20, 2023 Board on Class 4 bike lanes and connectivity rather than filling out applications, and that this is not meaningful as a bicyclist. Chris Guenther spoke in favor of the concept; can see goals in the methodology and may useful as a tool to measure performance, but is concerned this is a marketing tool. Dwayne DeWitt spoke about growing up in Roseland and being able to ride a bicycle safely to Montgomery Village as a child. He stated he would like to see the terms "must" and "shall" used in planning. This item was received and filed. A motion was made by Board Member Narath, seconded by Board Member Schwarz, to establish an ad hoc committee to work with staff on the application for Bicycle Friendly Community Designation. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Vice Chair Ridlington, seconded by Board Member McKenzie, to establish an ad hoc committee to work with staff on the application for Bicycle Friendly Business Designation. The motion carried unanimously. The ad hoc committee will consist of Board Member Narath and Board Member Kyle. 6.4 REPORT - Hearn Avenue Interchange BACKGROUND: Staff will introduce and seek feedback on final design concepts for Hearn Avenue Interchange. RECOMMENDATION: This item is for Board discussion and input on the Hearn Avenue Interchange. Due to time constraints, this item was continued to the May 18, 2023 meeting. 7. CHAIR/BOARD MEMBERS' ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Badenfort announced that Mayor Rogers has re-appointed him as Chair of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board. Board Member McKenzie provided an update on his health. City of Santa Rosa Regular Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 6 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Regular Meeting Minutes - Final April 20, 2023 Board 8. STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS - Staff gave an update on AB43. - The open position on the Board is the Disabled Community Representative. - We have selected the Transportation Planner and they are set to start on May 30. - The next meeting will be on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. 9. ADJOURNMENT OF REGULAR MEETING Chair Badenfort adjourned the hybrid meeting at 6:03 p.m. Approved on: _______________________________ A. Scheblik Recording Secretary