Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes - Final Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Thursday, August 17, 2017 6:30 PM West Conference Room, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CALL TO ORDER Chair Cordes called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chair Cordes led the salute to the flag. ROLL CALL Present 7 - Chair John Cordes Vice Chair Timothy Oey Commissioner Catherine Barry Commissioner Susan Bremond Commissioner Angela Rausch Commissioner Scott Swail Commissioner Kyle Welch Commissioner Welch arrived at 6:35 p.m. (late arrival) Council Liaison attendance: Russ Melton (present) ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Russ Melton, Council Member Liaison, announced award of contract for bicycle green pavement marking installation at several locations during Tuesday, August 15, City Council meeting and discussed the Brown Act Policies and public meeting procedures. Commissioner Oey announced Friends of Stevens Creek Trailblazer race with free kid races on Sunday, September 24. Cindy Hart, a Sunnyvale Resident and a member of Next Door, spoke on behalf of herself and her neighbors. She said they do not feel safe walking at the intersection of East Fremont Avenue and Manet Drive/Bobwhite Avenue, where there was a City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final August 17, 2017 Commission recent fatality involving a car and a pedestrian. She said they have communicated their concerns but there has been no action taken. She would like to know if there was a safety report taken after the incident and if so, is it open for residents to view. Chair Cordes advised Ms. Hart that the correct way to route operational questions is through staff or the City website. Kevin Jackson, a member of the public, mentioned that he spoke with Dave Simons, VTA/BPAC representative, and that the big item at the last meeting was pedestrian access to transit and that VTA is considering his suggestion to add a connection from the Mary Avenue overcrossing to the John W. Christian Greenbelt Trail. Mr. Jackson also stated that Homestead High School will have a bike stampede on Monday, August 21, and that they need more volunteers. He concluded with his concerns regarding the reduced parking requirements for accessory dwelling units and urged the Commissioners to attend the upcoming Planning Commission Meeting on September 11. Chair Cordes announced that on August 31, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the Street Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) Volunteer Team will be meeting at 815 West Iowa Street if anyone would like to attend. CONSENT CALENDAR 1a. 17-0800 Approve the Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes of July 20, 2017 Commissioner Oey requested to pull the Consent Calendar and change the order of items 3 and 4. Commissioner Barry also noted that the water bottles donated for State of the City were donated by Sports Basement, not Sprouts, as noted in the Minutes. Commissioner Oey moved to approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes as amended. Commissioner Barry seconded the motion. The motion carried by the following vote: City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final August 17, 2017 Commission Yes 7 - Chair Cordes Vice Chair Oey Commissioner Barry Commissioner Bremond Commissioner Rausch Commissioner Swail Commissioner Welch No 0 PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2. 17-0785 Nomination of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Representative to the Climate Action Plan (CAP 2.0) Advisory Committee (CAC) Nominate one BPAC representative to serve on the CAC Commissioner Oey nominated Chair Cordes. Chair Cordes accepted the nomination. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes 6 - Vice Chair Oey Commissioner Barry Commissioner Bremond Commissioner Rausch Commissioner Swail Commissioner Welch No 0 Abstain 1 - Chair Cordes 3. 17-0811 Caltrain Grade Separation Ria Hutabarat-Lo, Transportation and Traffic Manager, along with Natalina Bernardi and Luis Garcia from BKF Engineers gave a presentation on the Caltrain Grade Separation at Mary Avenue and Sunnyvale Avenue and then took questions from the Commissioners and members of the public. Part A: Mary Avenue Commissioner Bremond raised the question about visibility in the Mary Avenue underpass. Ms. Bernardi stated the soffit of the bridge would be lit. Commissioner City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final August 17, 2017 Commission Bremond also suggested incorporating a Class IV bike lane and expressed her concern regarding the speed of cars. Ms. Bernardi stated that the curve on the jug handle onto Evelyn will decrease the speed of the cars. Commissioner Bremond suggested a no turn on red as well so cars would have to slow down. Commissioner Oey stated that he is in favor of the jug handle and the grade separated bicycle pedestrian combination to keep bicycles safe. Commissioner Welch raised the question about traveling on Mary Avenue and making a left onto Evelyn Avenue. Ms. Bernardi explained in order to do so, you would need to use the jug handle. It would increase the distance for bikes just a bit but it is a short off set. Chair Cordes is in favor of the split level and would a Class I bike path under the bridge and agrees with the jug handle design as the most logical choice. Commissioner Swail asked for clarification of the distance of the roadway on Mary Avenue and how far would it extend and entry to and from for residential and commercial along that stretch of road. Ms. Bernardi stated Carson Avenue to California Avenue would be impacted. Commissioner Swail also asked if blind spots would be addressed. Ms. Bernardi stated the safety aspects would be looked at in final design. Mr. Jackson questioned whether or not the depressed railroad at Mary Avenue would work with the Bernardo Avenue undercrossing . He also asked for clarification as to why there more travel lanes in one direction than in the other on Mary Avenue and Evelyn Avenue. Ms. Bernardi stated the jug handle on Mary would eliminate the turn lanes at the Mary Avenue and Evelyn Avenue intersection. Ms. Hutabarat-Lo stated the diagram reflects what lanes are already there but that it would be re-assessed. George Hamma, member of the public, wanted to know if there was information regarding flow of traffic and timing of lights at Evelyn Avenue and Mary Avenue. Chair Cordes stated that they do have that information. Part B: Sunnyvale Avenue Commissioner Oey likes the idea of a bike channel and stated there is a lot of bicycle traffic/bicycle commuters at Sunnyvale Avenue and Evelyn Avenue so a City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final August 17, 2017 Commission smooth connection through that intersection is important. He also likes the idea of closing Sunnyvale Avenue to car traffic. Chair Cordes stated he is in favor of the tunnel option as well as closing Sunnyvale Avenue. Mr. Jackson is in favor of the bicycle pedestrian undercrossing option. STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES 4. 17-0807 Prohibit use of Bicycle Shared Lane Markings (sharrows) on roadways with posted speeds of 30 MPH and above Commissioner Bremmond questioned why the study issue was set for speeds greater than 25 MPH. Commissioner Oey responded; since residential streets are 25 MPH, bicyclists would not slow traffic much. For speeds of 30 MPH and above, it becomes a more aggressive environment. In addition, traffic is generally higher on streets with higher speed limits. Mr. Jackson conveyed his concerns regarding sharrows. He said they were intended to be used as a last resort and wants to make sure they are not seen as an easy way out when there is a better solution available. Commissioner Oey moved and commissioner Welch seconded the motion to make item 17-0807 a study issue. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes 7 - Chair Cordes Vice Chair Oey Commissioner Barry Commissioner Bremond Commissioner Rausch Commissioner Swail Commissioner Welch No 0 5. 17-0808 Permanently close Murphy Avenue between Evelyn Avenue and Washington Avenue to all vehicle traffic Commissioner Bremond is proposing this study issue to look at the safety of the current design of parallel parking as it relates to sidewalk diners and the ability for pedestrians to move easily among the businesses. Vehicles do not have enough City of Sunnyvale Page 5 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final August 17, 2017 Commission space to safely enter and exit parking spaces without endangering diners at tables on the sidewalk. Commissioner Oey added that there is no clearance to park a bike and bike racks get blocked in by the cars parked on the street, so this would be a good solution to alleviate this issue. Chair Cordes inquired about the current parking spaces and whether they would become spaces for tables, if so, there might be some zoning issues to look into. He also suggested Commissioner Bremond talk with the Downtown Association to get their input on this issue. Mr. Jackson conveyed that he likes the idea of Murphy Avenue being closed off to automobiles, but that a bicycle and pedestrian street option would be better than limiting it to just pedestrians. Mr. Hamma suggested having some parking available for loading and un-loading near retail. Commissioner Bremond moved and Commissioner Oey seconded the motion to make item 17-0808 a study issue. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes 7 - Chair Cordes Vice Chair Oey Commissioner Barry Commissioner Bremond Commissioner Rausch Commissioner Swail Commissioner Welch No 0 6. 17-0812 DPW 16-03 Develop a Centralized Database for Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects Commissioner Oey stated an updated Active Items list would serve the same purpose. Mr. Jackson stated the Active Items list does not have OBAG projects. Also, the Capital Projects Quarterly report is not enough to provide project updates. He would like to see more information in the reports and have them more accessible to the public. City of Sunnyvale Page 6 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final August 17, 2017 Commission 7. 17-0813 DPW 17-06 Alternative Parking Strategies Mr. Jackson urged the Commissioners to move forward with this study issue and expressed his concerns about street parking getting more consideration than safe bike accommodations. 8. 17-0814 DPW 17-10 Street Maintenance Roadway Re-Allocation Mr. Jackson urged the Commissioners to move forward with this study issue and suggested that it would be helpful for BPAC to get updated reports on streets being maintained and the analysis on how street space policies were implemented. Chair Cordes motioned and Commissioner Bremond seconded the motion to have the Bicycle Master Plan updated every 6 years as a potential study issue. Commissioner Oey moved and Commissioner Welch seconded the motion to develop an ordinance for clear and accessible bike parking as a potential study issue. Commissioner Oey moved and Chair Cordes seconded the motion to have bike sharing as a potential study issue. Commissiner Oey moved and Commissioner Barry seconded the motion to have an on-going bike matrix that will show what streets are and are not considered Complete Streets as a potential study issue. Commissioner Oey moved and Chair Cordes seconded the motion to have Bike Boxes as a potential study issue. NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments Commissioner Oey expressed his concerns about bicycle safety around construction sites and would like to know what policies, if any, are in place. Ralph Garcia, Senior Transportation Engineer, said there are standard practices that make accommodations for bicylces and pedestrians and he would get that information for the Commissioners. Commissioner Oey requested to have a presentation from staff on Complete City of Sunnyvale Page 7 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final August 17, 2017 Commission Streets, as well as a full length East-West Channel feasability study. Mr. Garcia will look into it. He also asked Mr. Garcia the status of the Commissioners name tags. Mr. Garcia will order name tags for anyone who does not already have one. Commissoner Oey also conveyed the following: -The bike parking at the State of the City went very well, but he would like more volunteer help in the future. -The Bike Summit he attended also went well and was very informative. -The El Camino Real Plan Advisory Committee (ECRPAC) meeting will be Thursday, August, 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Sunnyvale Senior Center. - The Mountain View Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Hearing will be Thursday, September 7, at 6:30 p.m. at Sunnyvale City Hall. -He completed training on mapping for Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) and can now train others. -He recommended having a BPAC Commissioner on the VTA BPAC Commission. Commissioner Barry asked if the Commissioners could get information on upcoming presentations before the meetings. Mr. Garcia replied that due to the time constraints of the agenda, most presentations are not completed until the meeting date. Chair Cordes encouraged Commissioners to sign up to be on the mailing list for other BPAC Meetings and attend the meetings in order to see what they are working on. -Staff Comments Mr. Garcia announced there will be a Community Meeting focusing on Sunnyvale Avenue Railroad grade separation on August 24, and that all commissions are welcome. He also reminded the Commissioners to submit ideas for the Bike Plan to be included in the upcoming Bicycle Plan update. In conclusion he announced that moving forward, BPAC meetings will be held in the City Council Chambers, starting in September. City of Sunnyvale Page 8 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final August 17, 2017 Commission INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS 17-0809 Active Items List - August 2017 17-0810 BPAC 2017 Annual Work Plan ADJOURNMENT Chair Cordes adjourned the meeting at 9:07 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 9