Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission

City of Sunnyvale Meeting Minutes - Final Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Thursday, February 20, 2020 6:30 PM Council Chambers, City Hall, 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086 CALL TO ORDER Chair Mehlinger called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Chair Mehlinger led the salute to the flag. ROLL CALL Present 6 - Chair Richard Mehlinger Vice Chair John Cordes Commissioner Arwen Davé Commissioner Dan Hafeman Commissioner Timothy Oey Commissioner Scott Swail Absent 1 - Commissioner Leia Mehlman Commissioner Leia Mehlman absence is excused. Council Liaison Michael Goldman (absent) ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Ralph Kenton, member of the public, commented on the increasing safety issues on Sunnyvale streets after dark. Mr. Kenton listed the safety precautions that are currently being used by bicyclist. Mr. Kenton suggested to the BPAC to: 1. Initiate a comprehensive educational safety program. 2. Study and strengthen the existing ordinances. 3. Provide basic safety kits for those who cannot afford these minimal essentials. 4. Develop a study issue to cover all these points. Dave Simons, VTA BPAC Representative, commented on in addition to safety education program for bicyclists, we need one for pedestrians as well. City of Sunnyvale Page 1 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final February 20, 2020 Commission CONSENT CALENDAR Vice Chair Cordes moved and Commissioner Oey seconded to approve item 1A. The motion carried the following vote: Yes 6 - Chair Mehlinger Vice Chair Cordes Commissioner Davé Commissioner Hafeman Commissioner Oey Commissioner Swail No 0 Absent 1 - Commissioner Mehlman 1.A 20-0274 Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission Meeting Minutes of January 16, 2020. Approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission Meeting Minutes of January 16, 2020 as submitted. PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS 2 20-0309 Report and Discussion of Recent Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) Meeting Dave Simons, VTA BPAC Representative, stated that the monthly VTA meeting was cancelled and therefore nothing to report. 3 20-0310 Discussion on Design Concepts for 2020 Utility Bill Insert Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer, discussed the 2020 Utility Bill Inserts. Ms.Tsang explained that the insert will be attached to the July/August Utility bill so the final design will have to be completed by June. Commissioner Oey made the following comments: - Would like to educate drivers that bicyclists may use full lane - Wear brighter clothing while cycling or walking at night - Better street lighting is needed - Remind people to come and talk to the BPAC - Would like to see a new set of inserts rather than one used last year City of Sunnyvale Page 2 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final February 20, 2020 Commission Commissioner Hafeman made the following comments: - Emphasize the right turn rules - Emphasize to pedestrians to look for bicyclists and cars before they step into the crosswalk - Questioned if the HAWK Beacon flyer should be emphasized since there is only one HAWK Beacon in Sunnyvale and 90% of the public will not be using it Vice Chair Cordes made the following comments: - Emphasized how important the HAWK Beacon flyer is - Update the HAWK Beacon flyer with a Sunnyvale picture - Change the wording in the HAWK Beacon flyer to say "How to obey a HAWK Beacon" instead of "How does a HAWK Beacon operate" - Would like staff to look into making the insert larger Commissioner Swail made the following comments: - Add to the HAWK Beacon insert that pedestrians and bicyclist should wear high visibility clothing - Add to the HAWK Beacon insert that pedestrians and bicyclist should look both ways before crossing Commissioner Davé made the following comments: - What are the limitations on the inserts? - Add wording to educate drivers on cyclist and pedestrian side Ms.Tsang will look into the City's policies on the insert size. Chair Mehlinger made the following comments: - Explained his concerns about adding dark clothing wording to the flyer - Agreed with Vice Chair Cordes to use the HAWK Beacon flyer and change the wording to "How to obey a HAWK Beacon" Chair Mehlinger stated the four suggested topics for the inserts by the BPAC: 1. Re-use the 2019 right turn insert 2. HAWK Beacon with slight adjustments made by Vice Chair Cordes 3. Bicycle may use full lane 4. Visibility, ride and walk and be seen and be safe BPAC directed staff on what to include for the inserts. City of Sunnyvale Page 3 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final February 20, 2020 Commission 4 20-0311 Discussion on Projects for Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 Application Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer, gave a description on what the Projects for Transportation Development Act Grant entail for FY 19/20. Sunnyvale applied the TDA Article 3 Grant for the Pedestrian/Bike Safety Improvements at the intersection of Fremont Avenue and Manet Drive/Bobwhite Avenue. However, the FY 19/20 grant amount is for design only. Staff recommends to file for the FY 20/21 TDA Article 3 Grant application for the construction of the project. Commissioner Oey made the following comments: - Are there any other sources of funds available to finish the construction work? - Will all the funds be consumed or will there be any leftover? - Is there a list of other projects that are eligible for this fund? Ms. Tsang stated that they will be using mostly Grant funds and consuming all of the funds. Ms. Tsang also stated that there is currently not a list but that this fund is used for pedestrian and bicycle projects. Chair Mehlinger asked if there are any details available about what the improvements to Fremont, Manet and Bobwhite would be? Ms. Tsang stated that in the Vision Zero Plan, there was a conceptual drawing for improvements at this location. Craig Pasek, member of the public, stated that on Sunnyvale Avenue from Maude Avenue to Evelyn Avenue there is currently no bike lane. Mr. Pasek recommended having a bike lane installed on Sunnyvale Avenue. Ms. Tsang stated that the City received an Active Transportation Program Grant for implementing Safe Routes to School Improvements and part of that grant is to explore the on-street parking removal on Sunnyvale Avenue to install a Class II bike lane. Staff will prepare a detailed description of the project and include it in next month's agenda package. Vice Chair Cordes moved and Commissioner Oey seconded the motion to support the staff's recommendation. The motion carried the following vote: City of Sunnyvale Page 4 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final February 20, 2020 Commission Yes 6 - Chair Mehlinger Vice Chair Cordes Commissioner Davé Commissioner Hafeman Commissioner Oey Commissioner Swail No 0 Absent 1 - Commissioner Mehlman STANDING ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF POTENTIAL STUDY ISSUES Ms. Tsang reminded the BPAC Commission that there is a form to fill out if they have a proposed study issue. Ms. Tsang can provided the form if needed. Commissioner Hafeman requested for the form to be sent out again. Ms. Tsang will send the form to the BPAC. NON-AGENDA ITEMS & COMMENTS -Commissioner Comments Vice Chair Cordes commented on the Measure B Bicycle and Pedestrian Competitive Grant and the Measure B Education and Encouragement fund application. Mr. Cordes requested that the BPAC has the opportunity to comment on the application staff plans to apply for. Chair Mehlinger made the following comments: - Agreed with Vice Chair Cordes and stated that the BPAC should be able to comment on grant application staff prepares. - Thanked Mr. Pasek on his comments on Sunnyvale/Borregas and stated that it is hard to navigate around Sunnyvale/Maude and Borregas/Maude. - To add a crosswalk at California Street and Pajaro Avenue Ms. Tsang stated that project #834490 is to install an enhanced crosswalk on California Street at Pajaro Avenue. Commissioner Oey made the following comments: - The challenges of bicycling on Sunnyvale/Maude and Borregas/Maude Ms. Tsang stated that the Maude Avenue Streetscape Project is currently under City of Sunnyvale Page 5 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final February 20, 2020 Commission construction, which will modify the Sunnyvale/Maude intersection and remove the pork chop islands. Ms. Tsang stated that staff is working on a second Active Transportation Grant to implement bicycle and pedestrian improvements as well as converting the Class II bike lane on Borregas Avenue between Maude Avenue and the pedestrian bridge to a buffered bike lane. Commissioner Hafeman made the following comment: - Carson/Mary Avenue needs a crosswalk such as a HAWK Beacon Commissioner Davé made the following comments: - Is there a law to provide temporary crosswalks for pedestrians when there is construction work around schools? - Suggests doing construction in phases so both sides of the crosswalks are not blocked due to construction. Vice Chair Cordes made the following comments: - City's can pass ordinances that require how temporary traffic diversions are done. - Deadline to submit ideas for topics for the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition Bicycle Summit in August is March 31, 2020. Chair Mehlinger commented on the Downtown Specific Plan in particular the inclusion of Mathilda Avenue as part of the bicycle circulation plan for the Downtown Specific Plan. -Staff Comments Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer, made the following comments: - Discussion of the Measure B Education and Encouragement Program - Clarification from the January 16, 2020 BPAC meeting where Commissioner Dave Simons mentioned a VTA staff would like to recommend that the Capital Bicycle and Pedestrian Project List be removed. Sunnyvale staff reached out to VTA staff for clarification, and was informed that staff was discussing eliminating the Bicycle Expenditure Program (BEP) list. This list was created in 2013. Since then, a new list was created in 2016 as part of the Measure B funding. - Resource cards were handed out to each BPAC Commissioner; they can distribute them to the public. - Deadline to apply for the spring recruitment for the Board and Commission is on April 30, 2020. - Maude Avenue Streetscape project will be completed in 5 months. - Carribean Drive Parking and Trail Access Enhancements project has started City of Sunnyvale Page 6 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Meeting Minutes - Final February 20, 2020 Commission - Draft Active Transportation Plan will be released in early March - There will be a City Council Study Issue and Budget Workshop on February 27, 2020 at 8:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Vice Chair Cordes requested to have staff send the budget request for capital projects from staff in the March or April meeting. INFORMATION ONLY REPORTS/ITEMS 20-0312 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee 2020 Annual Work Plan Vice Chair Cordes will do the presentation at the April 16, 2020 BPAC meeting on the City of Santa Clara Bicycle Master Plan Update impact on Lawrence Station Area. 20-0313 Active Items List - February 2020 Vice Chair Cordes asked about the update for the Homestead Study. Ms. Tsang addressed his question. ADJOURNMENT Chair Mehlinger adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m. City of Sunnyvale Page 7