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Home My WebLink About03-08-2017 MTC Minutes FINALMinutes - FINAL MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE Wednesday, March 8, 2017 Meeting of the Mass Transportation Committee CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Mass Transportation Committee was called to order on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Thyne. ROLL CALL Present: Committee Members Elizabeth Thyne (Chair - Senior), John Osumi (Vice Chair – Business), Cheryl Andrus (Cal Poly), Denise Martinez (Disabled), Louise Justice (Member at Large), James Thompson (Technical), Justin Frentzel (Student), David Figueroa (Alternate), Diego-Christopher Lopez (Alternate) Absent: None Staff: Transit Manager Gamaliel Anguiano, Transit Assistant Megan Cutler, Recording Secretary Lareina Gamboa PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Andy Pease, Council Member, gives a personal introduction to staff and committee. She expresses appreciation for the work of everyone on the committee, and is happy to be available to help and support the committee. ANNOUNCEMENTS None. MINUTES Amendment to Minutes of the Mass Transportation Committee meeting on January 11, 2017 for the following: •Agenda Item #2, page 3, last paragraph, correction of “amongst” to among •Discussion Item #4, page 4, second paragraph correction to Transit Assistant Cutler’s name. FINAL Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Meeting of March 8, 2017 Page 2 •Discussion Item #4, page 4, last paragraph, correction of “following thorough inspection, likely within the next couple weeks,” to following a thorough inspection, likely within the next couple of weeks. •Discussion Item #4, page 4, correction to a few word tenses from present to past throughout the five paragraphs. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER OSUMI, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ANDRUS, CARRIED 7-0, to approve the Minutes of the Mass Transportation Committee Meeting on January 11, 2017. ACTION ITEMS 1.MTC Bylaw Changes The Clerk’s office requests all committees to present any possible changes, recommendations, substitutions, or improvements to Committee Bylaws 30 days prior to their May 1 finalization date. Committee Member Thyne suggests the following changes: •Article IV, Readings-A: “The committee will hold a regular meeting at least quarterly”, change to “the committee will hold a meeting every other month, six times a year.” •Article IV, Readings-C: “meetings will be open to the public and will be held at the Community Development conference room, downstairs of City Hall or other previously announced locations”, change to specify “the Council Hearing room”, where the meetings are regularly held. •Article VI, Officers: “The officers will consist of a procured Chairperson and Vice Chairperson who will be elected at the committee meeting in June”, clarification on June to May as that is when the meeting is held. Committee Member Lopez inquires about the Alternates’ title and place among the committee. Can they be considered At Large members, and why are other committees without Alternates? He is concerned for future Alternates and future committees informally acknowledging the Alternates’ role and input. This leads to discussion and questions in regards to representation across the community (finding representation for the pre-college aged students, as well as the homeless). Further questioning includes: who will represent them? Will students need to miss school for meetings? Will they need parent consent if under 18 years old? If Alternates are transitioned will it throw off the quorum balance? Should there be an alternate per represented group as to have someone knowledgeable enough to step in when necessary? Will this result in an unmanageable committee? Committee Member Thyne (as well as other committee members) voices the importance of the Alternates’ input, and considers a terminology change. Council Member Pease will research the history of the Alternate member, as well as the At Large member specifics and will report back to the committee. FINAL Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Meeting of March 8, 2017 Page 3 Transit Manager Anguiano suggests that upon initiating new committee members, that the new member receive a 31-day pass. This will allow any future committee members, who may not be familiar with the San Luis Obispo Transit system, a first-hand experience. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER OSUMI, SECONDED BY COMMITTEE MEMBER THOMPSON, CARRIED 6-1 WITH OPPOSITION FROM COMMITTEE MEMBER FRENTZEL, to table the discussion about the committee make- up until further information is presented, but to go forward with the other decisions that can be made within their ability to do so presently and make formal recommendations (in regards to Committee Member Thyne and Transit Manager Anguiano’s suggestions), as well as schedule a special meeting, if necessary, for the committee make-up. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1.Downtown Concept Plan (Presentation) Rebecca Gershow, Associate Planner for the Community Development Department, presents the Draft for the Downtown Concept Plan development. The overall Concept Plan is to improve access for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders, with emphasis on pedestrians and bicyclists, while providing adequate parking structures. The core of the changes are embodied by Mill (North side), Pismo (South side), Pepper, and Johnson (East side), and Marsh, Higuera, and the 101 on ramp (West side). The plans in correlation with transit involve the following: The planning principles of enhanced mobility, which involves enhancing Downtown walkability, and universal accessibility (this includes pedestrians who are rather immobile, as well as bicyclists, and transit riders). Also, to promote a Downtown that is safe and inclusive, and easy to navigate through for those using all modes of transportation. The enhanced mobility principle, which involves collaboration on a new transit center (proposed location is the block surrounded by Higuera, Monterey, Santa Rosa, and Toro), to meet the needs of Downtown employees, residents, and visitors. There is discussion of keeping parking structures on the outskirts of Downtown to keep the focus on pedestrians. This will help prevent Downtown through traffic, and allow closures for events without too much displacement. With this, Committee Member Thyne brought to attention that the delivery times for Downtown businesses occur all throughout the day causing traffic to back up. Committee Member Thyne inquires about possible cut off times, or specific days for deliveries. Future parking structures are being planned with all modes of transportation in mind, such as secure bike parking, as well as additional trolley stops. There will also be adequate signage of information for new travelers to direct them on their downtown adventure. There is also discussion about the feasibility of extending and expanding the trolley service along Higuera and Monterey in addition to its existing Monterey circulation. FINAL Minutes – Mass Transportation Committee Meeting of March 8, 2017 Page 4 Transit Manager Anguiano informs everyone that trolley stops will have an enhanced waiting environment. Committee Member Thompson voiced his concern in regards to finding a balance of preserving older structures and the historical aspect of downtown, while also enhancing it to appeal to new visitors and local businesses. He is also concerned about preservation ordinances (preservation ordinances are in order, as well as advisory body input from the Cultural Heritage Commission). 2.Transit Manager Updates The stats report for ridership per route, and ridership by pass type will be available next meeting, but ridership is consistently holding steady. The unveiling event for the new busses will take place Thursday, March 9, 4:30 p.m. at Mission Plaza. Bus pass sales at Laguna Middle School have increased. The Public Hearing for Transit Fares and Advertising Rates is scheduled for April 4, at 4 p.m. ADJOURNMENT ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER LOPEZ, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER ANDRUS, CARRIED 7-0, to adjourn the meeting at 4:20 p.m. until the Regular Meeting of the Mass Transportation Committee, May 10, 2017 at 2:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lareina Gamboa Recording Secretary Megan Cutler Transit Assistant APPROVED BY THE MASS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: 05/10/2017