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Home My WebLink About03-17-2016 BAC Minutes City of San Luis Obispo, Council Agenda, City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo Minutes Bicycle Advisory Committee Council Hearing Room, City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 7:00 pm MISSION: The purpose of the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAG) is to provide oversight and policy direction on matters related to bicycle transportation in San Luis Obispo and its relationship to bicycling outside the City. ROLL CALL: Chair Deragon called the meeting to order with reading of Mission Statement at 7:00 p.m. Present: Committee Members Lea Brooks, Randol White, Howard Weisenthal, Paula Huddleston (7:01 PM), Vice-Chair Jim Woolf and Chair Peter Deragon Absent: Committee Member Catherine Machado Staff Present: Transportation Manager Jake Hudson, Transportation Planner-Engineer Luke Schwartz and Recording Secretary Brad T. Opstad CM Brooks questioned persistent lack of attendance and participation of CM Machado and suggested consulting bylaws as they pertain to requesting resignation; Transportation Manager Hudson indicated he would consult the City Clerk about said process. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Transportation Manager Hudson announced: 1.) Buffered bike lanes are completed on Chorro Street between Mill and Walnut; 2.) Thursday March 24th: Broad Street Bike Boulevard Community Meeting to be held in City Library Community Room at 6 PM; 3.) Friday April 15th: Gold-Level League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly Award ceremony to be held on City Hall Steps at 11 AM. CM Brooks requested authorization for Vice-Chair Woolf to speak on behalf of BAC at Gold-Level Award ceremony; suggested post-ceremony bicycle tour of latest City Bicycle Improvements and sought formation of planning sub-committee. Transportation Manager Hudson indicated that Staff was preparing itinerary for the event and would put lead person in contact with the BAC. PUBLIC COMMENT: Myron Amerine, San Luis Obispo, Vice-President SLO County BAC, provided lists of URL links regarding SLO County Bikeways Plan, urging individuals and/or groups to send feedback and correspondence. CM Brooks suggested that the BAC will respond by April 29th with emphasis on City-to-County bikeway connectivity that focuses specifically on the Avila Ranch project. Adam Fukushima, San Luis Obispo, commented in support of buffered bike lanes. MINUTES: January 21, 2016 Amendment: Page 3, paragraph 4, revised to read: “…explained that some projects don’t contribute to the cross-town routes that need to be finished and built in order to coerce encourage a motorist-to-cyclist culture shift. Vice-Chair Woolf stated his belief that a shift in focus to these cross-town routes, ostensibly creating bike freeways, is required…” Action: Vice Chair Woolf moved to accept as amended. Chair Deragon seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. PRESENTATION ITEMS: County BAC Vice-President Myron Amerine and CM Weisenthal presented an overview of various classifications of local hazardous bicycle conditions and documented multiple City roadways in which they occur. Presentations on other particular items to continue at future meetings such as storm water grates and lack of enforcement for bicycles. Committee discussion ensued on policies, guidelines and recommendations. Transportation Planner-Engineer Luke Schwartz discussed the BTP Prioritization Plan while displaying its current in-progress, GIS-based map of imminent bicycle facilities and demonstrated its interactive, user- friendly capabilities. Committee commended Staff on this new tool of access and indicated looking forward to testing it out and providing feedback. DISCUSSION ITEMS: Transportation Manager Hudson provided an update on the Broad Street Bike Boulevard plan in preparation for March 24th meeting in which the community is to provide influence and guidance. The Committee asked questions pertaining to reception of boulevards in particular neighborhoods in which they’re implemented, how planned boulevards affect real estate values, and effects on future auto traffic flow. The Committee discussed the state of congested and exposed bicycle parking racks and future parking structures implementing space devoted to bike parking. Transportation Supervisor Hudson discussed how in-lieu parking fee coffers are funded and indicated Staff would follow up on whether bicycle facilities were being considered in new Nipomo Street parking structure. COMMITTEE ITEMS CM Brooks shared events of the City-hosted Bob Jones Trail workday held February 13th in which seventeen (17) volunteers attended the pilot program; provided brief instruction on how to best organize similar efforts. CM Brooks defined Newcomers Program as one designed to compile packet of RideShare information devoted to provision for new City residents; informed that a letter for inclusion had been drafted for Mayor; shared that SLOCOG had adopted the project into their own programs and were ensuring developers of sub-divisions were being provided with packets. Transportation Manager Hudson added that Staff is in process of forging trip reduction plans into requirements for developments that emphasize limits of residential streets. STAFF ITEMS Transportation Manager Hudson provided HR update on Active Transportation Manager position that is still receiving applications until March 22nd for scheduled April 11th interviews; requested Committee to provide member to be on all-day interview panel for 8-10 interviewees. Vice-Chair Woolf volunteered. Vice-Chair Woolf recused at 8:36 PM, citing prior-arranged engagement. Transportation Manager Hudson pointed out facts and figures corresponding to the provided handout on the Bicycle Facilities Improvement Account; requested list of prioritized repairs from Committee on which fund balance might be best appropriated in remainder of fiscal year which ends after June. Transportation Manager Hudson informed of design & permit meeting with Public Utilities Commission pertaining to Pepper Street & California Boulevard section of Railroad Safety Trail (RRST) scheduled for Fall 2017 construction start-up. Transportation Manager Hudson and Planner-Engineer Schwartz provided updates on three (3) Capital Improvement Plan bicycle projects: 1.) Street-widening and turn-lane implementation for Chorro & Foothill bike box has been proposed to developer of high-density housing project at that intersection; 2.) Preliminary designs for RRST Class I connection at Laurel & Orcutt are imminent toward review and sidewalk-widening construction is expected to take place over next 2-3 months; 3.) One-day data from cyclist & motorist traffic analysis at intersection of Highland & Chorro shared and subsequent potential improvements discussed. Transportation Manager Hudson shared updates on Avila Ranch having been before Planning Commission on March 9th; alerted that San Luis Ranch attends same Advisory Body hearing on March 23rd. Transportation Manager Hudson made request of Committee to send Member to Mayor’s Lunch Meeting on April 14th. CM White volunteered. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 9:19 PM to the next regular meeting of May 19, 2016. Respectfully Submitted, Brad T. Opstad Recording Secretary