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Home My WebLink About07-21-2016 BAC Minutes Minutes BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, July 21, 2016 Regular Meeting of the Bicycle Advisory Committee CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Bicycle Advisory Committee was called to order on Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair White. ROLL CALL Present: Committee Members Lea Brooks, Ken Kienow, Catherine Riedstra (arrived 7:07), Jim Woolf, and Chair Randol White. Absent: Committee Member Howard Weisenthal, and Vice Chair Paula Huddleston Staff: Transportation Manager Jake Hudson, Active Transportation Manager Adam Fukushima, Associate Planner Rebecca Gershow and Recording Secretary Kevin Christian. OATH Ken Kienow was sworn in by Transportation Manager Jake Hudson. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA Myron Amerine, City of San Luis Obispo resident, commented that the recent resurfacing job on the southbound Santa Rosa Street bike lane between Highland and Foothill, is very rough. He requested the BAC send a letter to Caltrans. Staff noted that they would follow up with Caltrans. ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BROOKS, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WOOLF, CARRIED 5-0, to add Santa Rosa Street pavement surface to the next agenda. ANNOUNCEMENTS ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER BROOKS, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER KIENOW, CARRIED 5-0, to add a standing item to the agenda for Committee Member Announcements. Minutes – Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting of July 21, 2016 Page 2 CM Brooks made the following announcements:  The County half cent sales tax measure has been added to the upcoming election ballot.  The California Bicycle Coalition is holding its next Board Meeting in San Luis Obispo on August 20-21, and is interested in holding a four day Bicycle Summit conference in town during October 2017. The conference is expected to attract approximately 300 people.  Bridget Dawson was killed when riding north on Broad Street just south of town the week of July 15th. CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES ACTION: MOTION COMMITTEE MEMBER RIEDSTRA, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WOOLF, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the Minutes of May 19, 2016. PRESENTATION ITEMS 1. Introduction of New Active Transportation Manager Adam Fukushima Adam introduced himself and reviewed his background working at Caltrans and previously for the City of San Luis Obispo. 2. Downtown Concept Plan Associate Planner Rebecca Gershow gave a brief background of the Downtown Concept Plan (DTC) update process and introduced Jaime Hill, a member of the citizen Creative Vision Team (CVT). Planner Gershow reviewed that thus far the project has held Community Visioning Workshops, Stakeholder Focus Group and Neighborhood meetings, and has utilized an online survey using Open City Hall on the City website, to receive citizen input. Bicycling improvements that have been requested thus far include: Improve connectivity to neighborhoods for bicyclists, improve bicyclists safety, increase secure bicycle parking options, and provide better wayfinding. Currently the project is in Phase Three, Draft Plan Development, which includes transportation, public realm, and infill recommendations. To further the draft plan development, there will be a Public Workshop the week of September 12th and a Study Session October 4th. Jaime Hill (CVT member) encouraged input from the BAC concerning their priorities, reviewed street and intersection designs being discussed, and requested the BAC members consider attending the public meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for August 3, 2016, 11am - 2pm in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street. A review of street and intersection treatments was supplied, followed by committee discussion on their bicycling priorities for the downtown area. As reviewed for the committee:  Complete streets = motorist, bicyclists, pedestrians – all have equal access  Car Light Streets = prioritizes pedestrians and bicyclists in a shared space  Car Free Streets = streets reserved primarily for pedestrians and bicyclists, motorists are prohibited Minutes – Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting of July 21, 2016 Page 3 There was BAC consensus that the DCP should include connections from the Morro Street Bicycle Boulevard through downtown. Individual members expressed that they were in favor of:  separate bike/motorist infrastructure  “Car Light” treatment for Monterey, Higuera, and Marsh streets Public Comment: Myron Amerine, City of San Luis Obispo resident, suggested using a “road diet” design on the one-way streets. 3. Priority Listing of Bike Funding Projects Active Transportation Manager Fukushima presented the current listing of projects on the “Minor Bike Project Wish List” which may use the Council approved annual funding allocation of $100,000.  Remove single bollard on RRST at George/Jennifer St. trailhead  Bike lane improvements on LOVR bridge  Add Sharrow on Monterey St. by the Fremont theater  Rubber curbs on Higuera/Marsh St. intersection  Yield markings and a push button beacon at the Broad St./Upham St. pedestrian crossing  Pedestrian and bicyclists crossing improvements on South St. at King St.  Green bike lanes on Santa Rosa at Olive St.  Removal of three parking spaces on northbound California Blvd. at Marsh St. The committee discussed how projects should be added to this listing and the possibility of combining this listing with the current Project Priority sub-committee generated list. There was consensus that staff will provide a prioritized list as part of each agenda packet, items will be added by community and BAC input, and the committee will review the ranking and provide feedback at the regular meetings. ACTION ITEMS 4. Consideration of Potential Changes to the Bylaws Regarding Committee Meeting Frequency, Duration, and Start Times Active Transportation Manager Fukushima reviewed the BAC bylaws and discussed the meeting times of the other Advisory Body committees. He informed the Committee that the bylaws can be changed by making a recommendation to the City Council. The Committee discussed their meeting time needs, a desire to keep meeting duration to two-hours, and the benefits of increasing meeting frequency. Public Comment: Myron Amerine, City of San Luis Obispo resident, suggested monthly meetings and that large project presentations should not be included in the two-hour time limit. Minutes – Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting of July 21, 2016 Page 4 ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WOOLF, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER RIEDSTRA, CARRIED 5-0, to change the meeting time to 6:00 p.m. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5. Committee Items Adopt a Trails Subcommittee No report at this time. CM Brooks requested volunteers to join the sub-committee. Newcomers Subcommittee CM Brooks reported that SLOCOG (San Luis Obispo Council of Governments) has taken on this project and will be creating newcomer packets advising of transportation options to new home buyers. ACTION: MOTION COMMITTEE MEMBER RIEDSTRA, SECOND BY CHAIR WHITE, CARRIED 5-0, to dissolve the subcommittee. Project Priority Subcommittee No formal report was presented at this time. The BAC briefly discussed their need for a ranking system for these projects and citizen sub-committee member Amerine briefly reviewed work done to date, including suggestions for ranking. 6. Staff Items Project Updates  The Highland/Chorro bike slot project is out to bid.  Green bike lanes, south bound on Grand Ave. at Hwy 101, are being submitted for permits from Cal Trans. This is a 6-8 week process.  Active Transportation Manager Fukushima reviewed a recent community meeting held on the Broad Street Bike Blvd. project, noting that recommendations will be presented in the Fall.  A Safe Routes to School community meeting was held for the Pacheco and Bishop Peak school area. Input on current challenges for bicyclists/pedestrians was given, specifically noted was crossing Foothill Blvd.  The Environmental documentation for the Bob Jones trail (Los Osos Valley Road to the Octagon barn section) will be available mid-August. The project will be presented to the Planning Commission on September 14, 2016. The Committee discussed the possibility of calling a special meeting to review the project prior to the Planning Commission meeting. Staff will review with the BAC Chair once the study is complete to determine the need for a Special Meeting. Bike Rodeo Call for Volunteers The Bike Rodeo will be held on September 17, 2016, 10 am – 2 pm. Bike SLO County is coordinating volunteer staffing for the event. Communications should be sent to steve@bikeslocounty.org, or call 805-547-2055 to volunteer. Minutes – Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting of July 21, 2016 Page 5 Electric Bikes on Buses In response to a question raised at the May 19, 2016 BAC meeting, Active Transportation Manager Fukushima reported that SLO Transit currently has a policy that restricts carrying electric bikes on SLO Transit, along with a 50lb/bike weight limit. SLO Transit officials indicated that a change in the policy is possible but their concerns are weight, who determines if a bike is over-weight, and carrying batteries inside the busses. CM Riedstra requested staff find out how much of the time the bus bike racks are at maximum capacity. Chair White will investigate other cities’ policies and related issues regarding electric bikes on transit. Public Comment: Myron Amerine expressed that he doesn’t want to see electric bikes displace standard bikes in the limited spaces on the busses. Mandatory Bike Parking at Large Events No discussion at this time Items for next meeting:  Parklet standards ADJOURNMENT ACTION: MOTION BY COMMITTEE MEMBER RIEDSTRA, SECOND BY COMMITTEE MEMBER WOOLF, CARRIED 5-0, to adjourn the meeting at 9:13 p.m. The next Regular meeting of the Bicycle Advisory Committee is scheduled for Thursday, September 15, 2016 7:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California. APPROVED BY THE BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: 09/15/2016