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Home My WebLink About05-17-2018 ATC Minutes Minutes – Regular Meeting Active Transportation Committee Council Chamber, City Hall, 990 Palm St, San Luis Obispo Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. MISSION: The purpose of the Active Transportation Committee (ATC) is to provide oversight and policy direction on matters related to bicycle and pedestrian transportation in San Luis Obispo and its relationship to bicycling and walking outside the City. Lea Brooks (Chair) called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL: Present: Lea Brooks (Chair), Ken Kienow (Vice Chair), Jenna Espinosa, Timothy Jouet, Jonathan Roberts Absent: Staff: Transportation Planner-Engineer Jennifer Rice, Transportation Planner-Engineer Luke Schwartz, Recording Secretary Lareina Gamboa OATH Swearing in of Ken Kienow and Briana Martenies Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda Sandra Rowley, resident, asked the committee and staff to help make Laurel Lane safer for all modes of transportation by repairing street lights that are not functioning Todd Katz, resident, suggested that the committee also consider vehicular travel as part of its mission. William Peterson, resident, had concerns about the Laurel Lane project and the plan to reduce traffic lanes. Is concerned about the needed space for vehicle capacity. MINUTES: March 15, 2018 CM Jouet motioned to approve the Minutes with no amendments. CM Kienow seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. ACTION ITEMS Agenda Item #1: Laurel Lane Complete Street Project 2018 Jennifer Rice, Transportation Planner-Engineer, presented the staff report. Public Comment Louise Justice, resident, spoke in favor of Option A as it leaves residents with good parking and gives cyclists the protection of a buffered zone. There is one concern for the new busses and the width of the new lane layouts. William Peterson, resident, spoke out against the road diet and presented his own findings on the lack of cyclists along Laurel Lane. Mr. Peterson is also concerned about busses, and particularly emergency vehicles being held up with limited space. Jeff Spevak, resident-cyclist-driver-and Laurel Lane business owner, spoke in favor for changes that will help improve overall safety, and slow down drivers to the speed limit. Elizabeth Gotsch, resident, spoke out against any changes as she rarely sees cyclists, and feels that the surrounding neighborhoods, schools, and centers are not being accounted for during the day when traffic dramatically increases. Dennis Law, resident and Laurel Lane business owner, spoke on behalf of a neighbor and another business, that they are in favor of Option A which will include more parking, and a center turn lane which will help increase safety. Sandra Rowley, resident, informed the Committee that she wishes for no changes, but should this all move forward Option C is her choice. S. Rowley informed the Committee that pedestrians continue to have problems crossing Laurel Lane, and she is concerned for emergency vehicles having a clear path. Donette Dunaway, resident and bike enthusiast, spoke in favor of Option C as it allows cyclists to have escape room when drivers do not properly park and/or are exiting their vehicles without looking. This wiggle room will allow safety for not just regular cyclists, but extra cargo and pedicabs. Mike Larkin, resident, is in favor of Option C for increased safety and parking but does worry that the bike lane will become a loading zone for drivers and families. Don Allen, resident and business owner, finds that Option C adds the most parking, but is concerned about having to provide more for cyclists rather than his own patients whom are not easily mobile. Craig Levin, resident, spoke in favor of Option C as it is the only viable option for parking especially with the number of residents and businesses that surround Laurel Lane. Myron Amerine, resident and cyclists, spoke in favor of Option C and the road diet, but requested that the Class II bike lane buffer be reduced to allow cyclists the extra width to stay out of the car zone, particularly downhill, and for the gutter pan to not be included in the width of the bike lane. Committee Discussion centered around the safety of cyclists as well as families entering and exiting vehicles. The Committee acknowledged each plan had positive and negative impacts to cyclists, as well as surrounding residents and businesses, but ultimately agreed creating a safe zone to encourage more cyclists will be best. Also acknowledged that traditional bike lanes are acceptable if it helped garner neighborhood support. Committee Action CM Jouet motioned to keep Option C (buffered bike lanes). CM Kienow seconded the motion. The motioned failed with a 2-4 vote. (Yes=Jouet, Martenies, No=Brooks, Espinosa, Kienow, Roberts) CM Roberts motioned for Option A (protected bike lanes and maintain on-street parking). CM Kienow seconded the motion. The motion failed due to 3-3 split vote. (Yes=Espinosa, Kienow, Roberts No=Brooks, Jouet, Martinies) CM Brooks motioned for an alternative option, which she called Option D (protected bike lanes uphill but typical Class II bike lanes on the downhill side). Motion died due to lack of a second. CM Kienow motioned to recommend Option A to the City Council. CM Espinosa seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 4-2 vote. (Yes=Brooks, Espinosa, Kienow, Roberts, No=Jouet, Martenies) Agenda Item #2: Anholm Bikeway Plan “Middle Section” Luke Schwartz, Transportation Planner-Engineer, presented the staff report. Public Comment T. Keith Gurnee, resident, encouraged Option 2 for traffic calming elements to decrease the speed of motorists. Gary Havas, resident, expressed his wishes that the Anholm neighborhood will have a positive influence on the rest of the community by helping lead the way to achieving major city goals of promoting a cleaner, more vibrant community. Jesse Englert, resident representing SLO Streets for All, encouraged protected bike lanes and safety in regards of the volume and speed of vehicular traffic, and at the very least, to include a cycle track. Chris McBride, resident and representative of Bike SLO County, expressed their discouragement of simply traffic calming. They do not think it is enough and will not encourage new cyclist to ride but are in favor of protected bike lanes through the corridor. Katherine Froman, resident and Bike SLO County representative, expressed that traffic calming segments will not be enough with the significant increase in traffic over the years, and feels protected bike lanes and couplets will be the better and safer way to go. Myron Amerine, resident, spoke in favor of traffic calming and diverter features, and expressed hope for relief in the future to close the on/off ramps of HWY 101 on Broad Street. Laura Cooper, resident, expressed her concern for coming in contact with cyclists when backing out of her driveway. She supports increased bike use but is concerned about the impact to the neighborhood and encourages traffic calming features and discourages anything that will shift traffic to Chorro. James Lopes, resident, spoke in favor of Option 2 in order to calm and divert traffic. Lydia Mourenza, resident, expressed her concern for emergency vehicles to get to their destination in a safe and timely manner, and asked committee and staff to prioritize needs such as completing sidewalks, and placing more ADA curbs. Cheryl McLean, resident, is concerned about the heavy increase of traffic with the development of residential buildings and wishes for the project to slow down by starting with traffic calming and looking into other necessary projects. Committee Discussion centered around ADA curb ramp plans, and concerns for emergency vehicles making it through in a safe, timely manner. Discussion also circulated around keeping cyclists safe with buffered lanes, adding dash lines to door areas, more sharrows, and eliminating parking, or replacing the parking lines with parking T’s. CM Kienow motioned to recommend the original Preferred Alternative with consideration for a protected bikeway facility along Broad. CM Roberts seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Agenda Item #3: Officer Elections CM Roberts nominated Lea Brooks for Chair. CM Martenies seconded the nomination. The motion passed unanimously CM Brooks nominated Ken Kienow for Vice-Chair. CM Jouet seconded the nomination. The motion passed unanimously. Agenda Item #4: Committee Items Some committee members attended the Advisory Body Workshop which included updates to the Brown Act. This new information was presented to the rest of the Committee. Agenda Item #5: Project Updates ● Railroad Safety Trail: a request for extension on the ATP Grant was granted by the California Transportation Commission. ● Bob Jones Trail: additional creek alignments have been identified ● Bike Rodeo was held May 18. COMMITTEE AND STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS The Committee requested a staff send out a doodle poll regarding a possible special meeting in regards to the San Luis Ranch SEIR draft amendment. ADJOURN CM Kienow motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:17 p.m. to a regular scheduled meeting of July 19, 2018. CM Espinosa seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Lareina Gamboa Recording Secretary MINUTES APPROVED AT THE SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 MEETING