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09/25/2012 Arts and Culture Commission Regular Meeting Adopted 10/23/2012 City of Gilroy Minutes Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Meeting 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 25, 2012 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by the Chair, Scott Francks at 6:05 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Scott Francks (Chair), Libby Lai, Conrad Lather, Tony Marandos (Vice Chair), Thomas Muniz (arrived 6:15 PM) ALSO PRESENT Don Dey, City Transportation Engineer Teresa Mack, Development Engineer Theresa Hernandez, Recording Secretary, Recreation Department Mayor Al Pinheiro COMMISSION SECRETARY’S REPORT ON POSTING THE AGENDA The agenda for the Tuesday, September 25, 2012, regular meeting was posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. in the window of the foyer by the Council Chambers in City Hall by Theresa Hernandez. INTRODUCTION Don introduced Teresa Mack to the Commission. Teresa will be taking over the staff position as Don is retiring from the City of Gilroy. PRESENTATIONS TO COMMISSION A. PUBLIC COMMENT BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT WITHIN THE SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF THE BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION Please limit your comments to 3 minutes (This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons desiring to address the commission on matters not on the agenda. The law does not permit Commission action or extended discussion of any item not on the agenda except under special circumstances. If Commission action is requested, the Commission may place the matter on a future agenda.) PUBLIC PRESENT Rebecca Scheel, Parks and Recreation Commission Susan Voss, Recreation Department Rebecca made a brief presentation to the Commission on the Recreation Department’s 2nd Annual 5k fundraiser, inviting the Commissioners to attend. Rebecca also reported to the Commission that there will be a fundraiser at the Black Bear Diner on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. Rebecca showed the Commission a box full of metal objects that she has found on the side of the street while walking in her neighborhood. Rebecca explained to the Commission that she recycles all the metal items that she finds. BPC Meeting Minutes September 25, 2012 Page 2 APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Libby Lai made a motion to approve the minutes of August 28, 2012 as written, the motion was seconded by Tony Marandos and hearing no objections it was so ordered. 6:15 p.m. – Thomas arrived at the meeting. NEW BUSINESS A. Mayor Al Pinheiro - discussion with BPC - Scott Scott introduced the Mayor to the Commission. The Mayor thanked the Commission for all of the work that they do for the City and gave them an update on the City Council activities. The Mayor shared a publication called “On Common Ground” that speaks to the increase of bicycle use in cities around the State. Mayor Pinheiro gave the Commission an update on the Open Government Commission stating that by 2014 this Commission will be made up of City of Gilroy residents. Mayor Pinheiro invited and encouraged the Commissioners to attend the City Council Retreat on January 11th and 12th of 2013. The Mayor reported that work is continuing on the downtown Paseo projects. One paseo will be between Fifth & Sixth streets and will be named “Sister Cities Paseo” and there will be another paseo between Fourth & Fifth streets and it will be named “Gilroy Historical Paseo.” The Paseo project is supported by both Rotary clubs, the downtown corporation, the sister cities groups and the Garlic Festival. Mayor Pinheiro reported that at the present time the City’s Budget is balanced and has a reserve fund of approximately $22 million that can be used if there are any emergencies. The Mayor hopes that the new council will continue to make the budget a priority. Libby asked the Mayor if there is an opportunity for the BPC to give some input on the Paseo project. The Mayor told the Commission that there is a meeting coming up on October 10th in the Chamber of Commerce meeting room. The Mayor encouraged the Commissioners to attend. Thomas wanted to bring the Mayor’s attention to the Complete Streets program. Thomas wanted the Mayor to know that he feels this program is very important to the City of Gilroy. Don stated that in November he will be presenting a resolution for Council approval on the Complete Streets program. BPC Meeting Minutes September 25, 2012 Page 3 A. Mayor Al Pinheiro - discussion with BPC – Scott Cont’d Tony told the Mayor that he would like to see First St. and Leavesley Rd. (SR 152) become part of the City Gilroy. The Mayor stated that he agrees that the First St. corridor and Leavesley Rd. should belong to the City of Gilroy so that improvements can be accomplished in a more timely fashion. Mayor Pinheiro would like Don to bring the concerns about First St. and Leavesley Rd. to the City Council meeting before he leaves. In addition, the Mayor told the Commission that this would be an important issue to present to the City Council at the Council Retreat in January. Tony also told the Mayor that he would like to see the BPC more involved in the development process when new projects are submitted for approval to the City. The Mayor told the Commission that Don could bring this item to Council in November. Scott thanked the Mayor for attending the meeting and for all the work he has done for the City while he was Mayor. The Mayor left the meeting at 6:50 p.m. Don recognized Susan Voss and asked if she wanted to make a presentation to the Commission. Susan stated that she was attending the meeting to ask about the distribution of the bike maps for the Recreation Department. Don told Susan that the Recreation Department would be receiving 100 copies of the map. B. VERBS Project – Safe Routes to Schools (attachment) - Don Don shared a map with the Commission that shows all the elements that are included in the City as part of this VERBS Project. These items include adding sidewalks that will fill in gaps to connect sidewalks, adding Class II bike lanes, High Visibility Crosswalks and adding flashing beacons in and around schools. The flashing beacons will be on timers, so that the beacons will flash near schools at drop off and pick up times. Libby asked what the time line is for completion on the VERBS project. Don reported that contracts have been awarded and he is hoping to have the project completed in 3 or 4 months. C. Draft of BPC Presentation to City Council – Scott Scott shared his draft BPC presentation for the November 19, 2012, City Council Meeting. The Commissioners felt that the presentation was well done and very thorough. Rebecca Scheel suggested that Scott give each of the Council members a copy of the bike map. BPC Meeting Minutes September 25, 2012 Page 4 OLD BUSINESS A. Walkable Cities Chapter 3.5 - Libby Libby reported to the Commissioners that she found this part of chapter 3 to be very technical and she had asked Don for help with this section. Libby feels that this chapter will help the Commission to better understand the elements used on streets for pedestrians, when they begin work on a Pedestrian Plan. Libby stated that even though the Commission may not use all the items in this chapter, it is a help in understanding what is needed to make the City a walkable City. B. Bicycle Training Brief presentation - Scott Due to the late hour/this item was tabled until October meeting. CORRESPONDENCE 1st piece of correspondence was the notice that the safe cycling 101 class had been cancelled due to low enrollment. Don shared a memo he received from Cheryl Ellemberg of the Gilroy Unified School District. Included in the memo is a request for copies of the bike map for Rod Kelley elementary school, a notice of a bike rodeo that will take place on Saturday, October 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. and a report on the Safe Routes to School program. Don suggested that in January 2013 the BPC invite Cheryl Ellemberg to come back to the BPC to give an updated report on the GUSD Safe Routes to School Program. COMMISSIONER’S REPORTS A. VTA-BPAC – Thomas Muniz Thomas did attend a meeting on September 12th. Thomas told the Commission that VTA is discussing Complete Streets and they will have further discussion at the October meeting. Thomas stated that he would forward a link to the VTA Bicycle Technical Guidelines so that the Commissioners can receive the updates on the revisions being made to this document. COMMISSIONER ANOUNCEMENTS None BPC Meeting Minutes September 25, 2012 Page 5 STAFF COMMENTS A. Planning calendar – Add City Council Retreat to the Calendar. Add Brownell Bicycle Rodeo on October 27, 2012. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING – October 23, 2012 at 6 p.m. Walkable Cities Bicycle Training Turning Wheels for Kids-Update Adjournment to the regular meeting of October 23, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. Adjournment: 8:15 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Theresa Hernandez Recording Secretary