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04/23/2013 Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Regular Meeting Adopted 06/25/2013 CITY OF GILROY BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING PRELIMINARY MINUTES Tuesday, April 23, 2013 6:00 p.m. City of Gilroy Council Chambers City Hall 7351 Rosanna Street Gilroy, CA 95020 KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE GILROY OPEN GOVERNMENT ORDINANCE. Government's duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, task forces, councils and other agencies of the City exist to conduct the people's business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people's review. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE OPEN GOVERNMENT ORDINANCE, TO RECEIVE A FREE COPY OF THE ORDINANCE OR TO REPORT A VIOLATION OF THE ORDINANCE, CONTA CT THE OPEN GOVERNMENT COMMISSION STAFF AT (408) 846-0204/shawna.freels@cityofgilroy.org. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Recreation Department at (408)846-0460. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. (28CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II) CALL TO ORDER -- 6:08 p.m. ROLL CALL Eldon Chappell, Libby Lai, Vice-Chair, Conrad Lather, Tony Marandos, Chair, Thomas Muniz ABSENT: Eldon Chappell, excused Tony Marandos, excused Theresa Hernandez, Recording Secretary ALSO PRESENT: Henry Servin, City Transportation Engineer Christina Villarreal, Office Assistant COMMISSION SECRETARY’S REPORT ON POSTING THE AGENDA The Agenda for the Tuesday, April 23, 2013, regular meeting was posted on Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. in the window of the foyer by the Council Chambers in City Hall by Theresa Hernandez. PRESENTATIONS TO COMMISSION 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.) BPC Meeting Minutes April 23, 2013 Page 2 PUBLIC PRESENT Rebecca Scheel – Parks and Recreation Commission APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Regular Meeting (Minutes attached) Thomas made a Motion to approve the minutes of the Tuesday, March 26, 2013 of the BPC regular meeting as written. The motion was seconded by Conrad and hearing no objections it was so ordered. Conrad had a question on the minutes under “AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING”; it listed Comprehensive Plan for 1st St. with Conrad’s name. The item was placed with Conrad’s name because he was asking for a status report from staff on that item, Comprehensive Plan for 1 st St./Leavesley Rd. OLD BUSINESS WALKABLE CITIES – RESOLUTION/PROCLAMATION – Update - Libby http://www.bikewalk.org/pdfs/ncbwpubwalkablecomm.pdf Henry did check with staff on this resolution and it was decided that this item would be a good item for the BPC to work on and to bring it forward. Henry did tell the Commission that the resolution would be routed to all the relevant staff and committees and eventually it will go to City Council for approval. Henry asked the Commission if they would like him to forward the resolution as it is now or does the Commission want Henry to bring it to the Commission for approval before it is routed to all staff and committees. Henry recommended that he bring the resolution to the Commission for approval before it is routed to all staff and other relevant committees. The Commission decided they would like Henry to bring the resolution to the Commission for approval before it is routed to City staff and committees. Libby proposed the adoption of the League of American Bicycle Road User’s model of a resolution. Libby told the commission that this is a very involved process. This resolution was put together by se veral attorneys and Libby stated that the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission would need the help of City staff in order to adopt a similar resolution. Thomas feels that this type of resolution is beyond the Commission’s scope of work. The Commission would like Henry to research the resolution and the process and report back to the Commission at the May meeting. Henry stated that this item will be moved to the July Meeting agenda as the May meeting will be taken up by the Bike to Work Day discussion and the Mayor will be attending the June Meeting. Henry reported to the Commission that the UC Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies has agreed to do a Bicycle and Walkable City assessment of the City of Gilroy. This process will require that the Commis sioners be interviewed. This process will have to take place outside of the Commission process. Henry will set up the times and dates for the interviews to take place either by telephone or in person. Thomas asked Henry for the name of this program. The program which is grant funded is called the ITS Pedestrian and Bicycle Assessment. They will report back to the City on the quality and condition of the City and they will give the City a rating on how well the City is doing on being a walkable city. BPC Meeting Minutes April 23, 2013 Page 3 BPC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES - REVIEW - HENRY Henry told the Commission that he would like to use the BPC Planning Calendar as an outline for the BPC’s Goals and Objectives. Thomas stated that he feels there should be more bike racks in the downtown then were installed initially. Thomas’ concern is when there is a wine or music event in the downtown that there is not enough bike racks to encourage more bike usage. Conrad stated that perhaps there should be a yearly meeting between the downtown merchants and the BPC. Libby proposed that the Commission Chair call the downtown merchants association and invite them to come to a BPC meeting. Libby feels it is important to find out how the Commission can work together with the downtown merchants. Libby stated that she felt it was important for the Commission to get the top three objectives listed so that the Commission can continue to work on the list at future meetings. After much discussion the top 3 objectives are as follows. Top three (3) Objectives: 1. Work with downtown merchants to develop bicycle and pedestrian incentives. 2. Benchmark pedestrian and cyclist trips within Gilroy establish the monitoring-Henry 3. Enhanced study of Gilroy walkability a. ITS UC Berkeley assessment b. walkable review c. Proclamation that is in process d. Meeting with the school district and the Police Thomas would like to see more work done with the Santa Clara Water Valley District to expedite and develop more trails both paved and unpaved. Conrad stated that Dennis Kennedy is on the water district board and perhaps he would be willing to work with the Commission and the City of Gilroy to work on trails BICYCLE FRIENDLY CIT Y AWARD APPLICATION- HENRY After much discussion it was decided that Henry will bring back the previous application to the Commission and to update the Commission on the application and the process. Rebecca asked who awards the Bicycle Friendly City Award? Henry explained that it is a prestigious award given by the Bicycle Friendly City USA Organization and requires an application process. BIKE TO WORK DAY – MAY 9, 2013 – ENERGIZER STATION – CONRAD & TONY Henry shared copies of the donation letter and the two (2) flyers that are on Channel 17. Henry reported to the Commission that an account has been created for the BPC and there is about $500. In this account. Conrad reported that some of the businesses that he asked for donations from could be sending checks. BPC Meeting Minutes April 23, 2013 Page 4 BIKE TO WORK DAY – MAY 9, 2013 – ENERGIZER STATION – CONRAD & TONY CONT’D Conrad asked that the time on the Energizer Station flyer be changed from 5:00 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Libby asked staff to send the information and the Energizer Station flyer to the Dispatch and the patch. Henry asked Conrad if he would still need the canopy. Conrad stated that they would still need the canopy from the Recreation Dept. Henry stated that Public Works would provide the garbage cans at the energizer station. Henry offered to give Conrad some copies of the Bike Map to distribute at the Energizer Station. NEW BUSINESS RESPONSE FROM CAL TRANS – 1ST STREET/LEAVESLEY RD. – HENRY Henry has been in contact with Cal Trans and reported that they are willing to refresh the striping on 1 st Street but will not be able to do this until late summer. Henry asked them for a set of plans for this project. Cal Trans told Henry that they do have plans to resurface a portion of 1st St. from Monterey to a little past Rosanna. This project will include some new ADA ramps, refurbishing striping and cross walks . Henry was very pleased with the response that he received from Cal Trans. GENERAL PLAN REVIEW - PARTICIPATION OF COMMISSIONERS – HENRY Henry would like the Commission to nominate one commissioner who can make a commitment of 18 to 24 months. Henry explained that Planning would like just one Commissioner to participate from beginning to end of the General Plan Review Process. Thomas stated that he is willing to volunteer to represent the BPC in the General Plan Review. Libby stated that she is also interested in being a part of the General Plan Review. Libby stated that she feels it would be wonderful if both she and Thomas could participate in order to provide better coverage for the meetings. Conrad nominated Libby and Thomas for the General Plan Review Committee. Henry will put the two names on the agenda for May as an action item. BANNER POLICY/PURCHASE OF BIKE MONTH BANNERS – HENRY Henry reported that the City Council did approve the City’s Banner Policy. Henry reported that the banners cost approximately $1000. per banner. The policy states that any group who wants to put banners up in the City would have to pay for the banners. At this time there are 26 possible sites for banners. CORRESPONDENCE Henry gave each of the Commissioner’s a copy of the Bicycle Expenditure Program for Santa Clara County. The report shows that of the 6 grant applications submitted Gilroy has received all 6. The extension of the Uvas Creek Trail into the Sports Complex and onto Gavilan College will be completed with this $5.56 million grant. Gilroy 2 is also funded for the Northern reach of the Santa Clara Valley Water District service trail that provides a paved class I section that connects the gap on Santa Teresa up Hecker Pass all the way to Gilroy Gardens. This project will cost 2.2 million. In addition, the Lyon’s Creek Trail gap closure will allow bicyclists to get to Christopher High School along Day Road. The report also includes additional work on the Ronan Trail along the freeway with lighting at the trail heads. Henry did not have the information on the OBAG grant but he will have the information for the next BPC Meeting. BPC Meeting Minutes April 23, 2013 Page 5 COMMISSIONER’S REPORTS VTA-BPAC MEETING – THOMAS MUNIZ There were two items that were reported on at the meeting, one of which was the Bicycle Expenditure Program that Henry spoke about and the other was the Transportation Impact Analysis Guidelines. The Transportation Impact Analysis guidelines are used to analyze the impact that a new development will have on traffic. COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS Libby – none Thomas – none Conrad – none STAFF COMMENTS BPC PLANNING CALENDAR Libby told the Commission that Tony did participate in the Terra Bella Bike ride. Libby also reported that she felt the Commission missed an opportunity to participate in the event. Libby stated that she called Jane Howard at the visitor’s bureau and informed her that there was a missed opportunity to promote Gilroy to all of the participants at this event. Tony told Libby that many of the participants at the event were asking other participants about restaurants in Gilroy and asking for other information about Gilroy. Libby asked if there will be the bicycle skills class again this year. Henry stated that the Police dept. recently did a class with the Gilroy Unified School District. Henry stated that the Commission will have to make a decision about this Calendar Item. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Walkable Cities Resolution Update - Henry Top 3 objectives/Objectives – Henry The City’s Development process – Thomas would like this to be on the agenda for May Meeting. Thomas clarified that he would like the Commission to have knowledge of and the opportunity to review new development, not necessarily coming to the BPC for approval. Invite Police Dept./GUSD to attend a future meeting. 8:00 p.m. adjournment ADJOURNMENT TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF Tuesday, May 28, 2013 AT 6:00 PM Respectfully Submitted, Theresa Hernandez Recording Secretary