Loading...
01/27/2015 Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Regular Meeting Adopted 02/24/2015MINUTES OF BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN COMMISION REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, January 27, 2015 CALL TO ORDER 6:01 p.m. ROLL CALL Eldon Chappell, Leonardo Gonzalez, Libby Lai (Vice-Chair), Tony Marandos (Chair), Thomas Muniz ALSO PRESENT Henry Servin, City Transportation Engineer Zinnia Menchaca-Navarro, Office Assistant COMMISSION SECRETARY’S REPORT ON POSTING THE AGENDA The agenda for the Tuesday, January 27, 2015, Bicycle Pedestrian regular meeting was posted on Friday, January, 23 2015 at 3:47 pm in the window of the foyer close to the Council Chambers and online by Susan Johnson keeping with provisions of the California Brown Act. PRESENTATIONS TO COMMISSION - None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner, Marandos moved to approve the minutes of the Tuesday, November 25, 2014 Bicycle Pedestrian Commission regular meeting, it was second by Commissioner, Servin and hearing no objectives, it was approved. OLD BUSINESS A. Election of Officer: Commissioner, Marandos asked the members of the commission if anyone would be interested in being re-elected. Commissioner, Lai and Commissioner, Chappell stated they will need to deliberate in a month for the coming year 2015-2016. Everyone was in favor. B. Development Review Checklist: Commissioner, Servin reviewed the Auto Trip Reduction Statement and Checklist from the Valley Transportation Authority. It was suggested we should incorporate into our checklist, a reduction requirement whereas the developers would need to fill out. This would be modified to Gilroy’s fulfillment of the sidewalk and crosswalk requirements on the back of the form. Part of the checklist would require the developers to provide a traffic study, new traffic trips and intersections. What’s currently missing is a walking route. Commissioner, Lai raised a concern in regards to compliance with the policy. Commissioner, Servin stated we can enter verbiage that reads “Gilroy has a policy and compliance must be met”. Commissioner, Muniz stated VTA/TIA guidelines is well written in respect to pedestrian and bicycle amenities. Gilroy can incorporate some of these guidelines, so that developers become familiarize and provide the city with a site plan or diagrams when submitting. A complete street policy to include VTA pedestrian/bike study sheets with night time lighting and street design. Everyone was in favor. C. Coffee with the Mayor and Bicycle Pedestrian Commission: The date of Saturday, March 21, 2015, was agreed upon all commissioners as the date for “Coffee with the Mayor”. Commissioner, Lai will write the reservation and ensure it’s on the website and channel 17. In order to be in compliance with the Brown Act, flyers will be distributed to help residents remember the date. Commissioner, Marandos moved to approve, it was second by Commission Servin and hearing no objectives, it was approved by all. NEW BUSINESS A. Welcome new member, Commissioner, Leonardo Gonzalez: Commissioner, Gonzalez comes to us with a wealth of experience on a personal and professional level. His father was an avid bicyclist. Sergeant, Gonzalez has been in law enforcement since 2011. He’s patrolled the streets for the City of Saratoga and the City of Cupertino within the traffic unit, and was a STARS team lead member. He then transferred to helicopter and become a lead traffic investigator with VTA. When asked what attracted him to become a commissioner with the City of Gilroy, Commissioner, Gonzalez responded, as a resident of Gilroy, he was interested in becoming involved within his community. B. General Plan Update w/Stan Ketchum, Senior City Planner: A wealth of information was provided by Mr. Ketchum on his presentation. On 2/25/15 both Mr. Ketchum and Commissioner, Servin will be conducting a workshop. An analysis providing adequate transportation and land use pattern will be discussed; opportunities for the community to put together what they think should be put together, what possible changes should occur. Distinct to the general plan, it uses 22 criteria’s to compare and contrast, asking what are the pros and cons to the community and piecing together. Certain areas in the city will have mixed growth providing short walks to stores from home. Discussion on how highway 101 will be able to support the growth will need to be calculated. When Mr. Ketchum was posed the question, “what is the projected calculation on population” by Commissioner, Chappell, response “land capacity is vast, it will hold from 50- 70K more residents, but the projection is dependent on employment”. Concerns about the sewage, water and storm were raised. The question is whether we are updating the sewer lines now. It’s been presently being evaluated by the City Council to build and ensuring it’s in sync with growth. Commissioner, Marandos asked about how the High Speed Rail would come to play and Mr. Ketchum stated the master plan would be moved faster, but currently it isn’t enough to put in the analysis; once the High Speed Rail is ready, then an amendment would be made to the general plan. The conversation then turned to the condition to the streets on 1st street. Commission, Lai and Commissioner, Marandos stated the conditions on 1st street between Miller and Church need major work. Possibly have Cal Trans to look at and making it a top priority. She would like to send a letter to the State Assembly and Cal Trans Commissioner for support out of Oakland. With new development and interest, can we fix 1st street making it ADA compliant? Need to examine which street belongs to the state, city and/or county. Commissioner, Muniz stated there may be a letter on file as this has been a long issues back when Don Days was here. Henry was going to look into this issue. C. Bike to Work Day: Commissioner, Marandos would like us to form a committee to make May, 14, 2015 a bike to work day; we can have 3 energize stations, early morning. Contacting school districts to explore and ask for volunteers. Need to coordinate with the rest of the Bay Area; promote on trains and stations were other suggestions. Commissioner, Suggestion on partnering with Cal-Train whereas they would offer free ride for those that ride their bicycle to work was a suggestion made by Commissioner, Gonzalez. Commissioner, Lai suggested we should make the month of May “Bicycle Awareness Month”. Handouts can be laminated and posted at schools, preventing them from being easily tossed. CORRESPONDENCE - NONE COMMISSIONER’S REPORTS A. Commissioner, Marandos is concerned about the new roundabouts, he asked if we can incorporate bicycle lanes on the roundabout. Henry Servin stated the sidewalks are 10ft, so the bicyclist can come up to the lane; the reasoning behind this is so that the drivers were forced to drive slowly. B. Commissioner, Chappell raised a concern with the sidewalks on the new construction of the KB homes stating on the south side, it is elevated making it unsafe to walk. On the western part of creekside, there is vegetation blocking the side walk asking who is in charge and needs to be trimmed. C. Commissioner, Muniz stated the project on 101 and Leavesley, there is a missing barricade. Commissioner, Henry will readdress. D. Commissioner, Servin brought in a memorandum from the VTA identifying Gilroy as one of the top cities in the Pedestrian Access to Transit Plan, it included a trail master plan. This opportunity will bring in grant funding to develop solutions to a list of challenging areas in the city. Thank you, Commissioner, Servin! This will allow opportunities for a safer, pleasant community with vast of recreation. Please advise him with any concerns or suggestions by end of March. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING – None discussed ADJOURN – 8:00 p.m.