09/26/2017 Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Regular Meeting Adopted 10/24/2017
MINUTES OF BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2017
1. CALL TO ORDER
6:02 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
Zachary Hilton Chairperson, Tony Marandos, Leonardo Gonzalez, Sean Reedy
Not present – Chad Reeder Vice Chairperson
ALSO PRESENT
Michael Fisher, Consultant – Transportation Engineer
Donna Taft, Office Assistant I
4. COMMISSION SECRETARY’S REPORT ON POSTING THE AGENDA
The agenda for the Bicycle Pedestrian regular meeting was posted on Thursday, September 21, 2017, at
11:45 a.m. in the City Hall announcement window near the Council Chambers and online in keeping with
provisions of the California Brown Act.
5. CEREMONIAL ITEMS
The Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Monthly Award for Brennan Burge will be presented at the October 24,
2017 meeting when the Commission is back in Council Chambers.
6. PUBLIC 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
B. Valley Transportation Authority Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (VTABPAC) Report: The
Commission will continue to have Carolyn Schimandle, VTABPAC Member, write up her monthly
summary from the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) meetings that she attends in San Jose and will
provide them as part of the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission packet to enable the public the opportunity
to follow what is happening.
Commission Marandos asked about Alexander Station. Schimandle stated she provided commentary
on the VTA Pedestrian Access to Transit Plan. She shared that, in 2013, VTA was not aware of the plans
and assumed there would be little to no development in that area so they didn’t consider it. They
added it on to the Access to Transit Plan which will be included for future city plans. Marandos stated
he felt the VTA should be talking with the School District, the City, the developer and whoever else
might be involved.
7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Approved: Minutes were moved for approval by Commissioner Tony Marandos, it was seconded by
Commissioner Leo Gonzalez.
8. OLD BUSINESS
A. Strategic Plan Update: No update was given.
B. Downtown Bicycle Racks – Bicycle Parking Guideline Sheet: Chairperson Hilton shared that this guide
sheet information was pulled directly from the parking plan that the City wanted the Bicycle Pedestrian
Commission to create for bike racks. Hilton would like this document to be a guide for developers to
know about bike racks before they come to present to the Commission. Hilton would like the Planning
Commission and the Public Arts Committee to have a copy so all are aware of the standards for bike
racks. He would also like the guide posted on the website.
Michael Fisher, Consultant – Traffic Engineer added that he has an AutoCAD exhibit sketched of
downtown that he emailed to Chairperson Hilton to forward to the rest of the Commission.
He shared that you can get very detailed locations on it for the purpose of bike racks.
Commissioner Gonzalez suggested adding ‘off-street’ and ‘in well lighted areas’ under Bicycle Corral.
C. Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Monthly Award Nomination: Commissioner Reedy has a crossing guard
from Rod Kelley in mind.
9. NEW BUSINESS
A. Consideration of the Approval of Modifications to the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Agenda
Arrangement to Include Ceremonial Items – Awards and Presentations to the Opening of the Agenda
and to Include Numeric Identifiers: Motion was made by Commissioner Tony Marandos to move
ceremonial items – awards and presentations up the agenda to occur at the beginning of the Bicycle
Pedestrian Commission meetings to allow recipients to leave afterwards if they desire. In addition,
numeric identifiers will be used on all future agendas and meeting minutes. It was seconded by
Commissioner Leo Gonzalez. Motion passed 5-0.
10. CORRESPONDENCE
A. BMX Flyer: This is Garlic City’s official flyer. Chairperson Hilton will drop a supply off at Shifty’s Cycles
and Sunshine Bicycles.
B. Gilroy Library Bike Fest: This event will take place on Saturday, September 30 at the Gilroy Library from
10am-1pm to celebrate the new bicycle Fix-It Station. A children’s concert will simultaneously be held
at noon. Shifty Cycles will also attend. Per Commissioner Reedy, Sherman Lee with the Public Health
Department will also attend offering a bicycle skills course with help from high school volunteers.
C. Walk and Bike to School Day: October 4, 2017 is International Walk to School Day as well as a ‘kick off’
for all schools to walk and bike to school. Chairperson Hilton will be leading a Bike Train for El Roble
School. A Gilroy firefighter will also be joining him and he extended an invitation to Mayor Velasco to
join them. Commissioner Reedy said that Rod Kelley School is also participating for the first time in the
Walk to School event. He also shared that Del Buono School is interested in the Walk to School but plan
to do it on October 11, 2017. They are lacking parent help and have asked Commissioner Reedy for
assistance.
11. COMMISSIONER’S REPORTS
A. Chairperson Zachary Hilton: Watched the presentation on the 10th Street Bridge design and they are
moving forward with it; Still interested in an Adopt-A-Spot sign to put someplace where the
Commission will get recognized for cleaning a specific area twice a year and he asked Parks and
Recreation if they could suggest a spot other than Hecker Pass as the developer will deal with that for
one year; He was invited to be a part of the editorial board for Gilroy Dispatch and he recently wrote a
letter to them about Safe Routes to School which promotes the Commissio n, and what the County and
City are doing and talked about our open position. Hoping to bring more awareness about bike safety;
When developers come to the Commission meetings we need to know ahead of time what the Possible
Action will be. For example, to receive and make comments or to approve something. We must be
very clear that documents are to be received prior to the Commission meetings (within 72 hours) to
allow enough time for all Commissioners to review as well as for the public to see. If it is not received
within that timeframe, that item will have to be pushed to a subsequent meeting unless it is extremely
pressing.
B. Vice Chairperson Chad Reeder: Not present
C. Commissioner Tony Marandos: Shared that Let’s All Go To The Park Event held on September 9 was a
success; He still has concerns about Alexander Station and is glad it’s on Valley Transportation
Authority’s radar; Complimented the buffered bike lane on Welburn Avenue.
D. Commissioner Leo Gonzalez: Shared that he recently heard that California has the highest percentage
of train versus pedestrian accidents in the United States; Was recently at Apple and heard that Google
is planning to build a high tech facility just north of the Home Depot parking lot; Stated that the
Commission needs to start thinking about the PowerPoint presentation for City Council and wants to
mention that the budget on sidewalk issues needs to increase.
E. Commissioner Sean Reedy: Alisa Arce with the Public Health Department/Safe Routes to School sent an
email about the walk ability/bike ability assessments from the audits that schools have been doing. Rod
Kelley and South Valley are inviting city officials and Gilroy Police Department to come to school for a
meeting to discuss the data collected. Reedy will attend one meeting at Rod Kelley the morning of
October 24, 2017; A crossing guard was almost struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Kern and
Welburn; Silicon Valley Bike Coalition helped in August with the Bike Picnic at Rod Kelley where a
number of kids learned safety skills.
12. STAFF COMMENTS
None
13. AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
Commission/Committee Assessment
Alexander Station (tentative)
Annual Presentation to City Council
Strategic Plan Update
Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Monthly Award
Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Monthly Nomination
General Plan Advisory Committee Update
Valley Transportation Authority Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee Update
ADJOURN: 7:02 p.m. to the October 24, 2017 meeting at 6pm.