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BPC 03-19-08MINUTES BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION CUPERTINO CALL TO ORDER REGULAR MEETING March 19, 2008 7:00 p.m. Cupertino City Hall Conference Room A The regular meeting of the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by Chairperson Jim Wiant in Conference Room A at Cupertino's City Hall. Commissioners Donald Armstrong, May Koski, Geoffrey Paulsen and Joe Walton were present along with Staff Advisor David Stillman. ORAL AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION Anne Ng asked for an update on the proposed meeting with Courant reporter Rick Lowe to discuss the bicycle related street improvements and other issues quoted in his article. Chairperson Wiant advised that would be discussed under Old Business Advisor David Stillman reported that a letter to the Commission from Debra Avon Hill had been received regarding unsafe traffic conditions for bicyclists owing automobiles exceeding the posted speed limit. David was asked to read the letter, a copy of which is attached to the minutes of this meeting. Ms. Hill requested that she would like to know "if there is anything that can be done to solve these problems." Note: Perhaps this item should be put on the agenda for discussion at the Commission's April 16`" meeting, and a representative from the Sheriffs Office invited to address the law enforcement options to reduce speeding on our busy streets. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. A motion to approve the minutes of the February 20th Commission meeting was made by Walton seconded by Armstrong and unanimously approved. OLD BUSINESS 2. Bicycle Transportation Plan Walton reported that the Executive Summary and Chapter 5 -Bicycle Promotion Programs, including the revised footnotes have been completed and will be forwarded in a softcopy format to David Stillman. Koski reported the she has completed and Chapter 1 -Land Use, Bicycle Usage and Conformance with Other Plans, and forwarded a softcopy to Stillman just prior to tonight's meeting. Paulsen reported that he was working to update Chapter 2 -Recommended Bicycle Network, but needed a PDF file of the City's streets in order to identify the various bikeway routes. Stillman advised that he would email the PDF file to him within a week of two. Chapters remaining to be completed include Chapter 3 -Bicycle Parking -Anne, Chapter 4 -Bicycle Education and Safety -May and Jim and Chapter 6 -Implementation Plan - Geoff. When the updating process is completed, a public meeting will be needed to present the revised plan and solicit comments, before presenting the Plan for approval and adoption by City Council. 3. Mary Avenue Bicycle Footbridge Update Stillman reported that the construction of the bridge was on schedule for completion in the spring of '09. Additionally, he reported that lane closures had been installed on Hwy 280 to control traffic in the area of the span where piers will be placed to support the false-work decking. In response of questions regarding project milestones, materials QA, and bike lane signing and stripping on the Cupertino side of Mary Avenue, David advised that he would ask City Architect Terry Green to do a Q&A session at a future Commission meeting. 4. Bicycle Friendly Community Status Update Wiant reviewed the information required to complete Part B of the League of American Bicyclists application in order for Cupertino to qualify as a Bicycle Friendly Community. Application obstacles include the completion of detailed statements relating to how well Cupertino measures up under the general headings of Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Evaluation and Planning, and Enforcement. Jim provided a LAB handout regarding the specific criteria considered under each heading. Jim advised that he would continue to work on LAB Bicycle Friendly Community application, but was unable to make greater progress owing to a difficult travel schedule over the last five months. In connection with enforcement of the rules of the road by bicyclists, Walton suggested that consideration be given to reducing fines for cyclists, in order to encourage increased ticketing of violators by the Sheriffs Department. Walton explained that several agencies 2 within the County, including Palo Alto, have or are considering a policy of reduced fines for traffic violations by bicyclists. Walton also suggested that consideration be given to linking BicycleSafe.com to our City of Cupertino website to provide online training and education regarding the safe operation of a bicycle with competing automobile traffic. Note: Audio difficulties made portions of the Commission's discussion of the Bicycle Friendly Community project uninterruptible. NEW BUSINESS 5. Election of Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Chair and Vice Chair A motion was made by Walton and seconded by Armstrong that Geoff Paulsen be appointed Chair of the Commission for a term of one year from the date of the upcoming May 21St meeting. The vote by Commission members affirming the appointment was unanimous. A motion was made by Koski and seconded by Paulsen that Don Armstrong be appointed Vice Chair of the Commission for a term of one year from the date of the upcoming May 21St meeting. The vote by Commission members affirming the appointment was unanimous. 6. Status of "Safe Routes to School" Cards developed by Public Works Commission Adviser Stillman reported that owing to staffing shortages work in identifying, improving and publicizing safe routes to Cupertino schools was running behind schedule. David noted that the positions of Traffic Engineer and Land Development Engineer were open and recruitment activity had begun. In the meantime, he is engaged in working with the School Districts to confirm the recommended safe routes, and in obtaining and updating GIS data to pinpoint their exact location. Progress regarding this important Public Works project will be reported to the Commission as it occurs. 7. Tri-School Commute Congestion Relief Measures Walton summarized congestion relief measures as simple to determine, but difficult to implement in the absence of parental support and student participation. In a nut shell, congestion in the Tri-School area can be relieved by encouraging students to walk or bike to school. Should they need to be driven, students must pledge to join a car pool in order to be dropped off or picked-up at school. In the event a student is the vehicle's only passenger, they would need to be dropped off or picked-up at one of the designated sites on the 3 periphery of their school, and walk the rest of the way. Allowances will, of course, be made for students with an injury or disability that prevents them from walking. The implementation of this program must start with buy-in from the School Districts and their teachers, parents and their school age sons and daughters, the City of Cupertino, the PTA and local law enforcement. Much preparation will be needed to successfully implement a campaign of this nature, and should include education and training of younger students on how to safely bike and walk on City streets and sidewalks. For the this program to be successful, it will require the appointment of Commute Relief Czar, with funding and support services as necessary to campaign the program, solve implementation problems, and track, report and publicize the success of the endeavor. A motion was made by Paulson and seconded by Koski to develop a Congestion Relief Plan that would include all of the steps necessary to fully implement a Congestion Relief Program for the tri-schools located on Bubb and McClellan Roads. The motion was unanimously approved. Note: Audio difficulties made portions of the Commission's discussion of Tri-School Commute Congestion uninterruptible. 8. Bike to Work Da~2008 Bike to Work Day will take place on Thursday, May 15~', and the Cupertino Bike/Ped Commission will again this year provide an Energizer Station at the entrance to the Community Center on North Stelling Road. The Station will provide Hobee's coffeecake, The Roasted Coffee Beans coffee, and commuting information and encouragement for all the valiant bicycle commuters. The Station will open at 6:30 AM and remain in operation until the commute rush ends around 9:30 AM. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Stillman noted that work is going forward on updating the City's website, which would include the Bicycle Pedestrian webpage. Walton proposed that among the other revision to our website, a link be established to BicycleSafe.com for the purpose of instructing cyclists in techniques that will allow them to ride safely in traffic. Paulsen proposed a future agenda item addressing the installation of a low cost demonstration Traffic Circle. Stillman noted that such an installation would need to support the City's commitment to neighborhood traffic calming. Paulsen proposed that the subject of Yellow Light Duration be placed on the agenda to see if any of the signaled intersection that have a particularly quick yellow could be adjusted to provide more time to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians. Stillman noted that there are mandated timing constraints that must be observed, but worthy of discussion. 4 Updating of Chamber of Commerce Street Map of Cupertino Bikeway Routes - Anne Ng indicated that she had been notified that the City's street map was in the process of being updated, and had referred the caller to Stillman for his review. ANNOUNCEMENTS No announcements ADJOURNMENT Wiant called for a motion to adjourn, which was unanimously approved and the meeting was adjourned at 8:52 PM. Submitted By: J Walton -Commissioner Attachment: Letter from Debra Hill requesting reduced traffic speed. 5