CC 09-16-2025 Item No. 22 Commission Oversight of Transportation Matters_Desk ItemCC 09-16-2025
Item No. 22
Options on Commission
Oversight of Transportation
Matters
Desk Item
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DESK ITEM
Meeting: September 16, 2025
Agenda Item #22
Subject
Options on Commission Oversight of Transportation Matters
Recommended Action
Provide input to staff on the preferred options for having transportation projects
reviewed by commissions and provide direction to staff to take the necessary steps to
implement the changes.
Background:
Staff’s responses to questions received from councilmembers are shown in
italics.
Q1: [Q1 follow-up]: The answer to Q1 in the supplemental report shows that both San
Carlos and Mission Viejo do not have a specific Bike Ped Commission or Committee,
aside from the Planning and Transportation Commission. The report states "San
Carlos has a Planning and Transportation Commission... Their Bicycle and
Pedestrian Commission was merged with the Planning Commission in 2022.
Commissioners are generally well-versed and informed regarding transportation-
related matters." So, does this structure satisfy the MTC TDA-3 requirement, as
recommended in the answer to Q3? What's necessary in the charter of the "Planning
and Transportation Commission" to satisfy MTC TDA-3 requirement for grant
funding?
Staff response:
As stated in the Supplemental, “According to MTC Resolution No. 4108, ‘each county and
city is required to have a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) or equivalent
body review and prioritize TDA Article 3 bicycle and pedestrian projects and to participate in
the development and review of comprehensive bicycle, pedestrian, or active transportation
plans. BPACs should be composed of both bicyclists and pedestrians.’ Without a specific
proposal from Cupertino on how a successor body would satisfy the TDA-3 BPAC
requirements, [MTC] is unable to advise further at this point in time but would be happy to
sit down and discuss further with VTA and Cupertino.’”
In conclusion, staff will need to coordinate with MTC after directions are received.
Q2: [Q1/Q2 follow-up]: The answers to Q1 and Q2 in the supplemental report show
that a few cities have the structure of one of the following.
• "Transportation Commission advises the Planning Commission, who in turn
advises the Council" or
• "Bike Ped Committee advises the Planning (and Transportation)
Commission, who in turn advice the Council" or
• "Transportation Commission advises the Planning Commission, who in turn
advises the Council".
These cities with such structure are Palo Alto, Walnut Creek, Alameda and Davis
(plus Berkeley, which is not covered in the supplemental report). This is not one of
the options recommended in the staff report. Would this structure work in
Cupertino?
Staff response:
This structure could work. However, this would require additional staff resources and could
result in project delays as it would require the involvement of at least one additional
commission meeting for each project.
Q3: [Q1 follow-up] The answer to Q1 mentioned that the commissioners for Palo Alto
and San Carlos Planning and Transportation Commissions are well versed in
Transportation matters, in addition to planning. The report states
• "Palo Alto has a Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC) which advises
the City Council on transportation matters. Palo Alto has had this structure for
over two decades."
• "San Carlos has a Planning and Transportation Commission which advises the
City Council on transportation matters ranging from review of preliminary plans
to higher level review of transportation policy documents and presentations
related to bike/ped safety. ... Commissioners are generally well-versed and
informed regarding transportation-related matters."
What should we include in the functions of a Planning and Transportation
Commission to ensure that the members are well-versed and informed in
transportation-related matters, including, but not limited to, bike and ped safety of
course?
Staff response:
The Municipal Code will need to be revised for the proposed Planning and Transportation
Commission and will need to contain the bike- and ped-related elements currently in the
Bicycle Pedestrian Commission charter and Council will need to select Planning Commission
that have bicycle and pedestrian experience when conducting prospective commissioner
interviews.
Attachments Provided with Original Staff Report:
None