1) Roll Call
Committee Members Present
Tony Panero – Chair
Anne Peale
Margaret Pye
Cecily Harris
Jason Mansfield
Jack Baumgarten
Advisory
Liz Cullinan, Planning Director
Sergeant Robbins, San Carlos Police Department
2) Approval of Minutes
Motion/Second: Committee Members Harris/Mansfield
3) New Business
a. Circulation Element – Presentation by Liz Cullinan, Planning Director
i. Presentation: The Circulation Element is a part of the city’s general plan, its “blueprint for the future. ”The Element will be contributed to by the city’s advisory staff, public works, planning, and police, as well as commissions and committees. The Circulation Element addresses all travel modes and includes the goals, policies, and implementation programs that guide our transportation system in the city. One of the primary goals of the updated Element is to provide for adequate pedestrian and bicycle facilities as viable transportation alternatives in San Carlos. Enhancements to accommodate positive pedestrian and bicycle experiences will be included. The element will also acknowledge the C/CAG Congestion Management Requirements.
ii. Changes pertaining to bicycle and pedestrian policies will be made in four key areas:
1. Safety: Goals will be to support bicycle safety education programs, enhance bicycle routes, reduce conflicts between bicyclists, automobiles and pedestrians, maintain wide sidewalks, discourage elimination of crosswalks at major intersections, incorporate pedestrian and bicycle enhancements with capital improvements, and insure that traffic controls recognize bicycles and pedestrians.
2. Connectivity: Goals will be to connect critical city components with sidewalks, trails and bikeways, support the Train Station as a major transportation terminal for the City, provide continuity for bike routes, encourage bicycle storage and improved bikeway access, and support bicycle accommodations on trains.
3. Integration with Land Use Goals will be to incorporate bicycling and walking facilities into all new development projects, support multimodal centers linked to transit, and support improved east-west connectivity by providing pedestrian bicycle under crossings of the Caltrain tracks where possible.
4. Comprehensive Trail System: Goals will be to establish a formalized local trails system, provide reasonably direct and convenient routes of travel through trails and paths, ensure that public trails serve the needs of the public without infringing on privacy, link local trail systems with existing systems, and make trail and path easements required for new subdivisions.
iii. Comments made about the plan by B/PAC members:
1. Committee member Harris asked if the creation of a shore line trail was possible if the San Carlos Airport was expanded. Director Cullinan replied that there is resistance on the part of the airport for wanting to re-route the Bay Trail inside the airport. (p. 10; 2. 0)
2. Committee member Pye stated that if the Bay Trail is to be utilized more frequently, access must be made easier, because the Hwy. 101 crossing is dangerous and difficult.
3. Committee member Baumgarten asked if a bicycle lane was possible on Skyway Rd.
4. Committee member Panero asked whether the San Mateo County Bikeways Plan has been officially adopted. Director Cullinan stated that the originally approved plan is in existence, but that the updated plan has not yet been approved. Committee member Panero stated that the current revision of the Bikeways Plan should be acknowledged in the Circulation Element. (p. 6)
5. Committee member Baumgarten asked what sort of guidance existed for the planting of vegetation on parkways, because it is now the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain the vegetation. Director Cullinan replied that planting for a new development must be consistent with the general plan, and that the City Council can pass a specific ordinance concerning vegetation. Committee member Baumgarten suggested that stronger language be used to emphasize the importance of planting native trees and shrubs. (p. 15; 1. 3)
6. Committee member Panero asked if the designation “level of service” depends solely on the level of congestion or if safety issues are taken into consideration. Sergeant Robbins stated that he had no knowledge of a correlation between accidents and traffic congestion.
7. Committee member Panero stated that policies which increase efficiency are also conducive to a higher traffic volume and that the goal of the Circulation Element should not be to make it easier to drive in the city.
8. Committee member Mansfield asked if it would be possible to write a policy to consider safety above all other considerations when making a designation for a given intersection. Director Cullinan replied that the accident rate and other factors are given consideration.
9. Committee member Panero stated that a policy should not exist which prioritizes traffic level over safety.
10. Committee member Pye stated that an item should be included to promote coordination with other communities and agencies in terms of control of intersections. (p. 12; #7)
b. Prepare for meeting with the City Council
The mission and goals of the B/PAC should be discussed, as well as our new bicycle plan. Pedestrian safety should be major topic, and include discussions on intersection safety, sidewalk improvement, and connectivity. Possible dates for the Council Meeting are February 28, 2005 and March 28, 2005.
c. Formation of a subcommittee for proposing how best the B/PAC can ensure bike parking at city events and to prepare for he Spring’s Hometown Days.
Committee members Mansfield, Panero, and Peale will make up the subcommittee.
4) Old Business
a. (Removed from agenda due to completion of item at the last meeting)
b. Committee Member Cards
No progress has been made.
c. Status of B/PAC Webpages
No report.
d. Status on Cranfield Avenue at Alameda de las Pulgas
No report.
e. Problem Intersections
No contributions to the list were made.
5) Committee Reports
a. Subcommittee Reports
No reports.
6) Public Comment
a. None
7) Adjournment
Motion/Second: Committee members Baumgarten/Peale
