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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee 2015 MissionAgenda Item No: 5. d:::" -.... Meeting Date: January 20, 2015 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Public Works Prepared by: ~~~~~~~:::'~::;;~~-~'>:::"='======-ei€ity Manager APproval rJ~4 Director of Public Works File No.: 18.10.09 SUBJECT: ACTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL APPROVING A REVISED MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE SAN RAFAEL BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BPAC). RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Council approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee's revised mission statement. BACKGROUND: The San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee was formed in October 1998 when the Council adopted Resolution #10318. The Committee's initial goals were to: • Develop a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan for San Rafael; • Participate in the development of the bicycle and pedestrian sub·element of the City's General Plan Update; • Seek grant funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects from federal, state and regional sources; • Assist the City in realizing the bicycle and pedestrian goals stated in the North San Rafael Vision and Canal Voice initiatives; • Promote bicycling and walking as alternative modes of transportation to the general public. The Committee fulfilled one of its original goals with the Council's adoption of the San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan on February 4, 2002. All bicycle and pedestrian plans must be updated periodically to maintain compliance with California Streets and Highway Code requirements and to assure continued eligibility for state and federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects. To that end, Council approved a revised Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan on April 4, 2011 via Resolution #13133 . In terms of infrastructure, the plan added 32 new bicycle routes, including 6 miles of Class I facilities, 2 miles of Class II facilities and 2+ miles of Class III facilities. It also called for a number of pedestrian improvements, additional bicycle parking, school safety commute programs, and maintenance/educational programs. The overarching goal of the 2002 and 2011 plans, and that of the FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No.: ___ 6I..:..-_:2_-,.:5=-{; _____ _ Council Meeting: _ ... II'I:l"'":::cJ.~~"""'J"'~=---- Disposition: (JURI*'-A,04" -U.u.tr .. .,,~ ., "~....t ... ~c-l. • fi!taptqe.J.. J.J.cd. C'_.......J; J"tJrlCWII.".J; .. . . P1'oIr, ...".,.,.J.. • SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT I Page: 2 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, is to make bicycle and pedestrian travel an integral part of daily life in San Rafael and to make San Rafael a model city for alternative modes of transportation. ANALYSIS: Regional transportation developments, among them the imminent introduction of SMART rail operations, have impacted the mission of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Members and City staff spent much of the past year redefining BPAC's mission as SMART and other projects (e.g., Grand Avenue Pedestrian Bridge, NTPP Francisco Blvd. East, Freitas-Las Gallinas Intersection Improvements, etc.) present opportunities and challenges to pedestrians and bicyclists. The attached draft document -"City of San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee- Proposed New Charter"-defines the committee's evolving role. It is the end result of a collaborative process involving several iterations. The key section is the mission statement: "The goal of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee is to promote bicycling and walking as viable means of transportation throughout San Rafael; to provide conceptual input on public bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects; and to support the implementation of the City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan." This paragraph underscores the Committee's traditional role as promoters of walking and bicycling and supporters of Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan implementation. Providing conceptual input on bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects is where members can offer their knowledge at the onset of the design process. Timing is critical here. The project development process carries with it strict deadlines, from preliminary design through construction. Failure to adhere to these milestones can mean the loss of substantial federal and/or state grant funds and the City's ultimate inability to execute critically needed capital projects. With Council's acceptance of the revised charter, staffwill solicit BPAC input at the beginning/conceptual stage of project design. Here are two immediate examples: • SMART Civic Center Dr. Rail Station to Northgate Promenade Connection • Freitas-Las Gallinas Intersection Improvements Staff firmly believes that input from "end users" will result in improved project designs. Ongoing collaboration of this sort is the best way to incorporate the expertise and experiences of committee members as projects progress from concept to final construction plans. Expanding the number of meetings from 2 to 6 per year, as described in the mission statement, recognizes the need for increased BPAC input. If implemented in a consistent manner, the process will yield benefits for bicyclists and pedestrians, and the San Rafael community as a whole. FISCAL IMPACT: None OPTIONS: • The Council may choose to approve the draft BPAC charter in its current form. • The Council may choose to direct the Committee and staff to modifY the draft document. ACTION REQUIRED: Accept staff recommendation. City of San Rafael Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) -Proposed New Charter Missipn Statement: The goal of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee is to promote bicycling and walking as viable means of transportation throughout San Rafael; to provide conceptual input on public bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects; and to support the implementation of the Cit;y's Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. • Serve as advisors to City Council for bicycle and pedestrian matters in the City, representing the interests of citizens and local advocacy groups. • Serve as a liaison to City staff managing projects which impact pedestrian and bicycle activity. • Promote greater public participation and communication regarding the planning and implementation of public bicycle and pedestrian improvements that occur around the City. • Assist in seeking low-cost or no cost ways to improve the bicycle and pedestrian environment in San Rafael. • Support bicycling and walking as a means to increase the amount of non-motorized trips in the City, to reduce the dependence on autos, and to reduce the City's carbon footprint Meetings and Cpmmunity Involvement • Meetings will be held bimonthly, on a consistent day of the month; the schedule for the upcoming year will be set by November of the previous year; staff will contact committee members one week prior to scheduled meetings to determine if a quorum will be present; lack of a quorum will result in the cancellation of the scheduled meeting. • BPAC will establish an annual work plan that advances walking and biking in the City and will report annually to the City Council on its recommendations and pending work. • Meetings will be held in City Hall to promote the involvement of members of the public and stakeholder groups; the Public Works building may be used if needed. • Information about the BPAC meetings, including upcoming agendas, will be posted online. Meetings will be recorded. A means by which comments may be submitted electronically or in writing will be developed. • A period for public comments will be set aside at each scheduled meeting. City Staff Role The BPAC will prepare meeting notes. The Committee chairperson will develop meeting agendas in collaboration with City staff. Public Works Department staffwill assist in establishing contact with City Departments for presentations to the BPAC regarding, public improvements, planning projects, enforcement activities, economic development projects and other City efforts that affect pedestrian and bicycle planning or infrastructure. Specific Dutjes This committee's advisory and review function on matters related to bicycling and walking include, but are not limited to: 1. Implementation of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and Other Adopted Plans Participating in the development, review, and implementation of comprehensive bicycle/pedestrian goals, objectives and policies in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, and/or other City adopted community plans and area specific plans. 2. Existing Conditions Reviewing and commenting on the functional classification and physical condition of existing pedestrian routes, bicycle paths, bicycle lanes, protected bikeways, and bicycle routes (Caltrans Class I, II, III & IV facilities, respectively) within the City. 3. Review of Major Development and Infrastructure Projects Reviewing development and infrastructure projects that fall within the city's jurisdiction insofar as they relate to bicycling and walking at their planning and design stages for accommodation of cyclists' and pedestrians' needs. Members ofBPAC will serve as liaisons to City departments, commissions, and committees related to bicycle and pedestrian issues and report back to BPAC. 4. Project Development and Funding Making recommendations on capital improvements to increase use and safety of bicycle/pedestrian facilities; and providing recommendations to staff on the prioritization of bicycle/pedestrian projects for funding under Capital Improvements Programs or other district, county, state or federal bicycle and pedestrian grant programs. 5. Educational Efforts Participating in the City's efforts to promote bicycling and walking as viable forms of urban transportation and recreation. Date: January 20, 2015 To: Mayor Phillips and Council Members, via Richard Landis, San Rafael DPW From: Tim Gilbert, Chair, San Rafael BPAC Subject: BPAC resolution supporting the planning and construction oj the multi-use path along the SMART right-oj-way The SMART Strategic Plan 2014 specifically excludes mention of three sections of the SMART multi-use path (MUP) connecting to our downtown. These sections connecting the existing Cal Park Tunnel Pathway to the downtown station between 2nd Street and Andersen Street, Mission Avenue and 2nd Street along W Tamalpais, and the northern extent of the existing Puerto Suello Path and N. San Pedro Road, are critical components of the County's North-South Greenway and would be tremendous assets to the City's residents by creating a single, continuous separated pedestrian and bicycle path. Residents of the City are contributing taxpayers to the SMART project and deserve to have the facilities they approved and paid for constructed in our City. The BPAC voted unanimously last Thursday evening to advise City Council to request that SMART amend its Strategic Plan, 2014 to add these sections of the path back into the list of "Future Phases". Further, the BPAC advises City Council to direct DPW to work collaboratively and proactively with SMART to study alternatives that can accommodate these important sections of the multi-use path. CITY OF SAN RAFAEL ROUTING SLIP I APPROVAL FORM INSTRUCTIONS: USE THIS FORM WITH EACH SUBMITTAL OF A CONTRACT, AGREEMENT, ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION BEFORE APPROVAL BY COUNCIL I AGENCY. FROM : DEPARTMENT: DATE : Nader Mansourian Public Works January 8, 2015 SRRA I SRCC AGENDA ITEM NO. ~. d. DATE OF MEETING: January 20, 2015 TITLE OF DOCUMENT: ACTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL APPROVING A REVISED MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE SAN RAFAEL BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITIEE (BPAC) . .;.:.~:......::~~:..,...~~~-e=====~=' _ Department Head (signature) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** City ~anager (slQ8ture) NOT APPROVED REMARKS : (LOWER HALF OF FORM FOR APPROVALS ONLY) APPROVED AS TO FORM : City Attorney (signature)