2016/02/22 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee MinutesBicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
5:30 PM, Monday, February 22, 2016
Rohnert Park City Hall
130 Avram Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Members Present: Tim Hensel (Chair) X Terry Gault (Vice -Chair) X
Stephen Gold X Katie Musick X Carson Williams X
Non -Voting Participants: Eydie Tacata, Staff X
Call to Order
Chair Tim Hensel called the meeting to order at 5:35 PM.
2. Introductions
FINAL
Chair Hensel commenced self -introductions. Committee Members present were Tim Hensel,
Terry Gault, Katie Musick, Carson Williams and Stephen Gold; City staff present was Eydie Tacata,
Management Analyst; also present was a member of the public, Amy Loukonen, Sonoma State
University student.
3. Approval of Minutes of Meeting of January 25, 2016
Chair Hensel moved to approve the January 25, 2015 meeting minutes; the motion was
seconded by Committee Member Gault and was approved (3-0-1-0, Williams absent from vote).
4. Potential Items/Projects for Discussion with City of Cotati
Chair Hensel introduced the item. Staff member Tacata referred to a memorandum prepared for
the Committee and distributed with the meeting agenda. The memo contained a list of locations where
Cotati's and Rohnert Park's bicycle networks connect, or where a proposed project in the Rohnert Park
Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan provides access to Cotati bike/pedestrian facilities. The Committee
discussed each location as reflected below:
Class II and pedestrian improvements, vicinity of Commerce Boulevard / Southwest
Boulevard intersection: Staff mentioned upcoming City study looking into traffic
improvements, which may identify a roundabout at intersection of Southwest and Commerce
Boulevards. This location was identified in previous studies for a potential roundabout. There
was also discussion about the Laguna Bike Bridge, the multi -use path to the west of Commerce
from that bridge, the vehicular bridge crossing over the Laguna Channel at the city limits and
adjacent crosswalk with pedestrian -activated flashing beacon. There was discussion about how
the roundabout might affect vehicles approaching the path crossing located south of the Laguna
Channel, and also bicycle and vehicular approaching a roundabout.
• Myrtle Avenue Class III (Rohnert Park proposed facility) to Class II (Cotati proposed
facility): The Committee discussed observations about residential street parking along Myrtle
Avenue on the Rohnert Park side and trail connections off Myrtle. The proposed Class 11 on the
Cotati side of Myrtle was noted. There was general concurrence of a need to do a field visit at
this location.
Rohnert Park Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
February 22, 2016 Meeting Minutes
DRAFT
• Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail connection at Cotati well site adjacent to Ladybug Park:
There was discussion about whether there was a paved path from Ladybug Park to Cotati's
bikepath system beyond the well site, and general discussion about the informal trails in the area
that head south along Sonoma County Water Agency's maintenance easements, Rohnert Park
City Limits on the southern border and to the SMART railroad.
Bridge Crossing (Rohnert Park proposed Class I facility) from Sonoma County Water
Agency service road (Cotati proposed Class I facility) to existing Class I facility north side
of Copeland Creek (Rohnert Park): There was discussion about where a bridge could be
located to connect the proposed Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail west of Highway 101 showing in
the Cotati Bike/Ped map to the Copeland Creek Trail in Rohnert Park's Bike/Ped map; access to
the Copeland Creek Trail from Laguna Way in Rohnert Park; and how paths provide an
alternative to bicycling on Redwood Drive — although somewhat circuitous.
• East Cotati Avenue in area of Cotati SMART Station: Members of the Committee noted
their concern about street lighting in this general area, and also the poor condition of bike lane
striping, east of railroad tracks. There were questions about what the transition from the
SMART Multi -Use Path onto the city streets was going to look like and function.
• Gravenstein Way Bike Route in Cotati: Committee Member Williams noted that Gravenstein
Way in Cotati is indicated as a Bike Route, but it appears to lead only to a small neighborhood
in Cotati before looping back onto itself. There were questions about whether there might be
am unknown through connection in the neighborhood to Rohnert Park.
• Lancaster Drive Class I to Class II: Committee Member Gold noted that Cotati's Bike/Ped
map shows a segment of existing Class II bike facility on Lancaster Drive, just south of East
Cotati Avenue joining with a Class III bike route showing on Rohnert Park's Bike/Ped map.
• Bicycle Registration serving Rohnert Park and Cotati: Committee Member Gold brought up
that a single bicycle registration program serves both Rohnert Park and Cotati, but that it is not
known to many people. There was general discussion on the benefits of registering in order to
track stolen bicycles, and a question on the reach and administration of the registration system,
whether local only, or regional. Ms. Amy Loukonen, member of the public, mentioned that
Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition has a very good registration system that has aided in the
retrieval of stolen bikes. Committee Member Musick asked if bicycle registration could be
agendized for a future meeting, perhaps with the Department of Public Safety to speak to the
topic.
5. Staff and Committee Member Updates on Previous Matters
Staff member Tacata gave updates on previous matters by reviewing the memorandum for this
item, which included:
• Construction signs: location and removal
• Parking in bike lanes: enforcement and curb painting
• Review of project list in the Master Plan
• Brown Act training for committee members
• Coordination with the City of Cotati
• Pedestrian safety near Wolf Den Plaza
• Draft annual schedule for the BPAC
• Deterioration of sidewalk and bike lane along Southwest Boulevard
Rohnert Park Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee DRAFT
February 22, 2016 Meeting Minutes
Obstacle in walking path northwest of Snyder/East Cotati intersection
Crossing guards near schools
6. New Matters for Future Consideration
There were no new matters brought forth by the Committee.
Public Comments
Ms. Loukonen noted that she was pleased to see the Rohnert Park Bicycle and Pedestrian
Committee meeting regularly.
6. Adjournment
Chair Hensel moved to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Committee Member
Williams and carried unanimously (4-0-1-0, Gault absent for vote). The meeting was adjourned at
approximately 7:20 PM.
Eydie Tacata, Recording Secretary Tim Hensel, Committee Chair
Rohnert Park Bicycle Advisory Committee Rohnert Park Bicycle Advisory Committee