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Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)
Meeting Minutes
5:30 PM, Monday, May 20, 2019
SITE VISIT: Labath Avenue and Carlson Avenue, north of Rohnert Park Expressway
Members Present: Katie Musick X Creighton Bell X Tim Hensel
Shirley Johnson X Gary Kenworthy _
Non -Voting Participants: Eydie Tacata, Management Analyst, City of Rohnert Park; Vanessa Garrett,
Deputy City Engineer, City of Rohnert Park; Leo Tacata, resident, Rohnert Park
I. Call to Order
Chair Katie Musick called the meeting to order at approximately 5:32 PM.
2. Introductions
Chair Musick commenced self -introductions.
3. Public Comment
There was no public comment about items not on the meeting agenda.
Site Visit Observations
The Committee members and other site visit attendees met on the northwest corner of Martin Avenue
and Labath Avenue. Staff member Eydie Tacata explained that the BPAC had a list of site visits that they
wanted to conduct, and that the west side of Rohnert Park was on the list. Additionally, the west side of
Rohnert Park is among several areas of town being analyze for alternatives as part of the General Plan
update.
The Committee members met on the northwest sidewalk of Labath Avenue and Martin Avenue. The
Committee members, staff, and a member of the public made the following observations and discussed
various issues, including:
Improvements in the vicinity of Labath Avenue and the Martin Avenue extension: Committee
Member Shirley Johnson asked what improvements there would be in the vicinity of the Labath and
Martin intersection, with the new development. Deputy City Engineer Vanessa Garrett said she would
check on whether there would be a stoplight; Martin Avenue is essentially a private driveway. Chair
Musick said that she expected that traffic to and from Costco would go through that street to avoid the
left turn at the Redwood Drive intersection.
Bike/ped path along Hinebaugh Creek: Committee Member Johnson if there are plans to further
develop the path along Hinebaugh Creek. Deputy City Engineer Garrett said that the developer of the
Fairfield Inns & Suites would be asked to rehabilitate the existing path on the north side of Hinebaugh
Creek along their property. The Hinebaugh Creek path has been identified for rehabilitation due to its
condition, however other paths in Rohnert Park rank worse in condition and those would likely be
fixed before this segment. Committee Member Johnson asked why the entrance to the path was
blocked off. Deputy City Engineer Garrett said that the Sonoma County Water Agency owns the path
and I ikely blocked it off for safety concerns. There have been discussions about the City of Rohnert
Park taking over the maintenance of this path segment.
Rohnert Park Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisoiy Committee
May 20, 2019 Meeting Minutes
• Bicycle and pedestrian facilities on Labath Avenue: The group noted the sharrows on Labath
Avenue to indicate that bicycles would share the lanes with automobiles.
There was discussion about the mid -block crosswalk close to North Bay Industries, which occupies
buildings on both sides of Labath Avenue. Committee Member Johnson explained that North Bay
Industries students/clients often cross Labath Avenue to access the bus stop and/or the other facility,
suggesting that this may be the reason the marked crosswalk exists. There was general discussion
about whether there would be need for an enhanced crosswalk here.
The Committee noted the 2nd midblock crosswalk at the north end of Labath Avenue, south of Park
Court. There did not appear to be specific attractors at the location to warrant a crosswalk here,
although there was speculation among the group that there may have been a businesses such as a deli
or eatery that might have created pedestrian traffic here.
Chair Musick suggested that proposed changes to existing crosswalks could wait until after the rest of
the planned housing for the west side in this area gets built.
The group discussed the fast speed at which vehicles appeared to travel on Labath Avenue.
Committee Member Bell noted the 35 MPH posted speed, and also that despite the parked cars on
both sides of the street which might visually narrow the street and slow down traffic, but which did
not appear to do so here. The group also noted that "No Parking" signs seem to have been removed.
• General observations about connectivity in vicinity of Carlson Avenue and Dowdell Avenue:
There was discussion about the new residential developments in the area as well as the new park
being built on the corner of Carlson Avenue and Dowdell Avenue. Ms. Tacata said that the City had
heard a few concerns about the safety of the crossing on Martin Avenue, just south of the intersection
of Carlson Avenue and Dowdell Avenue, with some citizens citing fast vehicular speeds.
There was discussion about north/south connectors in general on the west side of Rohnert Park, with
both Chair Musick and Committee Member Bell noting that Dowdell Avenue provides a good
alternative to the bicycle facilities on Redwood Drive. Chair Musick noted the need for
communication about how to get around on the west side and how to connect to the network on the
east side. For example, if you are on Redwood Drive, what is the best way to get to Labath Avenue?
For the residential that already exists on the west side, maybe the best route is on Labath Avenue.
Committee Member Bell also noted that if there was a crossing along Copeland Creek over or under
Highway 10 1, this could provide another connection between Labath Avenue south of Rohnert Park
Expressway to the east side of town.
There was also general discussion about the need for cross-town bicycle and pedestrian connections
across Highway 101, including a potential State Farm Drive overcrossing, which had appeared in the
current General Plan.
Adjournment
The Committee adjourned the meeting at approximately 6:30 PM.
Eydie Tacata, Recording Secretary Katie Musick, Chair
Rohnert Park Bicycle and Rohnert Park Bicycle and
Pedestrian Advisory Committee Pedestrian Advisory Committee