2016/05/23 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Minutes NPFT fqR,
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
�� FORN � 5:30 PM,Monday,May 23,2016
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 Cmdr.Aaron Johnson, Staff X
Jerry Griffin,Parks and Recreation Commission Liaison X
1. Call to Order
Chair Tim Hensel called the meeting to order at 5:35 PM.
2. Introductions
Chair Hensel commenced self-introductions. Committee Members present were Tim Hensel,
Terry Gault, Stephen Gold, Carson Williams, and Katie Musick. City staff present were Eydie Tacata,
Management Analyst; Commander Aaron Johnson,Department of Public Safety;Jerry Griffin, Parks
and Recreation Commission Liaison.
3. Public Comments
Barbara Dahl,Valley Village Mobile Home Park resident, said that she was hoping to hear more
about the plans for the construction of the SMART line and multi-use path and to find out when it
would be completed. Staff answered that SMART has told the City it would be late-June for
completion of the Rohnert Park segment of the multi-use path.
4. Approval of Minutes of Meeting of April 4,2016
Committee Member Musick moved to approve the April 4,2016 meeting minutes;the motion
was seconded by Committee Member Gold and was approved by vote count of 4 ayes (Musick,Gold,
Williams,Hensel)-0 nays -0 absences - 1 abstention(Gault).
5. Curb Painting and Enforcement
Chair Hensel introduced the item. Commander Aaron Johnson began the discussion by
acknowledging that while curb painting and enforcement is a broad topic,because of the high
maintenance costs,the City's overall approach is to no longer actively paint curbs,but instead to erect
signage to indicate parking restrictions. Committee Member Musick asked if this approach is citywide.
Commander Johnson explained that the City looks into requests for curb painting brought up by
citizens. He has also found that citizens sometimes also paint curbs on their own,but this is not
encouraged. He is considering developing a formal program with a civic group or similar organization
to manage volunteers for curb painting.
Committee Member Gold asked about red curb painting along Southwest Boulevard in the vicinity of
the crosswalk,whether requested by the school or the City and designed into the recent street project
there, and whether maintenance costs are considered or covered in project funding. Staff member
Rohnert Park Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
May 23,2016 Meeting Minutes
Tacata explained that the curb painting was designed into the project,and project plans and
specifications are approved by the City Council,and that maintenance costs are not built into capital
project budgets. Commander Johnson added that costs of ongoing maintenance present a"Catch-22"
when the City considers grant funding for capital items that we later have to find funding for ongoing
costs. There was further discussion on this topic as well as examples given,including Office of Traffic
Safety grants for warning strobes,the future maintenance of the flashing crosswalk lights on Snyder
Lane, and the ongoing maintenance for the solar pavement markers on the SSU campus.
Committee Member Gold asked whether signs are legally sufficient to enforce parking restrictions. He
pointed out that there are some areas where signs do not make sense,particularly,where it would be
desirable to keep cars from parking too close to corners,where visibility is an issue.
Cmdr. Johnson explained that the California Vehicle Code(CVC)has specific restrictions about where
vehicles can park and/or stop--for example, vehicles cannot block driveways or crosswalks. However,
many of the locations of concern in the city are in situations where the CVC does not apply. In other
words, some of these vehicles are actually legally parked,even if they are causing visibility issues. He
further explained that City Council can declare certain areas"no parking zones"through the Municipal
Code and direct City Engineer to implement such restrictions.
Commander Johnson discussed various locations where traffic calming measures such as road diets, fog
line placement, signage and speed radar trailers in the city have been used to slow down vehicles so that
cars,bikes and pedestrians can be seen as they enter the road, or can see vehicles approaching.
Committee Member Gold asked about enforcement of vehicles parked in bike lanes. He gave the
example of a postal vehicle parked in the protected bike lanes with"no parking" signage on Southwest
Boulevard near Credo High School. Commander Johnson said that such parking is not legal and
encouraged calling Public Safety to report the incident,but he also shared the reality of how calls are
prioritized and resources are allocated to respond. He also discussed the staffing levels and recent
increase. He would consider restoring bicycle patrols,which would be mobile enough to cover creek
paths and parks.
There was also brief discussion about other topics,including:
• Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety working with SSU Police on public service
announcements targeting bicyclists and the applicability of the Vehicle Code to them;
• The crosswalk scramble on Snyder Lane and jaywalking in general;
• Graffiti reporting;
• Speed radar trailer in bike lanes,placement of the trailers to capture certain data. Commissioner
Griffin request the placement of radar trailer on Fairway Drive.
Commander Johnson encouraged the Committee Members to feel free contact him with further
questions and concerns,and that they could also start contacting Sergeant Jerrod Marshall,who will be
heading up the Traffic Division.
Rohnert Park Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
May 23,2016 Meeting Minutes
6. Staff and Committee Member Updates on Previous Matters
Chair Hensel reported that the SSU Transportation Advisory Committee would not be
meeting in the summer,but should start again in August or September. The traffic study of the
campus that is proposed to be conducted is out for bid.
Staff Member Tacata reported on the Bike to Work Day Energizer Station,that there were
fewer cyclists counted travelling through the intersection this year, compared to previous years.
7. New Matters for Future Consideration
Committee Member Williams reported conditions of uneven pavement construction and
stormwater pollution prevention controls at the transition of Copeland Creek Path to Snyder Lane.
8. Adjournment
Chair Hensel moved to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Vice Chair Gault and
carried unanimously approved by vote count of 5 ayes (Hensel, Gault, Musick, Gold,Williams) -0 nays
- 0 absences - 0 abstentions. The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:20 PM.
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Eydie Tacata, Recording Secretary Tim Hensel,Committee Chair
Rohnert Park Bicycle Advisory Committee Rohnert Park Bicycle Advisory Committee