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2021/03/25 Planning Commission Minutes Joint Special Meeting of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Planning Commission and Planning Commission Regular Meeting Thursday, March 25, 2021 6:00 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Orloff called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Chairperson Orloff. 3. ROLL CALL Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Present: Creighton Bell, Committee Member Kimberly A. Finale, Committee Member Gary Gutierrez, Committee Member Tim Hensel, Chairperson Absent: Ann Marie Rodriguez, Committee Member Planning Commission Present: Tramaine Austin-Dillon, Commissioner Fanny Lam, Vice Chairperson Marc Orloff, Chairperson Charles Striplen, Commissioner Absent: Daniel A. Blanquie, Commissioner Staff attending via Zoom Video Communications: Planning Manager, Jeff Beiswenger, Recording Secretary of BPAC, Eydie Tacata, Recording Secretary of PC, Jennifer Sedna, and Consultants Steven Grover and Ian Barnes. Staff present: IS Analyst, Mike Son. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT Leo Tacata, Staffperson, stated that City of Rohnert Park Foundation is currently accepting applications for its annual Small Grants Program, and the deadline to apply is April 23, 2021. 6. AGENDA ITEMS 6.1 STUDY SESSION – City of Rohnert Park – Highway 101 Bike/Pedestrian Crossing Feasibility Study Planning Manager, Jeff Beiswenger, introduced the item and answered questions and comments from the Commission and Advisory Committee, including: timing of the project in reference to the Southwest roundabout; the location of the overcrossing; issues with the underpassing including confinement, flood and debris and the creeks; LEED alternatives to add impervious surfaces, setbacks, etc. in regards to the creeks; safety concerns including adequate lighting; width of the path in regards to social distancing, size of and number of people in a group; flat areas for people to rest; touchdown locations; retaining existing trees; partnering with SSU for branding of the City; inclusion of bicycles and electric powered devices (e.g. scooters and bicycles); and, inclusion of cultural and aesthetic motifs. Consultant Steven Grover joined the meeting to present the item and answered questions from the Commission and Advisory Committee, including: differences in maintenance between the plans; ADA accessibility; and, the design of crosswalk signal for safety. Public Comment: None. 6.2 GENERAL PLAN UPDATE STUDY SESSION – City of Rohnert Park – Circulation Element Planning Manager, Jeff Beiswenger, presented the item and answered questions and comments from the Commission and Advisory Committee, including: encouraging staff to implement LEED, to incentivize and have the plan reflect the diverse populations of the City; code enforcement of parking, specifically combining parking and bike lanes on Golf Course Drive to continue past RPX; increase charging stations in parking lots; wider sidewalks; extending bicycle connections to SOMO Village and downtown; improving parking regulations for recreational vehicles on the streets; time to walk within the City; partnering with Sonoma State regarding automobile impact on the street; traffic generated from the Casino; damage from heavy trucks on the roadways; and, moving bicycles away from the pedestrians for safety. Consultant Ian Barnes joined the meeting to present the item. Public Comment: None. 7. ADJOURNMENT OF JOINT SPECIAL MEETING WITH THE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE Chairperson Orloff adjourned the special joint PC BPAC meeting at 8:16 p.m. Committee Member Gutierrez made the motion to adjourn and Committee Member Finale seconded to adjourn the BPAC Meeting. 8. CONSENT CALENDAR - ADOPTION OF MINUTES 8.1 Approval of the Draft Minutes of the Planning Commission Meeting of March 11, 2021 ACTION: Moved/seconded (Austin-Dillon/Lam) to adopt Minutes of the Planning Commission Meeting of March 11, 2021. A C T IO N : Moved/seconded (Austin-Dillon/Lam) to adopt Minutes of the Planning Commission Meeting of March 11, 2021. Motion carried by the following unanimous ( 4-0-1) roll call vote: A YES: Austin-Dillon, Striplen, Lam and Orloff; NOES: None; ABSTAIN: None; ABSENT: Blanquie. 9. AGENDA ITEMS 9.1 PUBLIC HEARING DEVELOPMENT AREA PLAN AND TENTATIVE MAP - File Nos. PLSD20-0003 and PLDP20-0003 - Brookfield Homes - University District LLC Tentative Map and Development Area Plan I ACTION: Moved/seconded (Austin-Dillon/Striplen) to continue the Public Hearing for the UD LLC Development Area Plan and Tentative Map to a date certain of April 22, 2021. Motion carried by the following unanimous ( 4-0-1) roll call vote: A YES: Austin-Dillon, Striplen, Lam and Orloff; NOES: None; ABSTAIN: None; ABSENT: Blanquie. 10. ITEMS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION Commissioner Striplen noted an article published in Science Magazine regarding acute toxic affects to Coho Salmon from vehicle tires. Vice Chair Lam inquired about incidences of passengers getting hit from crossing the street and how to address this issue. Chair Orloff made a second and Commissioner Striplen made a third on requesting this report. Chair Orloff noted the seminar on housing policies in Sonoma County. 9. ITEMS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICE STAFF Staffperson Beiswenger noted the Commission will have a meeting for both the second and fourth Thursdays in April. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Orloff adjourned the regular meeting at 8:25 p.m.