2024/08/26 Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee MinutesC IL
Members Present:
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC)
Meeting Minutes
5:30 PM, Monday, August 26, 2024
Rohnert Park City Hall, City Council Chambers
130 Avram Avenue, Rohnert Park, California
Jan Ogren (Chair) X Steve Keith (Vice Chair) X
Gary Gutierrez X Tim Hensel X Shirley Johnson X
Non -Voting Participants: Eydie Tacata (Senior Public Works Analyst, City of Rohnert Park);
Jason Sampietro (Associate Engineer, City of Rohnert Park); Elliott Pickett (Associate Planner, City
of Rohnert Park); Alisa Rossetti (Sustainability Intern, City of Rohnert Park); Jim Barrios (Parks and
Recreation Commissioner, City of Rohnert Park); Emily Shartin (Outreach and Advocacy
Coordinator, Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition)
1. Call to Order
Chair Jan Ogren called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM.
2. Introductions
Chair Ogren commenced self -introductions.
3. Reading of the Land Acknowledgement
Chair Ogren read the Land Acknowledgement on the Meeting Agenda.
4. Public Comments
There were no comments from members of the public in attendance.
5. Consideration of Approval of Minutes for 7/22/24 meeting
Action: Moved/seconded (Hensel/Gutierrez) to approve the 7/22/2024 meeting minutes. Motion
carried by the following 5-0-0-0 vote: Ayes: Gutierrez, Hensel, Johnson, Ogren, Keith; Noes:
None; Abstentions: None; Absences: None.
6. Bicycle Parking
Eydie Tacata, staff to the BPAC, provided a brief background on bicycle parking in the City,
distinguishing between bike parking at City -owned facilities and that on private property.
Elliott Pickett, Associate Planner (City of Rohnert Park), provided a slide presentation, "Bike
Parking on Private Property" (see Attachment A). He walked through examples of a new
restaurant and grocery store to illustrate different considerations such as number of restaurant
seats or project square footage, which are metrics used in bike parking calculations. Mr. Pickett
also explained that change in use can trigger requiring additional bike parking spaces. Gary
Guitierrez, BPAC Member, asked about bike parking requirements for developments that have
multiple uses, for example, SOMO Village. Mr. Pickett said that the parking required for each
type of use can be combined, and then City staff and the project applicant work to distribute the
parking across the project in a way that makes the most sense.
Shirley Johnson, BPAC Member, asked how many bikes can 1 bike parking "space" hold. Mr.
Pickett said that the inverted-U shape that is the approved City standard that is considered to
Rohnert Park Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
August 26, 2024 Meeting Minutes
provide 2 bike parking spaces. In "wave" -type bike racks (which are seen around town but were
probably installed before the City standard was adopted), each "U" (right -side up or upside-
down) is considered 1 space; so a 3-U wave is considered 6 spaces. Mr. Pickett further
explained that City planning staff s development review (i.e. site plan and architectural review)
determines the number of spaces the project must provide, while City engineering review
determines whether the applicant's proposed bike rack meets the City's approved construction
standard. There was more discussion among group about the assumed number of parking spaces
provided by a rack vs. actual number of bikes that bike racks can actually hold.
Chair Ogren asked whether the business tenant or the property owner of a commercial complex
is responsible for providing adequate bike parking. Mr. Pickett answered it is typically the
property owner, as they submit planning or building permit applications for work that might
trigger new or revised bike parking requirements.
Ms. Johnson asked when bike parking in the zoning code is typically updated. Mr. Pickett
explained that for bike parking specifically, the Zoning Ordinance (i.e. Chapter 17 of the
Rohnert Park Municipal Code) was last updated in 2003; however for area specific plans (e.g.
University District, etc.) and planned developments (e.g. Central Rohnert Park PDA, SOMO
Village), these each have more updated bike parking requirements. Chair Ogren asked if the
different plans are like "mini zoning codes" specific to the developments, and that there can be
different bike rack standards and more bike parking required. Mr. Pickett confirmed this was so.
Steve Keith, BPAC Member, asked if there are programs to help property owners replace
inadequate bike parking. Ms. Tacata said that the state Transportation Fund for Clean Air
(TFCA) has in the past has offered bike parking grants. There was discussion about the City of
Petaluma using these funds for bike parking, and for City of Rohnert Park to look into a grant.
Mr. Keith asked what jurisdiction approves bike parking at the schools. He has noticed at
Evergreen Elementary School for example, that some bike parking has been removed and
replaced with the wave structures. Ms. Johnson additionally asked if anyone from the City
checks on bike parking. Mr. Pickett said that Planning checks at the end of processing a
planning application with a final planning inspection. If building permits are involved, there is a
building final inspection that might catch bike parking, however, parking is a site planning issue,
not building. If there is no planning or building permit application in progress, there is no
process that he knows of to check on bike parking at the schools or existing establishments.
Mr. Keith asked whether bike parking standards are in State of California code, such as the
California Building Code, or is it only in the City municipal code. Jason Sampietro, Associate
Engineer (City of Rohnert Park), said that the type of bike parking to be used is in the City
Manual of Construction Standards, although the City may adopt other standards, such as a
Caltrans standard. Mr. Pickett said that for provision and number of parking spaces, that is only
in the zoning (municipal) code. Emily Shartin, Outreach and Advocacy Coordinator (Sonoma
County Bicycle Coalition) added that bicycling advocacy groups have tried to get the State to
adopt bike parking standards but so far it has not happened. She recommended the publication
she sent to City staff and the BPAC last month, the Bicycle Parking Guidelines by the American
Association for Bicycle Professionals Association, as a guide that she hopes municipalities will
use for their standards and ordinances. Ms. Shartin emphasized the need to consider bike
parking requirements for both short-term trips, as needed in everyday destinations, as well as
longer -term storage, for example indoor storage at apartments.
Rohnert Park Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
August 26, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Project Updates and Announcements
Mr. Sampietro reported that the paving work was complete on the FY 23-24 Citywide Pavement
Preservation project and that striping and pavement marking is in progress. Chair Ogren noted
that the bike lane on Snyder seemed to be narrowed a little.
Ms. Tacata reported that the regional bikeshare program is expected to have a soft launch in
Rohnert Park, Cotati, and associated SMART stations in mid -September. The bikeshare parking
hub in Alicia Park would be installed soon. Ms. Tacata also reported that the draft Rohnert Park
Active Transportation Plan is being reviewed internally for submittal back to the consultant for
producing a public review draft to be distributed in October.
7. New Matters for Future Consideration
Ms. Johnson requested a discussion on pedestrian light timing at Rohnert Park Expressway and
State Farm Drive intersection.
Chair Ogren requested to add research of bike parking grant as an item.
8. Adjournment
Action: moved/seconded (Ogren/Gutierrez) to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried by the following unanimous 5-0-0-0 vote: Ayes: Gutierrez, Hensel, Johnson,
Ogren, Keith; Noes: None; Abstains: None; Absences: None.
Meeting was adjourned at 7:12 PM.
Eydie Tacata, Recording Secretary Ja gren, Chair
Rohnert Park Bicycle and Ro ert Park Bicycle a d
Pedestrian Advisory Committee Pedestrian Advisory Committee