Title
Approve Draft Minutes of the July 22, 2026, Transportation Commission Meeting (Action)
Body
Transportation Commission
Draft Meeting minutes 7-22-26
Zoom Attendees: 37
Legistar Link (Agenda and Video)
<https://alameda.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1376856&GUID=5A68E2F4-3F74-41C2-9E28-E3C81AA7ED54&Options=info|&Search=>
1. Roll Call (6:31PM)
Present: Vice Chair Suthanthira and Commissioner Johnson, Dara Abrams, Nachtigall, Kim and Gloyne
Absent: Chair Weitze
Vice Chair Suthanthira was present via teleconference from FOUND Hotels, Santa Barbara, Series by Marriott 3850 State St Santa Barbara, California 93105 USA
2. Agenda Changes
None
3. 2026-6195 Staff Communications (Discussion)
Lisa Foster, Transportation Planning Manager, provided several updates (*2:05).
Updates can be found:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8138029&GUID=BEADAEBA-5DB1-440C-98C7-A73CBEE51161&FullText=1>.
4. Non-Agenda Public Comment
Written non agenda public comment submitted before the meeting can be found:
File #2026-6193
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8136365&GUID=63E914A6-D9FB-4226-8556-B87BE0F9F7F8>.
Arsh Hothi, via Zoom (*7:18) General Manager of the Alameda Transportation Management Association, gave a status update.
5. Consent Calendar
5-A 2026-6028 - Approve Draft Minutes of the February 25, 2026, Transportation Commission Meeting (Action) (Continued from the May 20, 2026, Meeting)
Minutes can be found:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8027607&GUID=F75AA78D-B7B1-4EEB-B932-FC60F15F39CC&FullText=1>.
5-B 2026-6192 - Approve Draft Minutes of the May 20, 2026, Transportation
Commission Meeting (Action)
Minutes can be found:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8138028&GUID=046CDC04-AAD3-41C1-9AA2-ECDBE4D4CDA1&FullText=1>.
5-C 2026-6196 - Receive the Status Report on Transportation (Information)
Report can be found:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8138030&GUID=6F26DCB8-467E-4688-A15C-34781F43CDB4&FullText=1>.
Commissioner Dara-Abrams made a motion (*10:22) to accept the full Consent Calendar and Commissioner Gloyne seconded the motion. A roll call vote taken. The motion passed but with abstentions, Suthanthira & Johnson abstained from 5-A due to their absences at the meeting and Gloyne & Nachtigall abstained from 5-B due to their absences at the meeting. 5-C passed with 6-0.
6. Regular Agenda Items
6-A 2026-6197 - Review and Discuss the 2026 State of AC Transit and the AC Transit
Contingency Service Plan (Discussion)
AC Transit Staff Member, Steven Jones Director of Legislative Affairs, introduced this item and gave a presentation (*12:12). Attachments can be found:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8138031&GUID=BF23455E-F7FD-4719-AA9F-102E191B8581>.
Clarifying questions start at the 29:03-minute mark.
Public Comment for 6-A
Mitch Ball, (*31:10), described the outfit he had on (sign that said “Fund Public Transit”) that he had worn to collect signatures. He discussed not eliminating Line 19 and ways to increase ridership. He went into great detail about what keeps people from using public transit and how to address those issues.
Suzanne Diers, (*34:10) asked AC Transit to look to other countries and how they use the bus. She felt that there needed to be more advertising to encourage people to use the bus.
Jim Strehlow, via Zoom (*35:58) wished they would raise the rates to cover more charges and felt that drivers aren’t collecting fees. He also discussed he was having zoom issues on his devices.
Leo Esclamado, via Zoom (*38:29) discussed how he used the Line 19 but then it became last frequent. He wondered how AC Transit accommodated Alameda’s growth and the need for public transit.
Kim Cadle, via Zoom (*40:03) discussed Line 19 and also pointed out that there was additional housing being built along Line 19 so the need will grow. He also pointed out that parking spaces had been removed for Line 19 and wanted those back if the bus line stopped.
Action taken for 6-A
Commissioner discussion starts at the 41:55-minute mark in the video.
This was a discussion item, and no formal action was taken.
6-B 2026-6198 - Endorse Design Concept for Pacific Avenue/Wilma Chan Way Neighborhood Greenway Crossing Improvements (Action)
Susie Hufstader, Senior Transportation Coordinator, introduced (*1:15:55) this item and gave a presentation. The Staff Report and attachments can be found:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8138032&GUID=1913FF9C-969B-48EC-992D-57FD72894028&FullText=1>.
Clarifying questions starts at the 1:33:53-minute mark.
Public Comment for 6-B
Denyse Trepanier (*1:42:02) with Bike Walk Alameda discussed a letter that the group has sent in where they strongly supported staff’s recommendations.
Jim Strehlow, via Zoom (*1:44:52) felt that the city was pushing favorable votes, he felt the design was awful for local residents and had questions about emergency response vehicles and if it worked for them.
Hamill Serrant, via Zoom (*1:45:55) his main issue was that while residents felt that something needed to be done but that this does not address speeding. He asked the commission to be supportive of speed bumps. The speed on Wilma Chan needed to be addressed.
Action taken for 6-B
Commissioner discussion starts at the 1:49:09-minute mark.
Commissioner Nachtigall moved (*2:09:29) to endorse the Design Concept for Pacific Avenue/Wilma Chan Way Neighborhood Greenway Crossing Improvements and Commissioner Kim seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken and motion passed 6-0, Chair Weitze was absent.
6-C 2026-6199 - Review and Discuss Restriping of Clement Avenue between Balsa Street and Paru Street, Eliminating On-Street Parking and Creating 14-foot-wide Travel Lanes Including Additional Modifications at Clement and Stanton Street where Existing Concrete Bulb Outs Further Constrain the Lane Widths (Discussion)
Commissioner Nachtigall recused (*2:10:30) herself from this item due to having property within 500FT that would be impacted by any discussion or vote.
Scott Wikstrom, City Engineer, introduced (*2:11:07) this item and gave a presentation. The Staff Report and attachments can be found:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8138033&GUID=730699C4-BD24-4570-90E3-4D489FD1CC16&FullText=1>.
Vice Chair Suthanthira called a 5-min recess and then the meeting resumed (*2:33:50) with Commissioner’s clarifying questions.
Public Comment for 6-C
Due to the amount of speaker public comment time was limited to 2 minutes for each speaker.
McGee Young (*2:47:39) felt that had not really been thought about. He discussed how a park and a dense residential area had been built on a truck route. He didn’t want the past to determine the future for this area.
Steve Grogan (*2:49:36) discussed his history with Alameda and discussed bad wrecks he had seen and that he had seen a truck make a very similar turn. - He ran out of time, and his notes were added to the agenda, they have been added as an attachment.
Rick Stuart (*2:52:43) discussed past meetings he had attended on this subject, this had always been a truck route. He did feel for residents and the loss of parking, and it should have been a better design to start with. `
Mitch Ball (*2:54:57) discussed the design and gave suggestions on how to improve the turn radius. He also discussed that if public comment was treated as a vote, then that wouldn’t be accurate representation.
Meredith Levins (*2:57:15) discussed how the role of government and what should be done. She wanted everyone to go and experience the neighborhood before any decision was made.
Leo Esclamado, via Zoom (*2:59:08) discussed the recent public workshop and was concerned this decision would undo a thriving neighborhood. He believed this was against the General Plan and was generally unsafe and wanted other options considered.
Alex Wolfe, via Zoom (*3:01:16) discussed the history of this section of Clement and how many residential properties had been added. He believed this plan was not feasible, and more residential buildings were being built in this area.
Daniel Brooks, via Zoom (*3:03:21) agreed with speakers against this plan. He even noted that one speaker at a past public workshop who lived on Buena Vista thought it was a good idea to leave the truck route on Buena Vista.
Cyndy Johnson, via Zoom (*3:04:47) gave thoughts on behalf of Bike Walk Alameda. She discussed the issues with this plan but did give suggestions for traffic calming options that would help with safety.
Paul Ting, via Zoom (*3:07:18) discussed the issues with this plan, he thought this plan was against the Vision Zero Plan, and this plan would create safety issues. He also believed this plan would ruin the character of the neighborhood.
Ken Levins (*3:09:29) pointed out that many homes didn’t have driveways. He felt that the City was being very selective of what parts of the General Plan approves and builds. He felt this plan would destroy the neighborhood.
Adrien Abguyen (*3:11:51) CEO Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter discussed how this area is the primary area to exercise scared dogs. The shelter has no green space and the neighborhood, and its walkability allows the staff to care for the animals. He also discussed how staff already have a difficult time parking. He wanted to see more engagement with the community on this topic.
Suzanne Diers (*3:13:47) discussed how much the neighborhood had changed, more families live there. She felt that the design of the road was not safe for trucks and felt that it was safer to stick to Buena Vista as a truck route.
Anna Maler, via Zoom (*3:15:42) did not believe there as a perfect answer but did want the General Plan to be taken into account. Like other speakers she discussed the little playground near the water that lots of families go to and crossing the street will be an issue.
David Casey, via Zoom (*3:17:44) agreed with other speakers. He felt that it was a series of half decisions and wanted the commission to consider the whole picture. He echoed wanting to see a traffic study and to find another place for the truck route.
Jim Strehlow, via Zoom (*3:19:05) discussed the history of the area and said that everyone knew who to blame for the Cross Alameda Trail.
Dan Freudenburg, via Zoom (*3:19:55) discussed a tax he had paid as a resident that went to the beauty of the neighborhood and said he was for option 4, the General Plan amendment.
Action taken for 6-C
Commissioner discussion starts at the 3:21:19-minute mark.
This was a discussion item, and no formal action was taken.
7. Commission Communications
Commissioner Dara-Abrams (*3:58:57) discussed the infrastructure bond that would be on the November ballot.
8. Adjournment
Vice Chair Suthanthira adjourned the meeting at 10:40 PM.