Title
5A. Approve Meeting Minutes - September 28, 2022 (Action Item)
Body
Draft Minutes
Transportation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Pursuant to Assembly Bill 361 codified at Government Code Section 54953, Transportation Commissioners can attend the meeting via teleconference. The City allows public participation via Zoom.
Zoom Attendees: 9
Legistar Link:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=898694&GUID=9ECFF2CF-89E4-4155-A6D9-2401C834562F&Options=info|&Search>=
1. Roll Call
Present: Chair Soules, Vice Chair Yuen and Commissioners Kohlstrand, Johnson, Weitze, Suthanthira and Nachtigall.
Absent: None.
2. Agenda Changes
None.
3. Staff Communications are as shown in the web link here:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5846735&GUID=E3817FCE-45B7-4436-BD9F-5C947C72C559&FullText=1>
4. Announcements / Public Comments
Commissioner Alysha Nachtigall discussed the road closure on Buena Vista between Constitution and Grand. She went into details about the impact and wanted to get the word out.
Jim Strehlow discussed traffic circles that he has seen in the Mediterranean and that in Barcelona there were traffic circles with traffic signals. He also noted the underground parking garages and car ferries.
5. Consent Calendar
5A. Approve Meeting Minutes - May 25, 2022
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5846736&GUID=CF2CA3EF-EC89-4015-A9BA-736E057AF90E&FullText=1>
Commissioner Scott Weitze pointed out a typo under item 6A.
Commissioner Rebecca Kohlstrand made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections from May 25th and Commissioner Weitze seconded. A vote was taken by a raise of hands and the motion passed 7-0.
6. Regular Agenda Items
6A. Acknowledge Outgoing Commissioners & Introduce New Commissioners (Information Item)
Chair Samantha Soules acknowledged the hard work of the outgoing commissioners. Michael Hans had served since 2016 and had represented AUSD very faithfully. Randy Rentschler whose time was shorter but offered a great perspective.
Chair Soules then introduced the incoming commissioners who introduced themselves.
Commissioner Geoffrey Johnson introduced himself and discussed his background in Transportation.
Commissioner Saravana Suthanthira introduced herself and discussed her background in Transportation and Planning.
Chair Soules opened public comment.
There were no speakers.
6B. Board Elections (Action Item)
Chair Soules opened the floor for nominations.
Commissioner Weitze nominated Chair Soules and Vice Chair Tina Yuen to continue in their roles. Commissioner Kohlstrand seconded the nomination. A vote was taken by a raise of hands and the motion passed 7-0.
Chair Soules opened public comment.
There were no speakers.
6C. Accept Status Report on Transportation (Lisa Foster, Senior Transportation Coordinator and City staff) (Action Item)
Lisa Foster, Senior Transportation Coordinator, introduced this item. The Staff Report and attachments can be found at
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5846739&GUID=9B8610BD-FC0A-454E-B785-432140EBF6EB&FullText=1>.
Rochelle Wheeler, Senior Transportation Coordinator, and Erin Smith, Director of Public Works, also presented.
Commissioner Clarifying Questions for #6C
Vice Chair Yuen wanted to know more about the public outreach timeline for the ATP (Active Transportation Plan), she felt it was short. She also wanted to know about AC Transit bus line 78, what was AC Transit looking for to make this a permanent route.
Staff Member Wheeler discussed the 3 weeks outreach for the ATP and that they were ready to focus on the implementation phase.
Staff Member Foster said that AC Transit was looking for ridership or Line 78.
Commissioner Kohlstrand thanked staff for their presentation. She also addressed the outreach timeline and the importance of integration. She wanted to know about the timeline for the last block for the bike path on Clement Ave, the Pennzoil property.
Staff Member Wheeler discussed that Pennzoil had sold the property to developers but there was not a specific schedule. However, the developer would be required to build that missing section on Clement Ave.
Commissioner Nachtigall thanked the staff for the presentation and was happy to hear about the Cross Alameda Trail/Pennzoil update.
Commissioner Weitze appreciated Staff Member Wheeler’s comment about outreach. He asked about the Water Shuttle availability, having a Saturday on the schedule was a good idea. He gave suggestions on how to make the water shuttle a success. He also discussed the EV parking at Seaplane Lagoon and when that would be expected.
Staff Member Wheeler said the availability that they had was open to change.
Staff Member Foster said that they had the EV chargers but were having difficulty getting available contractors.
Director Smith said she would address those delays.
Commissioner Suthanthira thanked the staff for their hard work. She asked about the parking fees at the ferry terminals and wanted to know when they would be implemented. She also asked about the Loop Shuttle and wanted to make sure that people with disabilities were being supported.
Staff Member Foster discussed the timeline for getting the parking fees terminal, she expected early next year.
Chair Soules echoed what Commissioner Kohlstrand said about how information was presented to them and she discussed the proposed outreach time and that she believed that had been a lot of public outreach.
Public Comment for #6C
There were no public speakers.
Commissioner Comments and Discussions for #6C
Commissioner Nachtigall made a motion to accept this Status Report on Transportation and Commissioner Weitze seconded the motion. A vote was taken by a raise of hands and the motion passed 7-0.
6D. Status Report on Street Classification Mobility Element Appendix (Information Item)
Staff Member Foster introduced this item and gave a presentation. The staff report and attachments can be found at
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5846740&GUID=090B5DAB-BAA5-48A2-8902-2C5958DF2253&FullText=1>.
Commissioner Clarifying Questions and comments for #6D
Vice Chair Yuen asked about public engagement and gave suggestions on how to educate the public on what this was. She asked for clarification on why this was important.
Staff Member Rochelle gave background on the street classifications.
Robert Vance, Deputy Public Works Director, also discussed the background and what other uses can come from this map.
Chair Soules discussed what she hoped to see on order to make this make sense to the public and how this commission hoped to use this information.
Commissioner Kohlstrand discussed the importance of this kind of information. She also discussed her concerns about the gateway (main ways on and off the island) streets and the speed limits on those streets. She then asked the “purple” streets, streets that serve businesses and commercial areas and if there could be bike lanes there. She was still struggling with the “main street” designations.
Staff Member Wheeler said this early feedback was very helpful and these issues had been coming up.
Commissioner Suthanthira discussed continuity and all the aspects they should consider when looking at these streets.
Commissioner Weitze brought up the gateway streets for the Posey/Webster tubes and made recommendations on paving needs for streets that he saw getting much use in the near future.
Commissioner Nachtigall asked for clarification and intention for the truck route.
Staff Member Vance discussed what elements needed to be completed, the Pennzoil site, in order to complete the truck route map.
Public Comment for #6D
Jim Strehlow discussed his concerns about Versailles being marked as a “safe street”. He wanted to know if it would go before the Council again. He then discussed Gibbons Drive and wanted it to be considered a “neighborhood commuter street”.
Drew Dara Abrams wanted to know more about the Gateway Streets and the 25mph proposed speed limits. He encouraged making those streets 25mph and to redesign them in a way to make that speed limit possible.
7. Announcements / Public Comments
Staff Member Foster discussed the upcoming Special Transportation Meeting that would take place on Thursday October 20th at 6:30pm.
Staff Member Vance discussed some overnight work that Cal Trans would be doing. They would be resurfacing the Webster portion of the Webster/Posey Tubes. The city would also be resurfacing a portion of Mariner Square Drive sometime this fall.
8. Adjournment
Chair Soules adjourned the meeting at 8:18 p.m.