Title
Highlights of the Facilities and Transportation Committee Meeting of Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Body
CITY OF SAN LEANDRO
CITY COUNCIL FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
September 20, 2016
5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
San Leandro City Hall
835 East 14th Street
San Leandro, California
(Sister Cities Gallery)
HIGHLIGHTS
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Pauline Cutter called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
1.A. Attendance
Committee members present: Mayor Pauline Cutter, Vice Mayor Ursula Reed, Councilmember Corina Lopez
City staff present: Chief Innovation Officer Debbie Acosta, Information Technology Manager Tony Batalla, Community Development Director Cynthia Battenberg, Senior Traffic Engineer Reh-Lin Chen, Engineering & Transportation Director Keith Cooke, Administrative Services Manager Kirsten Foley, Assistant City Manager Jeff Kay, Associate Engineer Kyle Lei, Library Director Theresa Mallon, Senior Engineer Austine Osakwe, Public Works Director Debbie Pollart, Principal Engineer Michael Stella, City Engineer Nick Thom and City Manager Chris Zapata
Public present: None
1.B. Announcements
Item 2.C will be presented before 2.D
2. DISCUSSION ITEMS
2.A Discussion Regarding MacArthur Boulevard/Superior Avenue Traffic Roundabout Project
K. Lei provided handouts and presented an update on the MacArthur Boulevard/Superior Avenue Traffic Roundabout Project.
Concerns of the Committee included: Speeding and high rate of collisions in the project area; bike lanes/ramps taking precedence over the project landscaping; shared right of way between pedestrians and bicyclists and making separation safe and functional for both.
Staff will look into the possibility of traffic calming on Superior Avenue, as well as the possibility of designating the street for local traffic only. This could help in getting residents to support the roundabout. Staff will also look into the potential increase in police monitoring and enforcement of the intersection.
Mayor Cutter asked that staff include Superior Avenue in the Project Updates Item to keep the Committee apprised of changes and modifications. Staff will also work on the beautification aspect of the project. C. Zapata suggested outreach with the Arts Commission and the surrounding neighborhood regarding art/landscaping element.
Staff anticipates going to construction in the fall of 2017. In conclusion, a roundabout will make the intersection more efficient, will help reduce speeding, will increase overall safety and will beautify area.
2.C Project Updates
K. Cooke provided an update on current and planned CIP projects.
2.C.1 Traffic Safety at Schools
The City will receive an Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) grant for traffic safety education for K-8, as well as senior adult education. Staff plans to forward grant for approval to Council on 10/03/2016. The grant provides for the incorporation of continued traffic safety education into the school curriculum, with a very strong emphasis on railroad safety. Another main focus is looking towards improving traffic circulation patterns for both pedestrian and vehicles near San Leandro schools.
Staff will partner with the ACTC’s Safe Routes To School (SRTS) Program for a complete school traffic safety audit involving all San Leandro schools including Lincoln High School. This audit will begin with Bancroft Middle School this year and will study pedestrian and traffic circulation and provide recommendations for improvement. In the next three years, staff will work with the School District on which schools will be next until all schools have been audited.
Mayor Cutter asked if the audit will take place before or after the District’s proposed bond and if bond passes, will the City be a part of the bond planning. K. Cooke said staff will work with school district on the improvements adjacent to school properties.
Mayor Cutter wants to bring attention to Washington School and the proposed traffic signal on Euclid Avenue (resulting from the Bus Rapid Transit project), which is a one way street eastbound. She suggested reviewing traffic on Euclid Avenue, making it an outlet for better vehicular circulation. She suggested that staff work with this school to establish a drop off zone.
N. Thom reminded the Committee that the deadline for submitting CIP ideas for the next budget cycle is September 30 for inclusion in the next fiscal year’s budget. Nearly 400 surveys from public were received. The survey revealed the top three ranked issues were: roads; parks; and libraries.
Staff will upload a survey monkey link for CIP survey, publish on NextDoor for all neighborhoods and post on Facebook. After this CIP submission period closes, results of CIP surveys should be posted on website and press release posted on NextDoor and Facebook.
2.B Discussion Regarding Telecommunications/Broadband Strategy Update & Master Plan
T. Batalla presented recommendations derived from the San Leandro Commercial Broadband Strategy created in 2012 as well as resulting accomplishments. The committed discussed the need for a Fiber Optic 10-year Master Plan for the City’s broadband and telecom as well as best practices for an open trench policy.
C. Zapata commented that there is plenty of capacity on existing fiber lines to increase usage of fiber broadband networks in San Leandro.
Action items for Staff:
• Evaluate open mesh network for last mile in the Telecommunications/Broadband Master Plan.
• There is need for public information/education campaign regarding cost of lateral connections to fiber network.
• Master Plan should discuss implications of City becoming an internet provider or utility company for data.
• Lit San Leandro is working to provide update to Council and the public on status of their current license agreement, number of businesses connected, etc.
T. Batalla asked the Committee for feedback and direction on the draft Scope of Services that he presented. The project is currently unfunded but he anticipates scope to be $50K up to $100K.
This item to be included on a future Committee agenda.
2.D Discussion Regarding Future Agenda Items
• New regulations and requirements for green infrastructure: new permit guidelines and inclusion of green infrastructure in future CIP (Mayor Cutter brought up the Adopt-A-Sewer project - D. Pollart, launch in Mid-October (and will be presented at the second council meeting in October as informational to the Council.)
• Add Parklets to December agenda
• Reuse of old library chairs - the committee asks that staff explore donating for reuse any furniture that is replaced at the library.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
4. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
None.
5. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 6:33 p.m.