Title
Highlights of the Facilities and Transportation Committee Meeting of November 3, 2015
Body
CITY OF SAN LEANDRO
CITY COUNCIL FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
November 3, 2015
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
San Leandro City Hall
835 East 14th Street
San Leandro, California
Sister Cities Gallery
HIGHLIGHTS
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m.
1.A. Attendance
Committee Members: Mayor Pauline Cutter, Councilmember Corina Lopez, Councilmember Ursula Reed
City Staff Present: Reh-Lin Chen, Keith Cooke, Kirsten Foley, Teresa Mallon, Lianne Marshall, Austine Osakwe, Debbie Pollart, Michael Stella, Nick Thom, Chris Zapata
Public Present: George Tucker of the Bay-O-Vista Improvement Association and California Senior Legislature
1.B. Announcements
2. DISCUSSION ITEMS
2.A. Discussion Regarding Complete Street
Keith Cooke presented a review of Complete Streets Implementation for San Leandro. He reviewed the current implementation status and then answered questions from Committee Members.
Chris Zapata added that Kittelson & Associates, a transportation, engineering, and planning firm that is part of the consultant team, was asked to consider technology (driverless cars, license plate readers), railroad crossings and aesthetics on its evaluation of the impact of Complete Streets.
K. Cooke provided a timeline for Complete Streets and said that it will go to full Council, then to Planning and in September/October 2016 back to full Council. Kittelson created and implemented a similar program for Baltimore, which will be used as a model for San Leandro.
Arterial and collector streets are the priority to be identified and residential streets reviewed on an as-needed basis. Staff will work with Alameda County on cross-jurisdictional streets and identify respective priorities. Staff will take the lead on identification of modes.
When asked by Mayor Cutter, K. Cooke said the bulk of funds for street related projects are from ACTC. Design guidelines will be developed to be used as street design standard; project checklists will be created for use by both City staff as well as developers. He added that staff will use these checklists that meet ACTC’s mandate to obtain funds.
Mayor Cutter suggested using different traffic features at various locations (for example bollards at Durant instead of limiting them to only industrial use) and using Complete Streets evaluation as an opportunity to examine safety and traffic. K. Cooke agreed and he assured the Committee that staff will incorporate Complete Street elements in all future street and road projects.
Mayor Cutter recommended that the consultant present their Plan to full Council with the clarification that Complete Streets doesn’t mean all streets done right away. K. Cooke will work on a survey as a means for the community that reviews major streets and provides the opportunity for resident feedback on priorities.
Councilmember Lopez expressed the need to address expanding use of sidewalks (outdoor dining, improvements, improved walkability, promotion of local business) when using Complete Streets design. K. Cooke will direct staff to include varied uses for the right-of-way in street projects.
Councilmember Reed talked about undesignated school routes (cut-through) and the need to identify those routes and make them safer. K. Cooke agreed and said it’s an opportunity to update the Safe Routes to School Plan and add it into the street topology.
C. Zapata summarized important issues from the discussion identifying safety, functionality, efficiency, maintenance and innovation. K. Cooke welcomes emails or drop-in visits from Councilmembers on issues and questions that are being addressed.
2.B. Discussion Regarding Casa Peralta Renovations
Nick Thom presented information on the Casa Peralta Renovation project. Teresa Mallon talked about the current programs and special events and discussed ideas and goals for uses of the property in the future. N. Thom said that an architect was needed to refine our vision for the property and articulate the work needed to execute it. An RFP was issued seeking architects with experience working on historical structures. Four proposals were received, staff recommends contracting with Architectural Resources Group; their contract will be brought to Council for approval. The architect will develop a master plan for the property with estimated costs of constructing each element. The master plan will be brought back to the committee for discussion.
N. Thom discussed current maintenance needs of the Casa Peralta. There is a need to install security cameras and perhaps a gate on the property to secure the grounds and to deter break-ins and squatting. The cameras will be installed by the end of the year.
Councilmember Reed expressed interest in keeping the renovations as historically authentic as possible. N. Thom assured the Committee that staff will work closely with the selected consultant to maintain the historical integrity of this site.
C. Zapata talked about the issue of continual maintenance and the budget to sustain it. T. Mallon said the consultant will help to develop strategies to generate revenue from the site that can be used toward maintenance of the Casa Peralta.
2.C. Project Updates
N. Thom updated the Committee on the status of current street paving projects and the MacArthur / Superior Roundabout project. A design consultant has been chosen for the MacArthur / Superior Roundabout project, final plans are scheduled to be complete by June 2016. Staff anticipates that money for construction of the project will be available at that time from the former Redevelopment Agency fund. Council will be asked to appropriate funds prior to construction. Councilmember Lopez asked for a timeline of the roundabout project so that she can advise constituents on the activity in District 5. N. Thom will provide the timeline.
2.D. Discussion Regarding Future Agenda Items
Mayor Cutter asked that Traffic Calming funding be on the CIP list. Councilmembers asked if the CIP process will be different for the next budget cycle and said they would like it to be more user-friendly. K. Cooke is refining the process to be in line with Council desires and will give an update at a future meeting.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
None.
4. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
None.
5. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 6:21 p.m.