Title
Highlights of the Facilities and Transportation Committee Meeting of Wednesday, March 1, 2017.
Body
CITY OF SAN LEANDRO
CITY COUNCIL FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
March 1, 2017
4:00 p.m. - 5:30 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, Councilmember Deborah Cox, and Councilmember Corina Lopez
City staff present: Engineering & Transportation Director Keith Cooke, Associate Engineer Vibha Deshmukh, Administrative Analyst Kirsten Foley, Planning Manager Andrew Mogensen, Principle Engineer Michael Stella, City Engineer Nick Thom
Public present: Sarah Bailey, Darren Chan of AT&T, Jennifer Johnson of Mobilitie, Jeff Knowles of Alta Planning + Design, San Francisco State News Student Qing Huang, Paul Maddox of Mobilitie.
1.B Announcements
None.
2. DISCUSSION ITEMS
2.A Discussion Regarding Wireless Facilities and AT&T Giga-Fiber Project
00:04:25
Principal Engineer Michael Stella provided a brief update about San Leandro wireless facilities and upcoming projects in the City. He introduced Jennifer Johnson of Mobilitie who presented information about their network of smaller antennas that boost cellular providers’ networks. The presentation covered the following:
• Antennas can be co-located on City-owned street lights or joint utility poles in the public right-of-way, and can be permitted by City encroachment permit
• The alternative to co-located installations are new stand-alone poles with antenna constructed in the public right-of-way because Mobilitie is a utility governed by the CPUC
• Aesthetic concerns can be addressed by the City during the permitting process
• Mobilitie is under contract with Sprint for the proposed San Leadro installation project
Mayor Cutter inquired whether additional lighting for pedestrians can be included on new pole installations to address lack of street lighting and obstructed lighting for pedestrians.
Assistant City Manager Jeff Kay inquired about the possibility of multiple carriers on one facility to reduce the number of poles as well as the potential to connect to the fiber loop. Ms. Johnson explained that only one carrier per facility can be accommodated under their business model.
00:28:00
Principal Engineer Michael Stella introduced Darren Chan of AT&T, who presented information about AT&T’s GigaPower installation project. This update highlighted:
• Opportunity for residents to purchase high speed internet service where service is not currently available (Comcast or Lit SL)
• Bundled price of about $80 and will be tied along with TV and/or phone service products.
• Utility box location selection and City’s permit process
• Project timeline for summer 2017 installations,: efforts to outreach to residents
Principal Engineer Michael Stella spoke about the AT&T - GigaPower installation project. Project involves equipment that requires a cabinet mounted on the ground and is placed were no other utility (Comcast & Lit San Leandro) service exist. Currently, the City has processed approximately thirty encroachment permits to AT&T for said project. AT&T is 50% through the permitting process for the entire project. AT&T sent notices to residents that included photos of the cabinets, list of potential locations and an explanation of the benefits in having this service. AT&T and staff have received feedback from residents about potential locations and AT&T has responded by examining alternate locations.
Notifications were sent to property owners, both off- and on-site, and to occupants of the addresses provided by the City’s SLAM. , Mayor Cutter asked AT&T/staff to make physical contact before work begins so that property owners/occupants are well informed about the project, especially the start of installation.
Preferred location of the new box is nearest to an existing utility pole where wires will extend down the pole to the ground where excavation will be between the box and the pole. The cabinets are low maintenance, power free and quiet, with only fiber running through it.
Based on the photos provided, Mayor Cutter asked if there is an artistic component to cabinets. Mr. Chan explained that there is a warranty issue as the paint used is specific to the cabinet for protection purposes. Accommodations can be made to hide the cabinet using bushes or shrubs.
Project timeline is six to eight months, from beginning to end. Starting point is obtaining the necessary permits, which will then allow scheduling of the construction work; may be as soon as May. When a significant number of cabinets are installed, AT&T will make the product accessible to residences; possibly by August 2017. Size specifications will depend on the location, which will be on the permit application and subject to City’s review. For reference purposes, the smallest cabinet will service 300 units.
Committee request to staff: Committee expressed concern about aesthetics of the cabinets and whether boxes could be included in City’s utility box art program and expressed a desire to explore whether residents with box on or near their property could be compensated (e.g. discounted or free service). Darren Chan will report back to the Committee.
2.B Discussion Regarding Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan - 00:57:52
Senior Transportation Engineer Reh-Lin Chen presented the Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan and gave a brief history of the inception of the current plan. He then introduced
Consultant Jeff Knowles from Alta Planning + Design who provided the following highlights:
• Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) and open house workshop held February 28th
• Online and in-person survey currently open
Alta Planning consolidated goals from the last Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan into six goals:
1) Comprehensive transportation system - links residential neighborhoods with local, regional destinations and transit to help reduce vehicular trips.
2) Funding & implementation - plan to prioritize and maximize funding by strategizing; determine most impactful recommendations
3) Bikeability - meet the needs of the commute
4) Walkability - improve pedestrian streets
5) Education - raise awareness of benefits of walking and biking
6) Best practices informed by land use, development - provide bike lockers/showers/parking
Committee expressed a positive outlook and direction regarding the survey. Kudos went to staff and consultant for the public outreach effort. Councilmember Lopez commented that information from BPMP open house regarding the collisions was helpful in creation of CIP priorities.
2.C Project Updates - 01:27:27
2.C.a MacArthur/Superior Traffic Roundabout
Staff anticipates updated plan from the consultant in mid-March and will bring back for Committee review in April. In late spring, there will be a public meeting and online posting for review and comment. Staff plans to finish design and bid in fall, with construction planned for 2018.
2.C.b East Bay Greenway
East Bay Greenway: In partnership with Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC), a conceptual plan for rail to trail and rail with trail options is in development and will be available for Committee review in April. Principal Engineer Michael Stella will report Committee’s feedback to regional partners. The full plan will be presented to Council in the summer.
Committee request to staff: Mayor Cutter would like Principal Engineer Michael Stella to brief her on the Greenway.
2.C.c On-going City Projects
City Projects: Currently, Street Rehab work is in progress, but requires warmer temperatures (above 55 degrees) to continue work. More than eight streets remain to be done.
Staff is working on next year’s project (includes additional $3M from ACTC). It is anticipated that work will start in late summer.
2.D Discussion Regarding Future Agenda item - 01:31:41
2.D.a Downtown Plaza
2.D.b MacArthur Blvd/Superior Avenue Traffic Roundabout
No comment
2.D.c I-880 Landscaping
The committee discussed areas for landscaping.
The committee discussed renaming the Plaza. Currently, there is no policy in place at this point. Mayor Cutter recommended that staff talk with City Clerk Tamika Greenwood.
2.D.d Bike to Work Day
No comment
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS
4. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS
During discussion of City cameras, Councilmember Lopez asked that a City camera be considered at the MacArthur/Superior Roundabout, with possibly speed feedback signs as well.
Committee requested cameras in the San Leandro BRT stations. Would like to see cameras used for public safety at bus stops - need to be under the City’s control and not AC Transit’s control.
Mayor Cutter recommended looking at the retention policy for cameras; may be different from the State’s policy. Engineering and Transportation Director Keith Cooke suggested discussing the item at next meeting.
Committee requests the review of Art Master Plan by Facilities and Transportation Committee before going to Council.
Assistant City Manager J. Kay stated that if response is favorable, we should find ways to do it in the existing budget. Committee would like to see it expand to Downtown. This item will be scheduled to Future Agenda Items.
5. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.