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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07281998 - C140 .1 40 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Cwtra -' FROM: Dennis M. Barry, AICP Costa € hector of Community Developmentin�7 � DATE: July 28, 1998 SUBJECT: Reorganization of the Countywide Bic cle AdvIsorX Committee SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECQMMENDATIOS REFER to the Transportation Committee the proposal to reorganize the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee. FISCAL IMPACT None to the General Fund. The proposal would transfer the authority to;adopt recommendations on the Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 projects (bicycle and pedestrian facilities) to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority pursuant to its authority as the county Congestion Management Agency. Casts to staff the bicycle committees is currently funded through grants and county transportation funds. BACKGBO„UNDIREASONS FQR BECOMMENDATIQUS For many years, the Board of Supervisors has been the designated body to submit recommendations on TDA Article 3 projects to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Pursuant to the requirements of MTC, the Board formed the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee (CBAC) to assist the Board in making recommendations on projects to CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE + RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _ RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON July Z8 , 1998 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED XOTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A UNANIMOUS (ABSENT !.Up 71 aad IV TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: --- - NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE ASSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact Person, Steven Goetz, 335-1240 ATTESTED July 2 8 , 1'>9 9 8 Orig: Community Development PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF Public Works, T.E. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR GO-81KE1 Program Committee Health Services, Community Wellness and Prevention B , DEPUTY BLG:c:ktranscomlcbac.bcs ' Reorganization of the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee July 28, 1998 Page Two BACKGROUNDIREASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS (continuad) forward to MTC. More recently, County staff has worked with other committees to address bicycle safety and bicycle coordination issues (Safe Roads Safe Families and the GO-BIKE/ Program committees, respectively). Safe Roads Safe Families was formed by the County Health Services Agency with grant funds to address safety issues involving pedestrians and bicyclists. Funding for Safe roads Safe Families has ended and the committee has disbanded. However, the committee members believe there is a need to continue to address safety issues involving pedestrians and bicyclists in Contra Costa County. The GO-BIKEI Program Committee was formed in 1997 to advise the GO- BIKE! Program staff on implementation of the recommendations of the Countywide Bicycle Action Plan prepared by CBAC. Membership of the GO-BIKE! program Committee is drawn from volunteers from CBAC and the City-County Engineers Advisory Committee. For the past several months, members of these bicycle-related committees have discussed the potential for reorganizing their structure to consolidate their activities and perform their functions more efficiently. The objective of the reorganization is to improve conditions for bicycle transportation countywide. The attached proposal is submitted by Michael Jackson, the Countywide Bicycle Facilities Coordinator as staff to the GO-BIKEI Program. Mr. Jackson has facilitated the discussions on this reorganization proposal (see Exhibit A). The proposal represents the general consensus of the participants, although some participants have disagreements over certain aspects of the proposal, This proposal takes advantage of recent changes to MTC requirements that allow authority for the TDA Article 3 fends and the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee to be transferred to the county's congestion management agency, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA). The overall objective of the proposal is to integrate bicycle transportation issues into the countywide comprehensive transportation planning process administered by the CCTA. Up to this point, the bicycle-related activities of the OCTA have included allocation of Measure C funds for regional bicycle and pedestrian trails, and for bicycle projects utilizing Transportation Fund for Clean Air revenues. County staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors refer this proposal to the Transportation Committee. The proposal involves delegating a responsibility of the Board of Supervisors to another agency. The Board of Supervisors needs to indicate to the bicyclecommunity whether such delegation is desirable, and if so, would the reorganization proposal be an appropriate mechanism for delegating this authority. There is no specific time line involved with the reorganization proposal. The allocation of TDA revenues to bicycle and pedestrian projects is initiated in the Fall of each year. The activities of the Safe Roads Safe Families Committee have ceased. The activities of the GO-BIKE/ Program Committee are funded through June 1999. GO BIKE! MEMO DATE: July 28, 1998 TO: Transportation Committee ,�//Jj�� FROM: Michael Jackson, Countywide Bicycle Facilities Coordinator- SUBJECT: PROPOSED BICYCLE COMMITTEE REORGANIZATION There has been agreement among members of the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee, the GO BIKE! Subcommittee and the Safe Families Advisory Committee in favor of combining the work of these committees into one committee for the following reasons: 1. Increased involvement by members of the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee in the development and review of bicycle transportation grant applications. 2. Continued citizen involvement in bicycle safety and education matters that has ceased due to the end of the Safe Roads/Safe Families Advisory Committee last March 3. Economy of operation by combining the work of three separate committees regarding countywide bicycle transportation issues into one committee. 4. An opportunity to better integrate countywide bicycle transportation into the county's general transportation planning program and to more effectively involve municipalities into countywide bicycle transportation issues. After holding joint meetings on this proposed reorganization on May 14, June 12 and July 16 the committee members agreed that the new committee would be known as the Contra Costa Bicycle Committee(CCBC). It was also agreed that it would be desirable for the CCBC to begin work this fall. A major change in the CCBC over the existing Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee and the former Safe Roads/Safe Families Advisory Committee is that official members of the CCBC would be appointed by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority instead of the Board of Supervisors. Appointment of CCBC members by the CCTA instead of the BOS is viewed as being more appropriate since the purpose of the CCTA is to address countywide transportation planning and funding issues. There was concern expressed by some parties that the clout of the CCBC would be increased by having its members appointed by the BOS instead of the CCTA. Attached are; 1) a description of the CCBC's composition, purpose, structure, and tasks; 2)a copy of MTC Resolution 875, which lists the requirements of a bicycle advisory committee; 3) answers to the most common questions raised by bicycle committee members during discussions of this proposal, and; 4)policy recommendations related to this proposal. MJ/ D:WACKD0CreorgI0MEM0 Attachments cc: Dick Anderson, Delta Pedalers Mike Anderson, CBAC, East Bay Regional Park District Julie Bueren, CCC Public Works Department Bart Carr, SR/SF Nick Carr, CCC Health Services Department Jack Champlin, CCC Health Services Department Mike Daley, CBAC, District 1 Representative Kara Douglas, Strada Sempre Duro Martin Engelmann, OCTA Steve Fiala, CBAC, District 2 Representative Steven Goetz, CCC Community Development Department Michael Jackson, GO BIKE! Derek Liecty, CBAC, Different Strokes Mark Lowery, GO BIKE! Subcommittee, City of Orinda Chris McCann, GO BIKE! Subcommittee, Town of Danville Brian Mulligan, CBAC, District 3 Representative Cathy Nowicki, CBAC, Diablo Cyclists John Ruzek, CBAC, Sierra Club- SF Bay Chapter Robert Richards, CBAC, Grizzly Peak Cyclists Yehuda Sherman, Safe Roads/Safe Families Advisory Committee, CBAC, EBBC Dave Stoeffler, CBAC, Delta Pedalers Kathy Tate, CBAC, Valley Spokesmen Touring Club Chuck Tyler, CBAC, Dublin Cyclery John Templeton, GO BIKE!Committee, City of Concord Jean Watts, Valley Spokesmen Touring Club CONTRA COSTA BICYCLE COMMITTEE COMPOSITION,PURPOSE, STRUCTURE,AND TASKS Recommended Composition* Organization N c� #RCUresentative ,Cory Bicycle Organizations 9 Citizens I. Delta Pedalers 2. Diablo Cyclists 3. Different Spores 4. East Bay Bicycle Coalition 5. Grizzly Peale Cyclists 6. Regional Bicycle Advisory Committee (REBAC) 7. Sierra Club Bicycle Section 8. Strada Sempre Dura 9. Valley Spokesmen City/County Engineering Advisory Committee 1 Staff Contra Costa Transportation Authority 1 Staff CCBC Staff Support** l Staff East Bay Regional Park District I Staff Metropolitan Transportation Commission 1 Staff" Regional Transportation Planning Committee 4 Staff Transportation Demand Management Program Managers 1 Staff otaL...Mtii.iiYrHr.lYi..k..ii..11i.iiM.i................................19 Representatives( citizens and 10 sta *The proposed committee composition meets and exceeds the requirements of Resolution 875 of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. **The position would be appointed by the OCTA to provide administrative and technical support to the CCBC,consistent with the requirements of AdW Resolution 875.This staff support could be equivalent to the functions now performed by the Countywide Bicycle Facilities Coordinator. It is anticipated that other local government staff could be designated by the CCTA to provide additional staff support for related.work ,groups,if needed. 3 ....... ......... ............_._.. CCBC Purpose The purpose of the CCBC is to advise the CCTA on bicycle transportation issues. The desire of existing CBAC members is that this responsibility include the citizen's advisory functions as required by MTC Resolution 875 as well as participation in the planning, implementation, and maintenance of facilities and programs designed to encourage the use of bicycling as a means of transportation in Contra Costa County. Consistent with this function is a desire among CBAC members to help ensure sensitivity to bicycle and pedestrian issues in the design and implementation of all projects funded by the CCTA which impact bicyclists and pedestrians. The CCBC's mandate may be expanded to include participation in the planning, implementation, and maintenance of facilities and programs designed to provide for pedestrian and disabled access in Contra Costa County at a future date. CCBC Structure To respond to CCTA referrals, the CCBC is divided into two working groups; 1)the Bicycle Facility Development Working Group; and 2)the Bicycle Safety, Education, Enforcement, and Promotion Working Group. Members would be assigned to at least one working group. Working group chairpersons would be named and working group activities could be assisted by non appointed members known as Friends of the CCBC. The existing functions of the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee would be assumed by the Bicycle Facility Development Working Group. The bicycle safety and education functions formally handled by the Safe Roads/Safe Families Advisory Committee would be assumed by the Bicycle Safety, Education, Enforcement, and Promotion Working Group. The functions of the GO BIKE! Subcommittee, which serves to review and comment on the activities of the GO BIKE! Program, on a quarterly basis, would be handled by the CCBC general body since GO BIKE! activities include subject areas covered by both CCBC working groups. Other working groups may be added as desired, including a pedestrian and disabled access working group. This structure is recommended to permit inclusion of all interested parties in the work of the CCBC without the committee becoming unwieldy. CCBC Tasks The following is a description of the functions of the two working groups and their potential tasks. Where municipal bicycle advisory committees have been established, the CCBC shall yield to the recommendations of the MBACs as it relates to countywide bicycling issues within such municipalities. 4 __ __....................................................................... A. Bicycle Facr U DeIIxJ m n WDrfFttl,g U=n--This working group will be responsible for reviewing the existing transportation network of Contra Costa County, identifying where improvements are needed to accommodate bicyclists, developing a list of bicycle facility improvements for the purpose of riding and storing bicycles, reviewing and recommending bicycle facility design standards, guidelines, and procedures, as well as working toward project implementation and maintenance. The BFDWG would also make recommendations regarding bicycle projects funded by the CCTA including the selection and prioritization of bicycle capital improvement proposals, identification of grant funding sources, development and review of bicycle transportation grant applications, consistent with the requirements ofMTC Resolution 875. Typical tasks might include but not be limited to: 1. Plan Review- The Bicycle Facility Development Working Group will review and make recommendations on comprehensive bicycle transportation goals, objectives, and policies for the Contra Costa Transportation Authority's Countywide Comprehensive Transportation Plan(CCTP) and for the general plans of interested jurisdictions within Contra Costa County. Z. Dual Mode TranspQ on - The Bicycle Facility Development Working Group will review and make recommendations on the development and implementation of policies and programs in the CCTP designed to encourage the combination of bicycling and transit trips as a viable substitute to single occupant vehicle usage. 3. Bicycle Paddn&Facilities- The Bicycle Facility Development Working Group will review proposals for bicycle parking and related facilities including bicycle racks, bicycle lockers, showers, and related proposals funded by the CCTA or at the request of the sponsoring jurisdiction. 4. Construction and Maintenance -The Bicycle Facility Development Working Group will review and make recommendations regarding policies toward transportation construction and maintenance procedures for projects funded by the CCTA to ensure that bicycle access is not denied or unduly impeded. The BFDWG would participate in the development of policies and procedures to ensure that bikeway facilities are properly maintained. 5. Review and Development of F.Sisting and P.ropo ed S and rds and Quidelines- The Bicycle Facility Development Working Group will review and make recommendations regarding bikeway facility components such as traffic control devices, multi-use trail design, bicycle parking and support facilities for interested jurisdictions. This includes ensuring that these features comply with state standards. 5 _. .. .... ._....... ....... ......... ......... 6. Fulfill the Requirements of CoUnty Bicycle AdvisCommittee- The Bicycle Facility Development Working Group shall participate in the review, prioritization, and recommendations of bicycle/pedestrian projects submitted for funding from the Transportation Development Act program, the Bicycle Lane Account, the Transportation Fund for Clean Air, and/or other funding sources that involve the CCTA. The BFDWG may conduct field trips in order to review proposed bicycle grant applications and ask questions of the project proponents to clarify issues associated with projects. B. B&ysle S etv. Education. Etlforcement. Promotion Working GramSB E.EP) - The BSEEP Working Group would continue and expand upon the efforts of former Safe Roads/Safe Families Advisory Committee in promoting bicycle safety and education issues. Typical tasks might include but not be limited to: 1. Assessing countywide bicycle crash and injury data and making recommendations on whether engineering, educational, or enforcement actions are needed to reduce the number and severity of such crashes and injuries. 2. Developing countywide bicycle safety education campaigns aimed at bicyclists of all ages as well as other road users. 3. Developing and implementing strategies to publicize the benefits and desirability of bicycle transportation. Such strategies may include marketing using electronic, print, outdoor and transit advertising, publications, and events such as Bike To Work Week. 4. Seeking the advice of the health, education, engineering, and law enforcement communities regarding proposed bicycle engineering, educational, safety, and enforcement initiatives. It is anticipated that many of the initiatives that CCBC will undertake will not fit neatly beneath a single subcommittee's purview. Therefore interaction will undoubtedly occur between the various subcommittees from time to time. 6 _ _ METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION RESOLUTION 875 Revised January 28, 1998 Bicycle Advisory Committee Requirements The county or congestion management agency shall establish a process for establishing project priorities. Each county and city is required to have a Bicycle Advisory Committee(BAC)to review and/or prioritize TDA Article 3 bicycle projects and to participate in the development and review of comprehensive bicycle plans. (BACs are mandated by State Transportation Control Measure [STCM#9], adopted by MTC on November 28, 1990, MTC Resolution No. 2178, Revised). A city BAC shall be composed of at least 3 members who live or work in the city. More members may be added as desired. They will be appointed by the City Council. The City Manager will designate staff to provide administrative and technical support to the Committee. Cities under 10,000 population who have difficulty in locating a sufficient number of qualified members, may apply to MTC for exemption from these requirements. Cities over 10,000 population may also apply to MTC for exemption from the city BAC requirement if they can demonstrate that the countywide BAC provides for expanded city representation.' A county BAC shall be composed of at least 5 members who live or work in the county. More members may be added as desired. Members will be appointed by the County Board of Supervisors and/or Congestion Management Agency(CMA). The county or congestion management agency executive/administrator will designate staff to provide administration and technical support to the Committee. (Note: The intent is that BACs be composed of bicyclists/pedestrians.) 7 _. _. ......... ........_.._. . . . ........................................................... _ Questions and Answers Regarding the Proposed Contra Costa Bicycle Committee 1. Question: Currently members of the current Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee are appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Under the proposal for the Contra Costa Bicycle Committee (CCBC), members will be nominated by the Regional Transportation Planning Committees(RTPCs)and appointed by the Contra Costa Transportation Authority(CCTA). What are the reasons for this change and is this change of procedure consistent with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) requirements for establishment of bicycle advisory committees? Answer: The CCTA is the countywide transportation planning and funding agency in Contra Costa County. The RTPCs represent local cities and help develop transportation policy on a regional basis. Having the RTPCs submit CCBC nominations to the CCTA, who would appoint bicycle committee members is designed to better involve the cities, the regional transportation planning committees and the CCTA in countywide bicycle transportation matters and to integrate bicycle transportation with other county transportation planning matters. This appointment procedure complies with MTC Resolution 875, which governs the establishment of bicycle advisory committees (BAC), because this resolution permits BAC members to be appointed by either the County Board of Supervisors or the Congestion Management Agency. The CCTA is the congestion management agency for Contra Costa County. Z Q: Why is the proposed committee being called the Contra Costa Bicycle Committee instead of the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee? A: The American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition, defines the word advisory as, "Empowered to advise: an advisory committee," or"relating to or containing advise: an advisory memorandum." The role of a bicycle advisory committee powers is viewed as being merely limited to providing advice to staff and/or elected officials on bicycling issues. The Gtr BIKE! Subcommittee, being composed of a roughly equal number of citizens and staff members, actively works on developing and promoting bicycle transportation in Contra Costa County. The inclusion of the functions of the GO BIKE!Subcommittee into an expanded countywide bicycle group broadens the role of that group beyond the merely advisory, therefore the name "Contra Costa Bicycle Committee" is seen to be a more accurate description of the committee's purpose. The CCBC would retain the advisory function mandated by the Resolution 875 of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission so that the County does not lose its eligibility to receive grant funds. The CCBC would provide an opportunity for citizen members to serve beyond merely advising staff members and elected officials on bicyclist's needs, but to assist in the development and implementation of adopted recommendations. Citizen members would not be compelled to participate beyond serving in an advisory capacity, but would have an opportunity for further 8 participation in projects that interest them. 3. Qs There are 19 slots reserved fir appointed members plus it is anticipated that unapppointed persons will assist in the committee's work Are 19 appointed members torr many to have a manageable committee? A: No, if based on the experiences of other bicycle committees. The Toronto City Cycling Committee is composed of 23 appointed members and their work has helped earn Toronto the title of the Best Bicycling City in North America, as bestowed by Bicycling Magazine in 1995. The Transportation Research Board's Committee on Bicycling has 29 members(25 from the C.T.S. and 4 foreign country membership slots). The Committee on Bicycling has been very effective in encouraging research into bicycle transportation issues,judging by the increase in papers and presentations over a fifteen year period. Several factors are present that should reduce anticipated inertia due to the sheer volume of participants. First, much of the work of this committee will be done at the working group level. Most members will likely focus their efforts into specific issues such as bicycle safety, bikeway standards and guidelines, or individual project proposals, rather than displaying equal interest and involvement in every item that the CCBC addresses. Second, working groups will likely hold their smaller meetings apart from general committee meetings. Some members may participate primarily in working groups rather than attend the general committee meetings. Third, because not every appointed committee member will have a perfect attendance record it is unlikely that all 19 appointed members will attend every CCBC general meeting. The number of appointees to the CCBC is based on a principle of inclusiveness to ensure receiving input from a variety of sources. The largest source of members come from bicycle organizations. The nine appointments from the bicycle organizations result from the recommendation that all bicycle organizations operating in the County be represented. The ten remaining appointments come from staff members who represent a variety of organizations who affect county bicycle transportation issues including the 18 municipalities, the four regional transportation planning committees, the City/County Engineering Advisory Committee, and various countywide and regional government agencies. Appointed staff members will have responsibility for development and/or implementation of bicycle transportation programs within their respective organizations. It is anticipated that most staff persons will be bicyclists as well. Policy Recommendations 1. N_a_m_eChogg- The proposed committee would be known as the Contra Costa Bicycle Committee(CCBC)instead of the Countywide Bicycle Advisory Committee. The reason for this change is that the committee would take a more active role than merely advising staff members on 9 bicycling issues by actively participating in program development, facility planning, and project implementation. 2. CCBC Focus-Membership should be focused on local bicycle organizations and government agencies primarily involved in transportation issues. Groups such as law enforcement and education should be consulted when necessary(The preceding sentence was tentatively agreed to but it was recognized that the level of involvement of the law enforcement and education communities in the CCBC was dependent on the final committee composition, the frequency of addressing law enforcement and education issues, and willingness of law enforcement and education community representatives to participate in CCBC matters). 3. Menrbership Successio»-Provisions are to be made for encouraging regular attendance of appointed members, designating alternatives, and replacement of non-participating members. 4. Consent's Decision Makin- CCBC recommendations are to be made by consensus rather than by separating participants in terms of voting and non-voting members. 5. Balance Inclusion with F lciencv- The composition of the CCBC strives to include as many relevant groups and individuals in the CCBC without becoming unwieldy. Strategies to achieve this balance include forming CCBC"Working Groups" to handle time consuming or special tasks, and dividing CCBC participants between the appointed members and another group composed of unappointed members. It is suggested that the unappointed members be known as"Friends of the CCBC". This is similar to the designation of unofficial members of the Transportation Research Board's Committee on Bicycling(Friends of the Committee on Bicycling) and similar to the concept of"Friends of the Court." 6. Brown Act CoMphatice - CCBC meetings are to be held in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Brown Act including holding meetings that are open to the public, agendas prepared in advance, provisions for public comment and public comment periods. 7. �Paintmews Process- The Contra Costa Transportation Authority(OCTA)will appoint members to serve on the CCBC. The CCTA and the Board of Supervisors(BOS), through the CCTA are to be kept informed of CCBC activities. The CCTA will appoint representatives from all appropriate local bicycle organizations that care to be represented on the CCBC. Appropriate local bicycle organizations are defined as those organizations that regularly hold bicycle rides through Contra Costa County or who advocate for improved bicycle transportation facilities here. Cities will be represented on the CCBC through representatives nominated for appointment through the Regional Transportation Planning Committees. Because the CCTA is charged with the coordination of countywide transportation programs and policies it is felt that having CCBC appointments be made through the CCTA will better foster countywide bicycle transportation development by integrating bicycle transportation with the other transportation modes under their purview. This raises the profile of bicycling with the 10 CCTA and broadens opportunities to provide for bicycle transportation by increasing CCTA involvement in bicycling issues. Since the BOS is represented through the RTPCs no loss of status is expected to occur by having appointments to the CCBC made through the CCTA instead of from the BOS directly. 8. Municin&Bievcle Advisory Committees-The CCBC will form liaisons with municipal bicycle advisory committees and assist in forming new MBACs. 9. CCTA C.nnr&uanon-The CCBC will request that they serve as the official bicycle transportation advisory committee to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority. 10. C nvenient Muting Times- In recognition of the importance of citizen involvement in this committee, CCBC meetings should be scheduled at times conducive for citizen participation(i.e. outside of normal business hours). 11. Allied Cc»stir - The CCBC structure should not preclude participation from the pedestrian and disabled communities in the future. 11