Transportation Planning Committee Meeting Summary - January 6, 2026
Transportation Planning Committee Meeting Summary - January 6, 2026
The Transportation Planning Committee of Alameda County met on January 6, 2026, with Supervisors Miley and Howard present. The agenda included three action items: an ordinance to create a Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Trails Advisory Commission; formation of a Measure X Bond Oversight Committee for fire station projects; and two general plan amendments to the Safety Element and Open Space Element. Public comments on non-agenda items were heard first.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Gerald B. Miller expressed support for enhancing agriculture under Measure D, arguing the measure has failed its stated goal.
- Griffin Miller advocated for reducing minimum agricultural parcel sizes to improve housing access for working families and new farmers.
- Kelly criticized the meeting's handling of public comment scheduling and urged adherence to Measure D, suggesting vertical development as an alternative.
- Another caller supported agritourism and ancillary agricultural uses as necessary for farm viability.
- Bruce King (Friends of San Lorenzo Creek) highlighted flood control risks after a failed benefit assessment vote and urged a public plan.
Discussion Items
Item 1: Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Trails Advisory Commission
- Valerie Arkin (Supervisor Miley's office) presented a draft ordinance to replace the current committee with a commission appointed by the Board of Supervisors, with 7 members from districts with unincorporated areas. The commission would advise directly on bike/pedestrian/trails issues. Feedback from MACs and the public included concerns about representation, commission proliferation, and the need for balanced mobility perspectives.
- Supervisor Miley supported the commission but acknowledged concerns about too many boards. Supervisor Halbert suggested more work is needed, including a report on the current committee's effectiveness, before advancing. The item was not forwarded to the full board; instead, a future informational report was requested.
Item 2: Formation of Measure X Bond Oversight Committee (Alameda County Fire Department)
- Fire Chief Willie McDonald and Deputy Chief Eric Moore presented the need for a Measure X Bond Oversight Committee to review expenditures from the $90 million bond passed in 2020. Phase 1 projects (Stations 7, 22, 31) are underway; Phase 2 (Stations 26, 24) is expected by 2028. Proposed committee structure: 7 members appointed by each supervisor (2 for District 4) with relevant expertise.
- Supervisor Miley expressed concern about funding for Phase 2 stations but supported formation. The committee approved motions to form the oversight committee and forward to full board. Vote: 2 ayes (Miley, Howard).
Item 3: General Plan Amendments – Safety Element and Open Space Element
- Ali Abers (Planning Department) presented two amendments: (A) Safety Element updates to comply with state laws (SB 379, SB 99, AB 1409, etc.) including flood control and fire policies; (B) Open Space Element appendix to comply with SB 1425 on equitable access and climate resilience. Both had been vetted through MACs, Planning Commission, and Calfire.
- Supervisor Miley raised concerns about countywide flood and fire hazards beyond Sunol, and questioned a hazardous tree ordinance recommendation from Eden MAC. He and Supervisor Halbert agreed to change language from "adopt" to "consider." The committee approved forwarding both amendments to the full board with that modification. Vote: unanimous.
Key Outcomes
- The pedestrian/bicycle/trails commission item was not advanced; a future informational report on the existing committee was directed.
- The Measure X Bond Oversight Committee was approved for formation and will go to the full board.
- The General Plan amendments (Safety and Open Space elements) were recommended for full board approval with the tree ordinance language changed from "adopt" to "consider."
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everyone. I'd like to call to order our transportation planning committee meeting of Monday, January 5th. I'll ask the clerk to please call the role to establish our quorum. Supervisor Miley. Supervisor Howard. Present. Thank you very much. I would like to make an announcement that in-person participation is welcome and appreciated. The meeting is open to the public both in person here in the room and online. If you'd like to make public comment on an item or during open public forum, please fill out a speaker slip if you're in the room. If you're online, the clerk will now provide brief instructions on how to participate remotely. Thank you. For remote participation, follow the teleconferencing guidelines posted at www.acgo.org, teleconferencing guidelines slash transportation and planning. And please use the raise your hand function after the presentation to be called on to speak after each item. And then when this supervisor calls for a public comment, you can use the raise your hand function at that time. Thank you very much. I do note we had a few technical um delays today. And um I do have, I do know that some people are online for public comment on non-agendized items. I would like to move that item forward just in case there are any other public uh any other technical difficulties and to get that item out of the way. Any objection to moving item four public comment to the beginning of the meeting? Supervisor Miley, let's do that then. If you're online wishing to make a comment on an item that is not on today's agenda, general open public comments on items within the purview of this body, but not agendized. We're going to move that up to this point right now. If you're online or in person, raise your hand. I don't see any speakers slipped in person. Do we have anyone with their hands raised online? Yes. Caller, you're on the line. You have two minutes. Gerald B. Miller. Good morning, supervisors. Thank you for uh having this meeting. Uh I my question is uh to you, to all of you, to all of us. What do we want to have happen with our open space in the county? Do we want to just drive by and look at the area or do we actually want to go and have agricultural experiences through successful small family businesses? Measure D stated purpose was to enhance agriculture. It is not achieved that goal. Agriculture in our county has deteriorated under Measure D. We need to find ways to enhance agriculture, which was Measure D's stated purpose. Thank you so much. Caller, you're on the line. You have two minutes. Griffin B. Miller. Hi, my name is Griffin, and I live in unincorporated Alameda County. I wanted to share a personal example about how the minimum agricultural parcel sizes affecting how are affecting housing and the next generation. My father, who who just spoke, was 35 years old when he bought our 100 acre agricultural parcel back in 1978. He wasn't wealthy and but he was able to do it because the land was accessible to working families at that time. Today I am the same age, and I honestly don't know if I could afford even a five-acre parcel.
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