Active Transportation Commission Meeting - December 20, 2018

The Active Transportation Commission met on December 20, 2018, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The meeting covered consent calendar approval, election of officers for 2019, adoption of the commission calendar, updates to commission rules and procedures, a presentation on the Convention Center Complex (C3) project, and proposed revisions to shared rideable regulations. The meeting concluded with committee comments and public comment on matters not on the agenda.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Meeting Minutes (November 6, 2018) and Commission Log: Passed by voice vote after two commissioners initially abstained but later voted after additional members arrived. The motion was approved unanimously with no abstentions on the final vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jim Brown (Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates - SABA) urged the commission to use the C3 project as an opportunity to make permanent bike improvements on L and J Streets, rather than relying on K Street, which is already inadequate for bicycling. He also suggested considering alternatives to fixed-rail streetcar, such as automated rubber-tired shuttles.
• Kieran Kumar (Walk Sacramento) echoed support for permanent bike improvements on L and J Streets, citing safety concerns on K Street and the upcoming scooter regulations. He emphasized the need to avoid conflicts with the proposed streetcar.
• Dan Allison (e-comment) raised concerns about temporary bike facilities during construction, employee bike parking, public bike lockers, and scooter parking areas, and urged against a bicycle-unfriendly setting on K Street Plaza.
• Angie Manetti (Lime) recommended an upfront flat fee per operator plus a 10-cent per ride fee rather than the proposed per-device parking fee, arguing the latter would hinder operations. She also proposed a dynamic cap on fleet size tied to utilization and equity targets.
• Kieran Kumar (Walk Sacramento, second appearance) generally supported the proposed shared rideable regulations but asked for on-street rack placement near intersections and cautioned against fining users who park devices without obstructing the right-of-way.
• Jim Brown (SABA, second appearance) expressed concerns about unintended consequences of reduced permit fees in opportunity areas, the importance of the city installing parking, and the value of limiting the number of operators initially.
• Alicia Priego (Bird) stated that the proposed high fees and restrictive parking structure could make it infeasible to operate in Sacramento, and urged a collaborative approach to find an alternative fee structure.
• Will Kennedy (Vice Chair, Sacramento Disabilities Advisory Commission) supported the proposed fee for obstructing pedestrian right-of-way but argued that $15 is too low to act as a deterrent, citing comparable fines of $445 for blocking handicap access. He stressed that shared rideables should not come at the expense of disabled residents.
• Taylor Strand (Razor USA) echoed support for a flat fee per operator and emphasized that proposed fees, even with discounts, are the highest in the nation and challenging for new market entry.
• Dan Allison (e-comment, shared rideables) supported equity requirements, disagreed with the meter revenue loss fee, questioned the requirement to move devices from valid parking spaces, and opposed limiting the number of operators except for health and safety.

Discussion Items

• Item 3: Elect Chair and Vice-Chair for 2019 – Commissioner Wardwaller nominated Jackie Cole for chair, and Commissioner Cole nominated Jeannie Wardwaller for vice-chair. Both were seconded and elected by voice vote.
• Item 4: Adopt 2019 Commission Calendar – Moved and seconded, passed by voice vote.
• Item 5: Commission Rules and Procedures – Deputy City Attorney Jennifer Gore presented a revised draft, including a new section on conduct of commissioners and a switch to Rosenberg's Rules of Order. Commissioners raised concerns about language in Section 4F (typo: “audible” instead of “audibly”), Section 6D (accommodation for disabled speakers), and Section 7B (restrictions on contacting city staff for information). Commissioner Haupt requested clarification on the differences between Robert's and Rosenberg's rules. No formal vote was taken; staff agreed to incorporate suggestions and provide a summary of parliamentary procedure at a future meeting.
• Item 6: Convention Center Complex Project Update – Project Manager Ofelia Avalos presented the C3 project, including renovation and expansion of the convention center, theater, and memorial auditorium, with construction expected to cause 15–16 month closures and lane closures on 13th, 15th, and L Streets. The existing bike path between 13th and 14th Streets will be unavailable. Staff presented options for a temporary bike detour, including a state-owned path on Capitol Avenue (Option A, contingent on streetcar construction timing) and alternate routes via I and N Streets. Commissioners expressed strong support for making permanent bike improvements on L and J Streets, prioritizing pedestrians and bicyclists over cars, and considering a stakeholder group to minimize impacts. Commissioner Haupt suggested a formal motion to recommend the city council require pre-construction and construction meetings with stakeholders. Chair Cole stated that the item would be placed on the next meeting agenda for a formal vote.
• Item 7: Proposed Revisions to Shared Rideable Regulation – Transportation Program Specialist Jennifer Donlon Wyant presented updates based on feedback from the September commission meeting and the November Law and Legislation Committee. Key changes include: geographic distribution requirements (20% of devices to be deployed in opportunity areas with reduced fees), phased implementation (250 devices per operator initially, increasing over time), new plan requirements (right-of-way protection, user safety, equity), parking fee structure ($355 per device, with 50% discount in opportunity areas, plus a $32 meter revenue loss fee in the core), reduced fine for obstructing pedestrian path of travel ($15), and a proposed limit of three operators. Public comments raised concerns about fee levels, data sharing, education, and fines. Commissioners discussed the per-device vs. per-trip fee model, the need for on-street infrastructure investment, and the importance of education over penalties. No formal vote was taken; staff will incorporate feedback into the report to the Law and Legislation Committee.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar approved.
• Chair and Vice-Chair elected: Jackie Cole (Chair), Jeannie Wardwaller (Vice-Chair) for 2019.
• 2019 Commission Calendar adopted.
• Commission Rules and Procedures were discussed but not adopted; staff will incorporate commissioner suggestions and provide a summary of parliamentary procedure at a future meeting.
• Convention Center Complex Project – No formal vote; the commission agreed to place a motion on the next meeting agenda to send a letter to the city council recommending pre-construction and construction stakeholder meetings to minimize impacts on bicyclists and pedestrians. Staff will also explore options for permanent bike improvements on L and J Streets.
• Shared Rideable Regulation – No formal vote; staff will use commissioner feedback (including data sharing, education, and equity considerations) to finalize the report for the Law and Legislation Committee by the end of January 2019.
• Committee Comments – The commission added items to the work log: a report on bicycle safety through Old Sacramento and a standing public safety report (annual, from Public Works). Staff will follow up with Dan Allison on his suggestions regarding crosswalks, speeding, and open street events.