Active Transportation Commission Meeting - April 18, 2019
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Active Transportation Commission Meeting - April 18, 2019
The Active Transportation Commission met on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall Council Chamber. Commissioners approved the previous meeting minutes (with one abstention) and the commission log. They received informational presentations on the Police Department's Bait Bike Program and jaywalking enforcement, a review of upcoming planning and development projects, an update on unmet transportation needs and priorities, and an update on shared rideable regulations. Key actions included directing staff to formulate questions for the Police Department and to invite officers to a future meeting.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Meeting Minutes of February 21, 2019: Motion passed unanimously with Commissioner Pollins abstaining. (Commissioner Pollins abstained)
- Active Transportation Commission Log: Motion to approve passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kieran Kumar spoke on the Police Department report item. He expressed concerns about racial disparities in jaywalking citations, referencing the case of Nandy Kane Jr. and a SAC B investigation showing that Sacramento's black residents are ticketed at a significantly disproportionate rate. He also raised concerns about the Bait Bike Program, mentioning a past community meeting where police requested bikes valued over $1,000 to potentially charge felonies. He urged the commission to seek geographic and demographic data on citations and bait bike operations.
Discussion Items
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Information Item: Request of Police Department to Report on Bait Bike Program and Jaywalking
- Staff from the Sacramento Police Department (represented by Drew Hart) reported that the Bait Bike Program operates per precinct without centralized coordination, with the central city district having the most robust program. Jaywalking enforcement information could be provided if specific questions were formulated.
- Commissioners requested details on how the bait bike program works, penalties for bike theft, and an overview of crosswalk laws (California Vehicle Code sections 21949-21955) from the police department. Commissioner Carpenter asked about marked crosswalk policies, but staff noted that the pedestrian crossing guidelines are being updated and will come as a separate item later in summer/early fall.
- Commissioner Wardweller supported Kieran Kumar's request for demographic and geographic data on jaywalking citations. Commissioner Kofer explained that her initial request was motivated by concerns about what is criminalized and disparities in enforcement, noting prior presentations to the Sacramento Bicycle Advisory Committee.
- Decision: The commission agreed to send a list of specific questions (including operations of bait bike program, penalties, jaywalking enforcement data by geography and demographics) to the Police Department and invite officers to a future meeting to report. The pedestrian crossing guidelines update will be scheduled separately.
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Action Item: Commission Review of Planning and Development Projects
- Matt Hertel, Long Range Senior Planner, presented an overview of upcoming projects that will come before the commission: the 2040 General Plan (with citywide workshops starting April 22), the Climate Action Plan, and the West Broadway Specific Plan (draft anticipated September). He clarified that the commission is advisory only, with no decision-making authority; the Planning and Design Commission has the only decision-making power in the city.
- Chair Cole noted she is on the General Plan implementation team. Commission discussed the distinction between advisory and decision-making roles.
- Decision: The item was received and filed. Commissioners were informed of upcoming outreach opportunities.
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Information Item: Unmet Transportation Needs and Priorities
- Lucinda Wilcox from Public Works presented an overview of how unmet transportation needs are identified and prioritized. Discussion ensued on how the commission's input could reach City Council. Staff indicated that for items not going to council, staff does not report council, but individual commissioners may meet with council members or send letters.
- Commissioners questioned whether a commission letter would be agendized or just filed. Staff clarified that the council decides whether to agendize.
- Decision: The information was received. No formal action taken.
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Information Item: Update on Shared Rideable Regulations
- The agenda listed this item as receive and file. During discussion, staff referenced that they had reported to council on shared rideable regulations after two commission discussions. The item was received and filed.
Key Outcomes
- Approved February 21, 2019 meeting minutes (with Commissioner Pollins abstaining).
- Approved Active Transportation Commission log.
- Directed staff to formulate specific questions for the Sacramento Police Department on the Bait Bike Program and jaywalking enforcement, including requests for geographic and demographic data, and to schedule a future meeting with police representatives.
- Received updates on planning projects, unmet transportation needs, and shared rideable regulations; no further actions taken on those items.
- Adjourned at approximately [time not specified]. Next meeting scheduled for May 16, 2019 in Council Chambers.
Meeting Transcript
If we could get roll call. Thank you, Chair Cole. I'm going to call roll. Commissioner Jesse. Present. Commissioner Garrow. Present. Commissioner Pollins. Commissioner Chair Cole. Present. Vice Chair Ward Waller. Present. Commissioner Berduga. We know she's running a little late. Commissioner Haupt. Commissioner Carpenter. President. Commissioner Brazzle. Commissioner Smith. Here. Wonderful. A couple of housekeeping issues. This meeting is broadcast live over the internet. And it will live forever on the internet. Should you want to watch that? If you have a cell phone, please silence it. Speaker slips are located in the back. Please fill it out and bring it up to Drew Hart. Sit it right over here and he'll bring it up to us. The speaker limit is three minutes. We also have a cordless microphone and an assistive listening device. Should anyone need that? And I have two other housekeeping issues. One is for the commissioners. If you have not yet completed your ethics training, which is required, please do so because you jeopardize your seat on the commission. The clerk's office has emailed you if you have not yet completed it. It's imperative that you do. And I also sadly wanted to let you know that Dr. Coffer has resigned from our commission. He promised me she would be here later today as part of our commission to come say thank you. But I wanted to publicly thank Dr. Coffer for not only participating in this commission, but also the uh City County Bicycle Advisory Committee before we farm. She's been a wonderful voice and perspective as we move forward. Um hoping we'll see her later today. And that is it for housekeeping issues. I'll now turn it over to Chair Cole. Thank you very much. All right, so let's get started with the consent calendar. Uh approval of meeting memory mimics, minutes from February 21st. Move to approve.
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