Active Transportation Commission Meeting Summary - April 20, 2023
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Active Transportation Commission Meeting Summary - April 20, 2023
The Active Transportation Commission (ATC) convened on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Complex, 915 I Street, Sacramento. The meeting was chaired by Ali Doerr Westbrook, with all 11 commissioners present. The agenda included a consent calendar, staff oral presentations, discussion items on levee construction, road safety projects, a pedestrian signal, and a presentation on the transportation planning process. The meeting adjourned at 8:09 PM.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the March 16, 2023 meeting minutes (File ID: 2022-02328).
- Adopted the Active Transportation Commission Log (File ID: 2023-00426).
- Vote: Motion approved (Commissioner Houpt moved, Commissioner Brasel seconded). The minutes record all commissioners as voting yes, but the transcript shows Commissioner Gonzalez abstaining. This discrepancy is noted.
Staff Oral Presentation & New Commissioner
- Jennifer Donlon Wyant, Transportation Planning Manager, provided updates on ongoing projects: Central City Mobility Plan (construction on 19th/21st through summer/fall), Del Rio Trail (under construction), Broadway Complete Streets (construction expected summer), forthcoming update to street design standards (Section 15), and work zone detour policy (delayed due to staffing, expected in a few months).
- Isaac Gonzalez was introduced as the new commissioner. He shared his background as a lifelong Sacramento resident, former SABA president, and advocate for pedestrian infrastructure, especially in the Florin Road corridor.
Discussion Items
Item 3: USACE American River Common Features – Sacramento River East Levee Contract 4
- Nikole May (Program Manager) and Austin Hunt (Senior Project Manager) from the USACE presented the flood risk reduction program. The contract involves seepage and stability improvements using a cutoff wall. Five bike trail impact areas were identified: I Street, Front Street, Sutterville Road, Garsha Bend Park, and Freeport Boulevard. Detours and signage plans were described, with work anticipated from April through October 2023.
- Commissioner questions focused on signage durability (Commissioner Gonzalez suggested adding 311 reporting signs), security at I Street closure (Commissioner Banks), vegetation restoration (Commissioner Banks), construction vehicle use of trails (Commissioner Harris), and detour level of traffic stress (Chair Doerr Westbrook). No vote was taken.
Item 4: Florin Road Highway Safety Improvement Projects
- Adam Randolph (Senior Engineer) presented two combined HSIP projects funded by Caltrans and SACOG. Improvements include signal modifications at seven intersections, pedestrian scale median fencing, two new mid-block pedestrian signals, 26 ADA ramps, bus stop enhancements, and median nose pullbacks. The Del Rio Trail crossing at Freeport Boulevard will also benefit.
- Public comment from Matt Anderson questioned the lack of speed reduction measures. Commissioner Banks echoed concern about speeds; Commissioner Gonzalez expressed concerns about the aesthetic and equity implications of the fencing (described as “bars”); Commissioner Brasel asked about sidewalk improvements. Staff explained that HSIP funding is prescriptive and that fencing is designed for low maintenance. No vote was taken.
Item 5: Stockton Boulevard at 12th Avenue Pedestrian Signal Project
- Adam Randolph presented a project to install a full green-yellow-red pedestrian signal at the existing crosswalk, extend the pedestrian refuge island, remove a driveway, and add a blank-out sign. The project is in design and construction is expected in winter 2023, opening in spring 2024.
- Commissioner Gonzalez noted the project’s timeliness given upcoming development and illegal sidewalk parking. Commissioner Lee appreciated the full signal as more effective than a HAWK. No vote was taken.
Item 6: How Transportation Planning Works: Idea to Implementation
- Jennifer Donlon Wyant explained the three-phase process (planning, preliminary design/environmental, final design/construction), the five adopted criteria for prioritizing projects, and typical timelines of 8–20 years for large projects. She highlighted the $1.4 billion unfunded maintenance backlog and the competitive nature of grant funding (e.g., Caltrans planning grants, SACOG funds).
- Public comment from Matt Anderson praised staff and suggested exploring quick builds and alternative funding. Commissioner questions addressed predictability of funding, local match requirements, road diets, and how the commission can best contribute. Wyant noted planned efforts like the online project map and upcoming general plan updates. No vote was taken.
Commissioner Comments & Public Comments
- Commissioner Gibson acknowledged recent traffic violence (two deaths in Davis, a hit-and-run in Rancho Cordova, a cyclist killed in Placer County, and a pedestrian death near 8th & P) and requested log items on Alfresco dining permits and closed street policies.
- Commissioner Hodel requested a written list of staff oral update topics and asked about log timeliness; Wyant explained staffing constraints and the work zone detour policy status.
- Commissioner Banks promoted May Bike Month, requested updates on the walking/biking report, red light cameras, and 311 training for enforcement staff.
- Public comment (Casey) suggested implementing LPIs at all intersections, cracking down on red light running, and reviewing the Alfresco program (zero of 85 applications approved as of two months ago).
Key Outcomes
- The consent calendar was approved (with the noted discrepancy on Commissioner Gonzalez’s vote).
- All discussion items were received and provided discussion; no formal votes were taken on items 3-6.
- New Commissioner Isaac Gonzalez was seated.
- Several commissioner requests were added to the log for follow-up, including updates on Alfresco dining, closed streets, red light cameras, and 311 training.
- The meeting adjourned at 8:09 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Chair, staff is ready when you are great, thank you so much. Uh good evening, everyone. Uh welcome to the March or sorry, welcome to the April 20th, 2023 Active Transportation Commission. The media is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the roll to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioner Hodell. Here Commissioner Harris. Here. Commissioner Gibson. Here. Commissioner Rowe. Here. Commissioner Gonzalez. Here. Commissioner Hopped? Here. Commissioner Brassel. Here. Commissioner Granville. Here. Commissioner Lee. Here. Commissioner Banks. Here. And Chair Dewar Westbrook. Here. Thank you. We have quorum. Okay. Please rise for the opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's indigenous people and tribal lands. To the original people of this land, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu Valley, and Plains Mi Walk, Patwan Wintu peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe. May we acknowledge and honor the native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on this ancestral lands by choosing to gather today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation for Sacramento's Indigenous Peoples history, contributions, and lives. Thank you. And remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. To the original, oh, I'm so sorry. Again, with land acknowledgment. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Of course. Public comment speaking period for your desired item. If you're online, click on raise your hand on the bottom of your screen. In the mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping the raise hand option in the more tab. If you're calling in via telephone to raise your hand, dial star nine, then to unmute or mute, dial star six. Speakers will be called on by the last four digits of their phone number. You will have two minutes to speak once you are called on. After the first speaker, we will no longer accept speaker slips and the raised hand feature in Zoom will be disabled. We'll now proceed with today's agenda. Okay. Our first business today is approval of the consent calendar. Clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on the consent calendar?
openpublica.com