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Record of Proceedings

Sacramento ATC Meeting: Trail Naming, Safety Projects, Annual Reports – Oct 19, 2023

Active Transportation Commission — Thursday, October 19, 2023
BodySacramento, California
SessionActive Transportation Commission
DateThursday, October 19, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:14

Chair staff is ready when you are.

0:18

Thank you so much.

0:19

Uh good evening and welcome to the October 19th, 2023 Active Transportation Commission.

0:25

The meeting is now called to order.

0:27

Will the clerk please call the roll to establish a quorum?

0:32

Thank you, Chair.

0:33

Commissioners, please unmute.

0:35

Commissioner Banks.

0:37

Here.

0:38

Commissioner Brizzle.

0:41

Absent.

0:42

Commissioner Gibson.

0:43

Present.

0:44

Commissioner Gonzalez.

0:46

Present.

0:47

Commissioner Harris.

0:48

Present.

0:49

Commissioner Hodell.

0:51

Here.

0:52

Commissioner Hobbt.

0:54

Here.

0:54

Commissioner Royer.

0:56

Commissioner Granville.

0:58

Here.

0:59

And Chair Westbrook.

1:03

Present.

1:04

Thank you.

1:05

We have quorum.

1:06

Fantastic.

1:08

I would like to remind members of the public in chambers that if you would like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip when the item begins.

1:22

And we'll now proceed with today's agenda.

1:26

Please rise.

1:27

For opening acknowledgments in honor of Sacramento's Indigenous People and Tribal Lands.

1:33

To the original people of this land, the Nissanon people, the Southern Maidu Valley and Plains Miwok, Patuanwintu peoples, and the people of the Wilton Rancheria, Sacramento's only federally recognized tribe.

1:47

May we acknowledge and honor the Native people who came before us and still walk beside us today on these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation of Sacramento's Indigenous People's History, contributions, and lives.

2:05

Thank you.

2:07

And for the Pledge of Allegiance, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

2:28

All right.

2:29

Got to scoot in.

2:31

Okay.

2:32

Our first business today is the Commission staff report.

2:36

Staff, you may proceed.

2:38

Wonderful.

2:39

Thank you, Chair Dewey Westbrook.

2:41

Jennifer Don Lewine and Transportation Planning Manager and staff to the Commission.

2:45

I have uh a brief staff report for you this evening.

2:48

Um the uh first is is that if you were not able to join us, we had the ribbon cutting for the South Sacramento Parkway Trail West Project, the longest name ever.

2:57

And September 29th, it was a wonderful ribbon cutting down in South Sacramento.

3:01

We had a number of commissioners there.

3:03

Um and it was a great if it's a small but a hugely impactful project connecting the Meadowview community to the Sacramento River Parkway and the almost still under construction, gonna be here soon, Del Rio Trail.

3:14

It was a wonderful ribbon cutting.

3:16

Um I also want to share with everybody that we do have an open seat.

3:19

If you remember, uh Commissioner Lee had to step down from the commission because she has taken a job at UCLA with uh Mr.

3:26

Shoop.

3:27

And uh so while we're very excited for for Commissioner Lee, we have an opening that the position is open through the end of the month.

3:33

It is for somebody who has professional experience in either transportation planning or is an engineer.

3:39

Um so if you know folks, please encourage them to apply.

3:41

That is a citywide position that will go through City Council's PMPE committee, which I can never remember the name, I say personnel and public employee committee.

3:51

Is that right?

3:52

I think that's right.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation Safety█████████████████████████████████████████████62%
Public Works████████████17%
Public Comments█████7%
Procedural████6%
Budget and Finance███4%
Disability Access█2%
Public Engagement█2%
Summary of Proceedings

Sacramento Active Transportation Commission Meeting – October 19, 2023

The Active Transportation Commission of Sacramento met on Thursday, October 19, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:17 p.m. at City Hall (915 I Street). Chair Ali Doerr Westbrook presided. Nine commissioners were present (Banks, Gibson, Gonzalez, Harris, Hodel, Houpt, Roh, Granville, Westbrook) and one was absent (Brasel). The meeting included a land acknowledgment, pledge of allegiance, staff report, consent calendar, four discussion items, public comments, and commissioner remarks.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (Sept 21, 2023): Passed unanimously (9-0).
  • Adoption of Active Transportation Commission Log: Passed unanimously (9-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • HSIP Cycle 10 (Item 5): Matt Anderson (District 4) thanked staff and requested vertical delineators on W Street, and suggested the commission support staff in applying for more funding. Kay Crum (District 6) expressed that RRFBs can give a false sense of security and asked for additional traffic calming.
  • Jackrabbit Trail Naming (Item 4): No public speakers.
  • 2022 Annual Report (Item 6): No public speakers.
  • 2023 Annual Report (Item 7): Alice Mercer (Disability Advisory Commission, personal capacity) praised the report but urged staff to explicitly define “active transportation” to include wheelchairs, walkers, and other assistive devices in all reports.
  • Matters Not on the Agenda: Kay Crum (Strong Sack Town) presented her analysis of city road vs. active transportation spending: in 2020, $53.3 million on roads and $3.9 million on bike lanes; 2021, $60.6 million and $1.7 million; 2022, $35.8 million and $2.2 million. Jerry Champa, a traffic safety advocate, recommended that any budget increase be tied to performance metrics (e.g., reduction in severe crashes) and focus on strategies that reduce vehicle speeds 24/7/365.

Discussion Items

  • Item 3 – City of Sacramento Street Closures: David Edrosolan (Engineering Manager) presented city policies on temporary (block party, special event, public safety/nuisance) and permanent (abandonment) street closures, and discussed the new California Vehicle Code Section F allowing “slow streets” programs (no city program or funding yet). Commissioners asked about PBID recurring closures, weekend closures, and costs from the pandemic-era Slow and Active Streets pilot. Staff noted that pilot required significant community engagement and $850,000/year for a similar 5-mile effort. No vote was taken; item was received and filed.
  • Item 4 – Natomas Trail Naming: Jackrabbit Trail Name Extension: Melissa Mang (Exec. Director, North Natomas JIB) requested extending the Jackrabbit Trail name from Airport Road south to Garden Highway, covering a shared-use path with three existing gaps. The majority of community feedback supported the extension; one person opposed until the trail is complete. Commissioners supported the naming for navigation and branding. A motion to extend the name passed 9-0.
  • Item 5 – HSIP Cycle 10 Pedestrian Crossings Improvement Project: James Kragh (Associate Civil Engineer) proposed installing rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) at four uncontrolled crossings (Folsom/Seville, Raley/Santa Ana, W/8th, Alhambra/X) along with ADA ramp upgrades, advanced warning signs, and yield markings. At Raley Boulevard a median refuge with a third RRFB is planned; at W Street lane-narrowing buffer striping is included. According to the Federal Highway Administration, RRFBs can reduce pedestrian collisions by 47% and increase motorist yield rates up to 98%. Commissioners voiced support but noted that some drivers ignore flashing beacons. They recommended considering full signalized crossings and physical traffic calming. The item was received and filed.
  • Item 6 – Active Transportation Commission 2022 Annual Report Discussion: Jennifer Donlon Wyant (Transportation Planning Manager) presented refined cost estimates for the commission’s nine recommendations to City Council. After discussion, the commission reached consensus on:
    • Item 1 (Increase funding for active transportation projects): Ask for doubling the average annual local match for grants over the last five years, with a 10% annual escalation for five years.
    • Item 2 (Expand speed management): Quadruple the speed lump program budget to ~$2 million/year, apply equitably, and add new traffic calming tools; include half-time senior engineer and half-time associate engineer.
    • Item 3 (Safe Routes to School program): Two new planners (senior and associate) at $325,000/year.
    • Item 4 (Finalize construction detour policy): No cost; to be brought for public review in January.
    • Item 5 (ATC dashboard): $275,000 first year, $195,000 recurring.
    • Item 6 (Quick-build bikeways program): $1.5 million first year, recurring costs; half-time senior and associate engineers.
    • Item 7 (Electric library and e-bike incentives): Expand e-bike lending library to every council district and a $1 million e-bike voucher pilot; $2.3 million first year, $525,000 recurring.
    • Item 8 (Increase bike parking): $300,000/year; quarter-time associate planner.
    • Item 9 (Re-establish Slow and Active Streets): $850,000/year; half-time associate planner.
    • Total year-one estimate: ~$7.5 million; ongoing ~$5.5 million.
  • Item 7 – Active Transportation Commission 2023 Annual Report: Jeff Jelsma (Transportation Planner) presented the draft report incorporating prior feedback, including cost estimates from the 2022 report discussion. Commissioners requested: (1) consistency in narrative format and cost breakdowns, (2) swapping the order of items A (expanded speed management) and B (safe routes to school), (3) adding explicit language about inclusive mobility (wheelchairs, walkers, etc.), (4) including a section on citywide accomplishments (e.g., e‑bike lending library, South Sacramento Parkway Trail West ribbon cutting), (5) replacing the word “stroads” with “roads,” (6) adding photos from each district, and (7) taking a new cover photo. The report will be revised and brought to the November meeting for a vote.

Commissioner Comments – Ideas and Questions

  • Commissioner Gibson reported two recent hit-and-run incidents on Fruit Ridge Road (one fatality, one hospitalization) and stressed the life-saving importance of traffic-calming projects.
  • Commissioner Gonzalez noted a pedestrian fatality on Mack Road near Center Parkway and urged continued advocacy for built environment changes.
  • Commissioner Gonzalez also proposed restoring Zoom public comment at commission meetings, suggesting a letter to City Council. Chair Westbrook supported collaborating with other commissions.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Adopted unanimously (9-0).
  • Jackrabbit Trail Name Extension: Approved 9-0; to be recommended to City Council.
  • Street Closures and HSIP Cycle 10: Received and filed; feedback provided to staff.
  • 2022 Annual Report Recommendations: Consensus reached on all nine items with modified cost and funding approach (doubled match, 10% escalation). Staff will refine estimates and present to City Council before year-end.
  • 2023 Annual Report: Direction provided for edits; final vote scheduled for November 2023.
  • Commission Letter: Chair will draft a letter to restore Zoom public comment.

Meeting Transcript

Chair staff is ready when you are. Thank you so much. Uh good evening and welcome to the October 19th, 2023 Active Transportation Commission. The meeting is now called to order. Will the clerk please call the roll to establish a quorum? Thank you, Chair. Commissioners, please unmute. Commissioner Banks. Here. Commissioner Brizzle. Absent. Commissioner Gibson. Present. Commissioner Gonzalez. Present. Commissioner Harris. Present. Commissioner Hodell. Here. Commissioner Hobbt. Here. Commissioner Royer. Commissioner Granville. Here. And Chair Westbrook. Present. Thank you. We have quorum. Fantastic. I would like to remind members of the public in chambers that if you would like to speak on an agenda item, please turn in a speaker slip when the item begins. And we'll now proceed with today's agenda. Please rise. For 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 Miwok, Patuanwintu 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 these ancestral lands by choosing to gather together today in the active practice of acknowledgement and appreciation of Sacramento's Indigenous People's History, contributions, and lives. Thank you. And for the Pledge of Allegiance, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. Got to scoot in. Okay. Our first business today is the Commission staff report. Staff, you may proceed. Wonderful. Thank you, Chair Dewey Westbrook. Jennifer Don Lewine and Transportation Planning Manager and staff to the Commission. I have uh a brief staff report for you this evening. Um the uh first is is that if you were not able to join us, we had the ribbon cutting for the South Sacramento Parkway Trail West Project, the longest name ever. And September 29th, it was a wonderful ribbon cutting down in South Sacramento. We had a number of commissioners there. Um and it was a great if it's a small but a hugely impactful project connecting the Meadowview community to the Sacramento River Parkway and the almost still under construction, gonna be here soon, Del Rio Trail.

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