Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting – February 22, 2023
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Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Meeting – February 22, 2023
The Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee met on February 22, 2023, at 10:00 AM. Chair Lee presided, with Vice Chair Lacava, Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step present; Councilmember Von Wilper was absent. The meeting covered non-agenda public comments, a consent agenda, discussion items including a bridge widening contract amendment and the 2023 committee work plan, and an informational presentation on Vision Zero education campaigns.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 – Approval of three professional as-needed civil engineering services agreements for dams.
- Item 2 – No-cost contract extension amendments to several existing civil engineering design consultancy agreements (Michael Baker International, Parsons Transportation Group, RIC Engineering, Naslin Engineering).
- Both items were approved unanimously (3-0) on a motion by Vice Chair Lacava, seconded by Councilmember Montgomery Step.
Public Comments & Testimony
Non-Agenda Public Comments:
- Paul Krueger (Talmadge resident) urged the committee to consider that current ADU parking incentives do not reduce car ownership; he called for a study of actual transit use and noted a $5 billion infrastructure deficit.
- Michelle Sullivan (student) requested that two-hour parking meters near schools be changed to four-hour meters to accommodate longer class periods.
- Jin (student/worker) described dangerous potholes on a two-mile commute, stating no patching had occurred in six weeks.
- Sandra Stahl demanded an investigation into delays installing an unleaded fuel tank at Montgomery Gibbs Airport, citing health risks from leaded avgas.
- Michael Schmidt requested road overlay on Carmel Mountain Road.
- Blair Beekman supported previous speakers on potholes and airport fuel, and urged peace negotiations in Ukraine.
- Amy (from Quiet Our Streets Coalition) requested law enforcement and signage to address loud modified cars in University City.
Consent Agenda Public Comment:
- Blair Beekman spoke generally about climate change and water infrastructure on Item 1.
Item 3 (El Camino Real Bridge) Public Comments:
- Karina Contreras (Climate Action Campaign) questioned whether the widening design aligns with CAP goals and VMT reduction, and asked about cyclist protection.
- Nicole Burgess (advocate) emphasized need for protected bike lanes (Class IV) and Vision Zero adherence given high speeds.
- Blair Beekman supported bicycle/pedestrian improvements and Vision Zero.
Item 4 (Annual Work Plan) Public Comments:
- Paul Krueger again raised concerns about ADU parking disincentives and the infrastructure deficit.
- Karina Contreras noted that 81.13% of survey respondents want walkability/bicycle programs and urged full mobility master plan implementation.
- Nicole Burgess requested Vision Zero be a separate priority bucket, and called for bike share, micromobility, and network gap funding.
- Blair Beekman stressed using technology for open accountability in Vision Zero projects.
Item 5 (Vision Zero Presentation) Public Comments:
- Karina Contreras said Vision Zero should be funded as a public safety priority.
- Blair Beekman advocated for a holistic community-harmony approach.
- Nicole Burgess pressed for stronger city leadership, noting that only one organization (Circulate) is driving this, and requested budget restoration for education.
Discussion Items
Item 3 – El Camino Real Bridge and Road Widening Project (First Amendment)
- Presentation: Luis Shar and Rona Crocani (Engineering Capital Projects) requested approval of a $513,405 contract amendment (total now $2.9 million) and a 30-month extension to add design scope (16-inch water pipeline, revised biofiltration, updated city standards) and construction support. The project replaces a structurally deficient bridge (LOS F) with a four-lane major roadway, raised above 100-year flood level, with medians, bike lanes, sidewalks, and a raised undercrossing for the Coast to Crest Trail. Total construction cost estimated at $62.9 million, of which $47.8 million is federal Highway Bridge Program grant. Construction start anticipated August 2024, completion summer 2027.
- Committee Discussion: Chair Lee and Vice Chair Lacava emphasized ensuring safe bicycle facilities, noting the road’s high speeds. Councilmember Montgomery Step seconded the motion. The committee voted 3-0 to approve the ordinance.
Item 4 – 2023 Annual Work Plan
- Presentation: Catherine Johnson (Senior Policy Advisor) presented the work plan developed from committee priorities and 56 public responses. Four strategic priorities: Climate Action (quick-build, EV charging, municipal decarbonization); Mobility, Transportation & Affordable Housing (mobility master plan, Vision Zero, ADA, housing infrastructure maintenance); Citywide Infrastructure Needs (data-driven condition assessments, streetlight/SD stormwater/sidewalk updates, pothole repair); CIP Planning & Oversight (contract equity, council policy 800-14 implementation, streamlining).
- Committee Discussion: Councilmember Montgomery Step praised the focus on equity and urged prioritization of historically marginalized communities lacking sidewalks. Vice Chair Lacava highlighted climate action, Vision Zero, quick-build, and tribal inclusion; he also noted a joint memo with Councilmember Von Wilpert requesting a five-year rolling work plan for slurry seal/resurfacing. The work plan was adopted 3-0.
Item 5 – Informational Presentation: Vision Zero Education & Encouragement Campaigns
- Presentation: Colin Parent (Circulate San Diego) reviewed Vision Zero history (adopted 2015), the three E’s (engineering, enforcement, education), and Circulate’s education work funded by OTS grants: school assemblies (Walk This Way), Captain VZ comic, crash-not-accident campaign, and Fatal 15 advocacy. He requested the city restore general fund support (suspended 2020) for these low-cost, high-ROI activities.
- Committee Discussion: Councilmember Montgomery Step raised equity concerns in enforcement and noted Circulate’s work on the fatal 15 intersection list. Vice Chair Lacava discussed culture-change challenges and asked about a scorecard for the fatal 15. No motion required; information received.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Items (1 & 2): Approved 3-0.
- Item 3 – El Camino Real Bridge Amendment: Approved 3-0. Contract increased by $513,405; duration extended 30 months.
- Item 4 – 2023 Annual Work Plan: Adopted 3-0.
- Item 5 – Vision Zero Presentation: Received as information; no action taken. Circulate San Diego’s request for renewed city funding noted.
- Next Meeting: Scheduled for March 22, 2023, at 2:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. Welcome to the Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting of February 22nd, 2023. Our committee manager, Tyler Birch will provide information and instruction for the public to participate in today's meeting. Tyler, please proceed. Thank you, Chair. Until further notice, committee meetings will be conducted pursuant to provisions of California Government Code Section 54953e, added by Assembly Bill 361, which allows the city to use teleconferencing and provide the public an opportunity to address the C via a call-in option or an internet-based service option during a proclaimed state of emergency while the public is allowed to attend the meeting in person. We encourage you to maintain six feet of social distance as well as follow California Mass Guidelines where Master strongly recommended in addition to being able to attend in person the meeting is being televised and live streamed on the city's webpage. And we'll continue to make arrangements for the public to comment using the Zoom webinar platform. Additionally, members of the public who wish to provide testimony via calling or internet-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes after the conclusion of in-person testimony or before the virtual speaking queue is exhausted, whichever occurs first. This will allow for bare meeting management between the two platforms and ensure that the committee is able to manage and conduct say business. We appreciate the public's cooperation. Chair. Thank you, Chair Lee. Present. Vice Chair Lacava. Present. Council President Pro Tem Montgomery Step. Here. And Councilmember Von Wilper will be absent today. Also attending the meeting today is IBA Representative Aaron Noel, who will be attending virtually, as well as City Attorney Representative Dan Fairchild and the Mayoral Representative Randy Wilde. If you are in person, please complete a speaker slip located at the entrance of chambers and place it in the box indicated at the speaker's lectern at the front of the room, and please do so in a timely manner to ensure proper meeting management. Members of the public can join the webinar by computer tablet or smartphone by accessing the link, which is located online in the preamble language of the agenda on the city's webpage. To join the Zoom webinar by telephone, please dial 1669-254-5252. And when prompted, input webinar ID 161-119-1457 pound. This information is also available on the agenda and will appear on the screen during the public comment period for each item. Chair Lee. Absolutely. If you could use your voting screens. Members of the public who wish to provide testimony via calling or internet-based service option must enter the virtual speaking queue within five minutes minutes after the conclusion of in-person public testimony or before the virtual speaking queue is exhausted, whichever occurs first. If you've already joined the Zoom webinar online or by phone, please raise your hand if you wish to speak. You may select the raise your hand button or input star nine. Chair, we do have one individual who has made a speaker slip in chambers. So we will begin with our in-person public testimony for non-agenda public comment. Paul Kruger, you will have two minutes, sir. Whenever you're ready. Hi, thank you for being here today. I'm Paul Krueger and I live in uh Talmudge. I wanted to expand on some comments that were made at the last council meeting when you voted on the sustainable development areas. I wanted you to keep in mind, please, as you move forward with issues of transportation that hearing from a 13-year-old student who skips and runs to a bus stop is not reflective in any way of the Sandy Unions who need to use the bus. And the same for the college students. It's admirable that college students would walk a mile to get on the trolley. But if you're familiar as I know you are with our transportation system, there's very few routes where you can walk even a mile to the bus or trolley that you're using and get off within any walkable distance to your destination. Um I urge you to consider what's become very clear as we debate these issues about housing density and transportation. We're clearly at a point where the interests of building more housing are diverging from our climate goals because while we're allowing more housing, we do not have a suitable transportation infrastructure for these people who are living even further away from transportation to actually get where they're going. And I urge you to please pay attention to these two lawsuits, one filed just this week by uh the one of the climate action groups that are calling to account the lack of an actual workable transit system that will help obtain uh climate action goals. Thank you very much. Thank you for those comments, sir. That does conclude our in-person public testimony for non-agenda public comments. So we will move over to the virtual queue and I will begin the five-minute timer for individuals to enter the virtual queue. Uh as of right now, we do have four individuals who are indicating that they wish to speak.
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