Walnut Creek Transportation Commission Regular Meeting - May 21, 2026

The Walnut Creek Transportation Commission met on May 21, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 7:23 PM in the Council Chamber at City Hall. Chair Crowling led the meeting with Vice Chair Patch and Commissioners Guerrero and McMahon present (Commissioners Kirsch and Ash absent). The agenda included approval of prior meeting minutes, a detailed analysis and recommendations for the city's electric vehicle (EV) charger program, an update on Bike to Wherever Day 2026, and commissioner announcements.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (March 19, 2026): The commission unanimously approved the draft minutes from the March 19, 2026 meeting. Motion by Commissioner Guerrero, seconded by Commissioner McMahon, passed 4-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public provided comments during the public communications period or on any agenda item.

Discussion Items

• EV Charger Program Analysis and Recommendations: Sustainability Manager Candace Reagan Mumby and Public Works Manager Gina Eicher presented a staff report. Currently, the city owns 40 public EV charging ports across 23 stations (downtown garages, City Hall, and Shadelands Civic Arts Center). The program costs approximately $250,000 annually ($155,000 for electricity, $60,000 for maintenance contracts, and the remainder for staff time). Key issues include aging infrastructure (some chargers are 10+ years old), lack of dedicated staff for management, poor customer service, and no centralized data tracking. Staff recommended contracting with a third-party operator who could provide 24/7 customer support, proactive maintenance, and modern data analytics, funded by charging a fee for usage. Suggested rates would be lower than neighboring cities (average 36 cents/kWh) but enough to sustain the system. The goal is to target users who cannot charge at home and improve charger reliability. Commissioners expressed general support for moving to a fee-based model with a third-party vendor. They emphasized the need for data collection, exploring vendor models that include validation discounts or monthly credit programs, and considering solar integration. No formal motion was required as this was a feedback request; staff will present to City Council in July 2026.
• Bike to Wherever Day 2026 Update: Transportation Planner Henry Rood reported on the May 14, 2026 events. The morning energizer station at Broadway & Newell (near the Iron Horse Trail) attracted 200 cyclists, slightly down from 219 in 2025. The afternoon event at Civic Park, dubbed a "Bike Rodeo" (a name staff may change due to confusion), featured an obstacle course, information booths from multiple city departments and vendors, and a "Pedal Passport" with stamp-collecting incentives (gift cards from Target). Approximately 55 gift cards were distributed. Feedback indicated attendees were primarily families with young children (ages 4–8), fewer teenagers than expected. Staff are considering consolidating resources into a single larger afternoon event and suspending the morning station to reduce staff strain. Commissioners praised the event and offered suggestions: partner with schools to attract older youth, expand to include other non-car modes (e-bikes, scooters, transit), consider separate events for different demographics, and use morning stations strategically for targeted public outreach. No formal vote was taken.

Key Outcomes

• EV Charger Program: The commission provided consensus feedback supporting a transition to a fee-based model managed by a third-party operator. Staff will incorporate this feedback into a plan to be presented to the City Council in July 2026. Key priorities include improving reliability, data collection, and targeting underserved users (e.g., those in multi-family housing).
• Bike to Wherever Day: No formal decision was made, but staff will consider commissioner input (including renaming the event, adjusting outreach to older youth, and potentially consolidating into one event) for planning future bike month activities.
• Other Announcements: Commissioner Patch reported on a police ride-along; Secretary Byrne announced grant updates (receiving $80,000 from a TDA grant for class IV bikeways, and applying for $220,000 TFCA grant for the Parkside cycle track project), a planned fire department preemption system ride-along, and an upcoming General Plan study session on June 25, 2026 at 6:00 PM for all commissioners.