Staff Report1pW N p
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: OCTOBER 12, 2015
MEETING DATE: 10/20/15
ITEM NO: r+
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: ACCEPT THE REPORT ON THE PARKS, TRANSPORTATION AND
PARKING, AND BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION
PRIORITIES
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Town Council accept the report on the Parks, Transportation and
Parking (T &P), and Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) priorities.
BACKGROUND:
This report describes the priorities as established by the three Commissions where the Parks and
Public Works Department provides the support staffing.
The Council established the Commissions to act in an advisory capacity to the Council. To
ensure the Commissions provide the best value to the Council, each commission has established
a set of priorities. During the priority setting effort, Commissioners recommended items for the
priority list based on their identification of the issues facing the community, Council actions, and
where the Commissioners feel they can make a difference. Each Commission selected from that
priority list to identify Commission specific priorities for the year. Priorities that are not selected
are retained for possible inclusion at a later date. These priorities guide the work of the
Commissions and are an integral part of each regular Commission meeting, often leading to ad
hoc meetings and activities by Commissioners between regular meetings. The list of priorities
for each Commission is provided as Attachments 1 through 3.
Both the Parks Commission and the BPAC meet every other month, while the T &P Commission
meets monthly. The meetings typically occur at the Parks and Public Works offices, although
the Parks Commission holds their meetings in various parks during the summer months.
PREPARED BY: MATT MORLEY %% 7, %
Director of Parks and Public Works
Reviewed by:
Town Manager
Attorney
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: ACCEPT THE REPORT ON THE PARKS, TRANSPORTATION AND
PARKING, AND BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION
PRIORITIES
OCTOBER 12, 2015
DISCUSSION:
Several years ago, the Council asked for Commissions to identify priorities and provide those
priorities to the Council for review. Each Commission has handled the process a little
differently.
The Parks Commission established three priorities and works towards advancing them. The
T &P Commission and the BPAC each established a list of between five and ten priorities. These
items were derived from Commissioners' perspectives on the interests of the community.
Staff works with Commission members to develop and advance the priorities. At times the
priorities overlap with other Town priorities and existing staff work plans. For example, the
T &P Commission has established downtown parking as a significant priority, continues to
explore solutions, and has received a report from staff on the activities of the Council Ad Hoc
Committee to ensure alignment. At other times, the items are new work items. Commissions
have also found it helpful to establish Ad Hoc Committees to provide focused attention to
specific priorities. The Ad Hoc Committees report out at regular Commission meetings to
ensure the entire Commission has the information.
Each Commission has achieved successes over the last year. The Parks Commission worked
hard towards adopting their priorities for some time and, through a recent redoubled effort, was
able to complete them. In light of the priorities, the Commission had a booth at both the Spring
into Green and the 4 1 of July events this year where they sought input from residents on park
needs. Commissioners will weigh this input as they provide advice to Town staff and the Town
Council in future endeavors. The Parks Commission also supported drought activities by helping
Town staff to install signage at several parks.
The T &P Commission continues to take on big issues facing the Town. The Commission has
provided input to staff on a series of projects, including electric vehicle charging stations, cut
through traffic, on- street vehicle sales and advertising, and the deployment of parking technology
solutions. Future projects include a continued focus on traffic concerns, particularly around
schools, and a review of a program called Vision Zero.
The BPAC held its first meeting on June 4 of this year and quickly established its priorities. This
Commission is very active and has generated ideas for advancing multi -modal transportation
opportunities within the Town. The main focus for this Commission will be helping to establish
a Town Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
CONCLUSION:
As the Commissions undertake their priorities, they will utilize the information to fulfill the
advisory role to the Council. Often Commission advice will be incorporated into
recommendations or supporting information through staff reports as items make their way to the
Council. For example, Parks and Public Works staff regularly reviews the capital program with
PAGE
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: ACCEPT THE REPORT ON THE PARKS, TRANSPORTATION AND
PARKING, AND BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMISSION
PRIORITIES
OCTOBER 12, 2015
CONCLUSION (cont'd):
each Commission, allowing for updates on current efforts and the planning for future projects.
These project ideas are then vetted through the budget process.
Each of the three Commissions highlighted in this report contribute greatly to the community and
the members should be commended for their service in that regard. The Commissions look
forward to input from the Council on their priorities, regarding both a confirmation of the
priorities and comments to define or redirect activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project as defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Parks Commission Priorities
2. Transportation and Parking Commission Priorities
3. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Priorities
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Mission, Goals, and Priorities — Parks Commission
Mission:
Through community outreach and engagement, provide the
Town with information necessary to advance the vibrancy of
Town Parks.
Goals and Priorities:
1) Live interaction, polling, and feedback from the public on the opinion of parks.
Related Activity
A) Create polling questionnaire(s)
B) Develop distribution methods
i. Online poll
ii. Commissioner Visits to Parks
iii. Events
2) Provide Information on parks to the public.
Related Activity
A) Media for distribution
B) Social media or web presence
C) Articles
3) Review park infrastructure and make recommendations.
Related Activity
A) Master Plan Input
B) General Needs (non - capital project)
C) Capital Project Recommendations
D) Volunteer Opportunities
Updated: October 5, 2015
ATTACHMENT 1
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2015 Priority List - Transportation and Parking Commission (T &P)
Top 7 Action Priorities
1. Safety: Encourage Town Council adoption of Vision Zero.
2. Traffic: Investigate ways to deal with "cut through" traffic from Highway 17 and downtown gridlock.
3. Parking: Coordinate with Town Council Ad Hoc Committee on plans for parking garage.
4. Schools: Investigate busing program grant.
5. Electric Vehicles: Deploy additional stations and expand existing locations.
6. Technology: Investigate new parking efficiency technologies.
7. Efficiency: Maximize use of grants and outside funding sources for all projects.
Expanded Priorities Including Ongoing Items
1) Safety: Improve safety on Town roads for all users - drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians
A) Encourage Town Council adoption of Vision Zero (Lead Commissioner:
B) Quarterly monitoring and review of all police- reported traffic incidents (ongoing; note proposed change
from current review of accidents involving non - motorists only).
C) Improve and expand green bike lanes program (Commissioner Ristow to coordinate with BPAC).
D) Benchmark and implement best practices from neighboring communities for pedestrian safety and
crosswalk visibility, markings, and signage (Commissioner Ristow to coordinate with BPAC).
E) Improve traffic calming program (ongoing, including review of neighborhood requests).
F) Improve traffic enforcement for unincorporated areas of Town (Lead Commissioner: Bob Buxton).
2) Traffic: Improve traffic flow on thoroughfares and major arteries
A) Review major new development and infrastructure projects for traffic impact and propose solutions
(ongoing).
B) Investigate ways to deal with "cut through" traffic from Highway 17 through downtown and traffic
gridlock created during weekend summer months (Lead Commissioner:
C) Investigate feasibility of making Santa Cruz Avenue and University Avenue one -way streets with diagonal
parking (Lead Commissioner: Natalie Ladd).
D) Investigate creation of Netflix shuttle program (Lead Commissioner: Bob Buxton).
E) Update traffic signal timing to improve traffic flow at major thoroughfares (Lead Commissioner:
• Lark /Winchester to Blossom Hill
• Winchester /Lark to LG Blvd
• LG Blvd /Hwy 85 to Blossom Hill
3) Parking: Improve parking, especially in Downtown area
A) Attend Town Council Ad Hoc discussions on new /improved parking garage options and facilitate
coordination with T &P Commission (Lead Commissioners: Natalie Ladd and Ed Stahl).
B) Propose updates to the Town's Parking Ordinance (Lead Commissioner: Chris Tanimoto).
C) Investigate offering valet parking during peak business hours or year round.
D) Resolve timed on- street parking and enforcement / parking for vehicle sales (staff to update progress in
November 2015.)
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ATTACHMENT
E) Change Town code to allow privately owned off - street parking lots (e.g., churches) to charge users
during events (Lead Commissioner: Chris Tanimoto).
4) Schools: Improve school traffic and parking
A) Engage key stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan (Lead Commissioner: Chris Tanimoto).
• Improve traffic flow and parking
• Encourage biking and walking
• Ideas include: Stagger class start times, encourage high school students to stay on campus
during school day, tighten high school parking permit program (e.g., senior privilege only with
exceptions for hardships)
• Tied to Safe Routes to Schools
• Tied to $100K Town Council study
B) Investigate busing program grant modeled on Danville's program (Lead Commissioner: ).
5) Electric vehicles: Expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure
A) Deploy additional stations and expand existing locations (Lead Commissioner: Mike Calise).
6) Technology: Investigate new parking efficiency technologies (Streetline, etc.)
A) Systems and technology to improve parking and traffic congestion, reduce carbon emissions from last
mile driver circling, and provide data to support new parking structures or new parking models such as
parking apps (Lead Commissioner: Mike Calise).
7) Efficiency: Ensure priorities are met as efficiently as possible to save Town resources (both financial
resources and staff time)
A) Maximize use of outside funding sources such as grants, including Transportation Fund for Clean Air Act
and Active Transportation Program.
• Staff will bring forward to the Commission opportunities it finds for applications.
B) Investigate potential funding sources for parking garage: private parties, parking assessment district,
sales tax, residential and business tax assessments.
C) Review proposed 2016 Public Works budget for Transportation and Parking related projects.
D) Request information on North Forty and Netflix developer fees to be used to mitigate traffic.
Accomplished /Reassianed Priorities from 1014
1) Amend BAC Charter to include pedestrian safety - now included as part of BPAC Commission,
2) Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan —moved to BPAC.
3) Collaborate with Los Gatos Safe Routes to Schools — Natalie Ladd assigned and reporting to T &P
Commission.
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2016 Priority List - Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAQ
1) Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
The primary purposes for the development of a Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan are to provide a
comprehensive plan for bicycle/ pedestrian improvements throughout the Town of Los Gatos, provide
connectivity with adjacent agencies and within the local community, improve bicycle and pedestrian
safety, become more strategic and successful competing for bicycle /pedestrian grant funding, and
identify barriers and solutions for residents to safely access bicycle and pedestrian destinations within
the Town of Los Gatos and to other regional destinations.
2) Google Grant Funding Proposal
Google has recently established a $5M fund for grants to local governments in Santa Clara County for
projects that will increase bicycle ridership, especially for commuting. Los Gatos has an opportunity to
apply for a grant under this funding program.
3) Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Projects:
A) Sharrows downtown, (Santa Cruz Ave, E. Main St, University Ave)
"Sharrows" is short for "shared lane bicycle marking ". This pavement marking includes a bicycle
symbol and two white chevrons and is used to remind motorists that bicyclists are permitted to use
the full lane. There are no striped bicycle lanes on streets marked with Sharrows.
B) Protected Bike Lanes on Los Gatos Blvd
Protected bike lanes are a simple concept: They are like sidewalks for bicycles. Because they use
paint, planters, curbs, parked cars or posts to separate bicycle and auto traffic on busy streets,
protected lanes are essential to building a full network of bicycle - friendly routes. Once that network
is built, it makes riding a bicycle a pleasant and practical way for many more people, (not just the
bold or athletic) to make daily trips of a mile or two.
C) Protected Bike Lanes on Winchester Blvd
See 3b above.
D) Extend red curbs around Main St crosswalks for safer visibility and convert these spaces to multi -
bicycle parking areas
Pedestrians using crosswalks on Main Street cannot be seen by motorists until they are almost in
front of their cars due to parking spaces being placed too closely to those crosswalks. One red -
curbed parking space "visibility" buffer can be converted to a multi - bicycle parking "lot", while still
providing safer pedestrian visibility.
E) Develop high - visibility crosswalks
High - visibility crosswalks would increase visibility of pedestrian crossing paths and discourages
drivers from encroaching into crosswalks. The use of signage, striping, signalization, or other special
treatments such as flashing beacons, special paving materials, or raised crossings can also be
utilized.
4) Los Gatos BPAC Website
A BPAC website is a central repository for all Bicycle and Pedestrian resources. It also puts the Town
residents on notice that Bicycle and Pedestrian issues are a very high priority!
5) Vision Zero
Advance the idea of Vision Zero, which aims to achieve a roadway system with no fatalities or serious
injuries in road traffic.
Rev 3.2 Page 1
ATTACHMENT 3
BPAC Vision Statement, Mission Statement,
Scope of Responsibilities, and Strategy
Vision Statement:
Transform our modes of daily travel by developing and providing safe, convenient, and accessible bicycle &
pedestrian access for all ages which seamlessly integrates into our town's transportation infrastructure.
Mission Statement:
Promote walking and biking as part of a multi -modal transportation system. Provide leadership and expertise to
the Town Council and Town Staff. Advance best practices in planning and design. Influence and collaborate
with subject matter experts on transportation policy and funding opportunities.
Scope of Responsibilities:
Advise the Town Council and Town Staff on bicycle and pedestrian issues. Provide the following services and
activities, including:
• Provide suggestions and ideas for the creation of a BPAC Master Plan.
• Identify capital improvement projects that address bicycle and pedestrian access and safety issues.
• Solicit input from residents, businesses, neighborhood groups, Town Council, Town Staff, and other
Committees /Commissions regarding bicycle and pedestrian activities.
• Establish & maintain a bicycle database, which includes annual bicycle user counts, analysis of collision
rates and locations, and review of associated infrastructure.
• Contribute to a BPAC webpage to disseminate bicycling and pedestrian information to the Town and
surrounding community.
• Conduct Educational Awareness Campaigns to improve the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians.
• Review and recommend grant applications.
• Promote the development and maintenance of the Town's bikeways and pedestrian access.
• Recommend appropriate infrastructure design for bicyclists and pedestrians, specific for
implementation of public works projects, impacting cyclists and pedestrians.
• Review, prioritize and propose bicycle and pedestrian projects for inclusion in annual Transportation
Budget Plans.
• Participate in periodic review and revision of the official Los Gatos Bike and Trails Map Guide.
• Review and make recommendations on changes to the Los Gatos Municipal Code related to bicycles and
pedestrians.
• Review and make recommendations on Federal, State, and Regional Policy proposals related to bicycles
and pedestrians.
• Develop recommendations on promotion of bicycling and walking as viable and sustainable means of
daily transport.
• Review and make recommendations to on the applicable sections of the Town's General Plan.
Rev 3.2 Page 2
Long -Term Strategy
BPAC members, in cooperation with Town Staff and Town Council develop goals that address the issues of
Partnerships, Economic Benefits, Safety, Policy, Standards of Practice, and Performance Measures.
Partnerships
1. Strengthen relationships with Caltrans, Valley Transit Authority (VTA), Safe Routes to School (SR2S), and
other key stakeholders.
2. Develop a Community Outreach Plan to coordinate, educate, and increase overall understanding of
bicycle and pedestrian issues in and around the Town of Los Gatos.
Economic Benefits
3. Promote and facilitate the education and understanding of the economic benefits of increased bicycle
and pedestrian access in Los Gatos.
4. Strengthen the connection between active transportation and local economic vitality and tourism, which
benefits our local businesses.
Safety
5. Engage in safety policy and planning; improve on data collection and safety education regarding bicycle
and pedestrian access in Los Gatos.
6. Advocate for "Vision Zero" and "Complete Streets" program success.
Policy and Standards of Practice
Develop and promote legislative concepts relating to improving bicycling and walking access in Los
Gatos.
8. Support and provide advice to the Town Council on legislative and policy proposals.
Performance Measures
9. Influence and strive to improve performance measurement (metrics data), along with the quality and
relevance of data related to bicycling and walking in and around the Town of Los Gatos.
10. Future goal would be for up to 20% of all daily trips in Los Gatos to be made by bicycling or walking by
the year 2025!
11. Future SR2S goal plan would be for up to 50% of local grade and High School student commutes to be
made by bicycling or walking by the year 2025.
Rev 3.2
Page 3
Long -term Priorities
• Safe Routes to School $$
• Education Campaign $$
• Vision Zero $$
• Complete Streets $$$
• Advocate for parent involvement (long term) $
• Explore student incentive programs (long term) $
• Ensure safety program for all grades (long term) $
• School Collaboration (esp. HS) (long term) $
Mid -term Priorities
• Identify Grants /Funding $$
• Walk and Roll School Maps $
• Use Paint to improve situation (Red curbs, bike lanes, buffer areas) $
• More bicycle parking (downtown) $
• Eliminate parking in front of High School during school hours $
• Infographics $
• One way traffic to create multi modal space (N. Santa Cruz) $
• More visible Crosswalks in front of HS $
• Bike Repair /Helmet fitting $
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