Meeting Information

SAN FRANCISCO BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BAC)

Regular Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, January 19, 2005

City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place (Polk Street)

The meeting was called to order at 6:20 PM

1.    Roll Call/Attendance:

Present - Andrew Thornley(District 1), Janice Buike(District 4), Dale Butler(District 6), Bert Hill(District 7), Francisco Hernandez(District 9), Rufus Davis, Jr.(District 10), Casey Allen(District 11)

Excused - Lionel Shaw(District 2), Dianna Waggoner(District 3), Jerry Ervin(District 8),

Vacant Positions - District 4

2. Announcements:

3. Approval of minutes of December 15, 2004 (6:35) as amended

4. Public Comment: (6:38)

Dave Snyder raised concerns regarding the placement, frequency, and priority streets for Sharrows in particular suggesting that the Department of Parking and Traffic should permit the Bicycle Advisory Committee to review before painting. Mr. Snyder continued that the first Sharrow each block should be in or close to the intersection rather than a significant distance beyond the cross walk. Supporting Mr. Snyder's position was Josh Hart of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. Peter Tannen of the Department of Parking and Traffic responded that it is a good idea for the BAC to review but that it is possible that there might create a one month delay.

5. Chairman's Report: (6:40)

· A Planning Department meeting scheduled for January 26 is regarding the policy framework.

· The BAC needs to talk about goals and direction. What needs to get done? No budget is a serious problem as is the lack of staff. Can a budget for the BAC be included in the Bike Plan? Can we get a budget from the Board of Supervisors?

· Bicycle planning and policy is not highly regarded and we need to create a sense of increased importance.

· The World Environmental Conference was scheduled for the end of January and BAC members were encouraged to attend.

· Anyone who wants to reapply for the BAC should. It's painless and going before the Rules Committee can be a good way to have a voice directly to the Board

· Availability of rooms is best on Mondays and Thursdays.

6. Member Reports: (6:45)

· Casey Allen(District 11) reported that he would like to remain on the BAC for another year. Mr. Allen agreed that the BAC needs it's own budget.

· Francisco Hernandez(District 9) spoke briefly recommending the new David Herlihy book Bicycle: The History.

· Janice Buike (District 4) reported that she did not intend to submit her name for another term on the BAC.

· Dale Butler(District 6) reported that he served on three commissions or boards and all three met on Wednesday but that if the BAC moved to another day, as is expected, he could remain on the Board. Mr. Butler also reported that it appears that cyclists on Polk Street have figured out the Sharrows and are using them properly with the exception of a cyclist with earphones and wobbling with one had.

· Bert Hill(District 7) agreed with the need for a budget. Where do we fit in? Where in the process does the BAC fit? How do we develop a relationship with the Board of Supervisors? Can we expand the use of the web? Mr. Hill reported that the southern entrance to the Golden Gate Park Garage is the most important issue in the 7^th District. Also of interest is the mixed use trail from LHH to Glen Part Station.

· Rufus Davis Jr.(District 10) reported that last Friday he testified on the Bike Network along Oakdale Avenue. The Oakdale Plan was approved.

7. Department of Parking and Traffic Report (6:51) / Peter Tannen

· Report As Attached (items in parentheses)

(4) Caltrans does not want to fund contra-flow lanes because they are not included as a device. We can use Prop K money to build contra-flow lanes

(16) A neighborhood representative said, regarding the mixed use trail at LHH, that the existing wall is already too high and would like the wall eliminated. There are concern on both sides.

(20) The BAC supports the original plan but there is a problem that turning cars can use the transit lane. Josh Hart from the SFBC reported they had met with Michael Burns and asked him to support the original plan favored by the community.

(21) Member Allen asked that stripping should be extended. Member Hill added that the transition to Lake Merced could use some stripping to facilitate cyclists transition from Sloat.

· As of this meeting Michael Burns wants to move all of DPT into MTA.

8. San Francisco Bicycle Coalition: (7:40)

· Josh Hart reported the SFBC is hiring for three positions

· A press conference of groups opposed to widening MLK and the garage entrance is being planned

· Last Friday at Planning Commission the Oakdale Plan was passed as well as the Fulton Street Plan. The 14^th Street plan is being delayed

· DPW meeting regarding pavement quality and potholes is in its third session. The staff do "drive bys" just driving by and looking out the windshield. SFBC is pushing to include consideration of the impact of pavement on mass transit and bike network streets

· The most recent bike education class included fifteen students

· SFBC has secured additional support for west span pathway from the MTC.

· John Lewsinsky will be at the Planning Commission when they consider amendments to the City Planning process. Making Bike Plan changes to City General Plan making the bike plan into a law. Review their web site

9. New Business (8:15)

a. Shared Lane markings (Sharrows)

Postponed to next meeting

b. Golden Gate Park Garage

Resolution attached. Adopted unanimously with amendment that MLK should include stripping for a bike lane.

c. Valencia Street Planning - DPT Livable Streets Project

Adopted unanimously that the two BAC delegates shall be Francisco Hernandez and Casey Allen as representatives to participate in Valencia Planning meeting to be conducted by DPT Livable Streets.

d. Prop K 5-Year Plan - Special BAC meeting

A special meeting of the BAC shall be held on February 7, 2005 for the sole purpose of public input and review of the DPT Bike Program's 5-Year Plan for Prop. K funds

e. Rincon Hill Development

· Up to 40,000 new housing units

· Planning to get amenities to make the area "liveable"

· 4000 new housing units in the first stage

· Slender residential towers

· Narrow streets, wide sidewalks, trees

· Create a divide between regional and local traffic

· Densest neighborhood in SF perhaps in the US

· Needs seating, walking, traffic calming areas

· Takes traffic from 3 or 4 lanes to 2

Comments from BAC:

· Small streets can make drivers ignore safety

· There will be an impact making Folsom the "Main" street

· Parking at 1:1. What does that mean?

· Open Beale Street to Bikers and Peds!

· What about kids? Playgrounds? Schools?

· Where does the west span bike/ped path come down?

· Beale Street should be a Bike Only Street

Resolution adopted unanimously by the committee:

The San Francisco Bicycle Advisory Committee (the SF County Board of Supervisors' citizen's advisory committee for bicycling matters) supports and endorses the Planning Department's Rincon Hill Plan Draft, specifically the streetscape and traffic proposal as presented to the BAC at our January 2005 regular meeting, with the further request that special effort be made to incorporate a bike boulevard along the Beale Street corridor, anticipating re-opened bike/pedestrian access under the Bay Bridge.

f. Election of Officers: (8:55)

The Officers for the remainder of this year shall be:

Bert Hill, President

Andrew Thornley, Secretary

Casey Allen, Vice Chair

Francisco Hernandez, Vice Secretary

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM

Materials distributed at this meeting:

· Minutes of Previous Meeting

· DPT Bicycle Program Report to the BAC 1/13/05

· DPT matrix of bicycle related projects

· Proposal for a dedicated roadway..... from the SFBC

· Presentation of Rincon Hill Draft Plan to the BAC

· Planning Department Certificate of determination of exemption/exclusion from environmental review