Meeting Information

WORKING COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, June 8, 2000, 6:40pm.
Mission Police Station (Valencia St. at 17th St.)

If you have questions or comments about the Working Committee or these minutes, please contact BAC Chairperson James Morrison at (415) 282-8564

Minutes recorded by Steven Bodzin with Suzanne Richter.

Present: Emily Drennen, Steven Bodzin, Suzanne Richter, James Morrisson, Alex Lantsberg, Victor Veysey

1. Review and approval of minutes from Working Committee meeting 5/11/00**

Approval delayed, SB commits to sending out minutes.

2. Administrative business and announcements**

ED elected temporary chair.

Saturday, June 10 there will be an activist training co-sponsored by the SF BAC at City Hall.

Presidio Bikeways will be discussed 6/14, 6pm-8pm, at the Golden Gate Club.

3. Discussion and question period with guest, Capt. Kemmitt or other delegate from the San Francisco Police Dept.

Sgt. Shine is representative of Capt. Kemmitt. He has spent 29 years with the SFPD, 20 years as a motorcycle officer and collision investigator. He has found cyclists to be concerned about failures to investigate collisions and ensuring that officers know how the law applies to cyclists.

He explained at length why some accidents are not investigated. In short, if there was no injury, death, or property damage, there was legally no collision. This is a statewide standard, related to SWITIRS (Statewide Integrated Traffic Incident Reporting System).

Directives come from Lau. Lau says to investigate all "injury" collisions. Physical contact, or property damage, will not ensure an investigation in San Francisco. In fact, they will almost certainly not be investigated. BAC discussed encouraging Lau to change his directive.

Explained that "assault" requires the "intent" to create harm. And that in a criminal proceeding it needs to be proven "beyond a reasonable doubt"; whereas in a non-criminal civil case "by a preponderance of the evidence." Evidence of intent is usually missing in a traffic crash.

Bike cops do not do traffic enforcement because the Vehicle Code requires a "marked" vehicle, and a bike is not a "vehicle."

Says that prosecution of bike-related cases is difficult. Because of double jeopardy many infractions go uncited. A bigger problem is that officers are left to prosecute their own cases, including work-up and subpoenaing of witnesses. They simply don’t have time to do that. Sgt. Shine thought a possible solution might be to have someone (possibly an intern from the DA’s office) permanently assigned to Traffic Court to prosecute only bike-related cases.

Believes there is a "bicycle liaison" out of the Mayor’s office. Thinks his name might be "Thompson"? Thinks we should speak to him about having someone from the DA’s office appointed to prosecute bike cases.

MOTION: San Francisco will have a lower standard for bike or pedestrian accident. Contact, not injury, will be considered an accident, and will warrant investigation.

Approved unanimously.

For future agendas: Discussion of how to help DA subpoena witnesses in traffic cases; applying pressure on state law to allow bikes to be considered marked police vehicles.

DECISION: BAC will write thank-you letter to Lau, urging him to city for non-injury bike and ped accidents.

4. Discussion and possible adoption of bylaw amendment or other form of procedural reform to allow change in committee self-governance (consensus model of decision-making vs. Robert’s Rules of Order)**

Consensus training happened 5/31. JM moves, "Resolved that the BAC employ consensus techniques and the appended consensus guidelines as its primary decision-making apparatus, while retaining a vote on the final form of any prospective resolution for record-keeping purposes." Approved by 5 ayes.

5. Update on recent contacts with Japantown merchants, journalists, etc. Discuss and possibly approve direction and form of future initiatives.**

No report.

6. Bicycle Plan Update. Chapters assigned at previous meetings--How should we proceed from here? Should we schedule monthly reports, taking a chapter at a time?**

Copy available at SFBC office for perusal and comment. VV wants a charrette website to bring in maximum public comment. Suggests that be part of hired consultant's job. Full discussion delayed to July.

7. Consider endorsement of grant proposals through Dept. of Parking and Traffic staff, proposals submitted under AB434 Transportation Fund for Clean Air, including "Smart Growth" category**

?

8. Update on Thunderhead Alliance Conference (6/10) and BAC role at event. Possible formalization of BAC request on behalf of the Alliance for use of space at City Hall**

Space already approved. Conference taking place as planned.

9. Discussion of both the archival and Year 2000 posting of BAC records on the city’s website. Possible breakdown and assignment of tasks**

JM, SB, and LL will talk outside to get web archive up to date.

10. Pedestrian safety alliances and the BAC. Discussion of ways to strengthen our ties to the pedestrian safety movement by means that will also improve bicyclists’ safety. Possible resolution to this effect**

JM reports that bikes vs. peds was an apparent issue at recent pedestrian summit. ED suggests we push mayor to hire an additional pedestrian safety profesional. SB suggests alliance with other associated groups, including attending meetings of seniors, pedestrians. VV going to Baypeds meeting.

11. Date and time of next meeting**

6:30 pm, July 12.