April 17, 2001
PRESENT: Council Members Campos, Chavez, Cortese, Dando, Diquisto, LeZotte, Reed, Shirakawa, Jr., Williams, Yeager; Gonzales.
ABSENT: Council Members – None.
Documents filed: (1) Study Session Agenda. (2) Report entitled: Council Study Session: Traffic Calming, dated April 17, 2001, prepared by the Department of Transportation. (3) Informational memorandum from Council Member Reed, dated April 16, 2001, presenting policy issues which will be dealt with by the Traffic Calming Advisory Committee and forwarded to the City Council for approval.
Mayor Gonzales called the Traffic Calming Study Session to order at 7:09 p.m. for the purpose of receiving public testimony and providing direction regarding the City’s Traffic Calming Program.
Traffic Calming Study Session.
A. Staff presentation – The Staff presentation was made by Director of Transportation, Wayne Tanda, with assistance from Deputy Director Jim Helmer and departmental staff. The presentation provided background of the program, the status of the workplan, studies, and the program budget, and reviewed major issues applicable to traffic calming in San José.
B. Public input – Testimony was received from the following individuals on various aspects of traffic calming: Art Gorman; Luis Gusmai, PACT; Kerry Lawnsby-Comey; Scott Soper, College park Neighborhood Assocation; Peter Constant; Lynhaven Neighborhood Association; and Elizabeth Manley, College Park Neighborhood.
C. Council discussion – Council Member Chavez expressed concerns about how to effectively coordinate the various programs which relate to school access, with enhancing access to transit for disabled residents of the downtown, and about effectively working with developers of new developments to assess what mitigations are needed and whether impact fees or other mechanisms are appropriate to ensure resources to implement traffic calming features. Council Member Yeager stated when the City institutes programs that raise expectations of residents for solutions to community issues, it becomes important to plan resources sufficient to meet those expectations, he stressed the need to make every effort to shorten decision timelines and once solutions are identified, to expedite implementation more quickly. Council Member Williams concurred with the need to allocate sufficient resources to keep up with demand and stressed the benefits new technological devices and educating the populace. Council Member LeZotte stressed the importance of ensuring adequate staffing levels to interact with the community and SNI personnel to keep the processes on track, and suggested developing educational materials to inform communities of timelines, the petition process and other pertinent information. Council Member Dando suggested the timelines should be expedited, school safe routes be expanded throughout the City on a high priority basis and Staff should assess the walkability level of new developments. He stressed the importance of developing working relationships with other agencies that control portions of the roadways to more effectively coordinate traffic calming strategies. Council Member Campos commented on the value of involving schools early in the process of addressing safety around schools and educating parents and students, and suggested partnering with the State and the County to find methods of enhancing the traffic calming process. Council Member Cortese commented that there is cooperation between the City and various segments of County Staff on this issue. He stated the Traffic Calming Advisory Committee’s Workplan is consistent with what Council would like to see happen and the Committee has suggested implementing solutions to community problems without bringing the issue back through the Council approval cycle wherever possible would greatly shorten the timeline.
By unanimous consent, Council accepted the Staff report and directed Staff to continue to develop the City’s Traffic Calming Program and report back at regular intervals on the status of the implementation process, make recommendations on new strategies and emerging technologies, and report on staffing and funding requirements.
Mayor Gonzales thanked Staff and all participants in the Study Session. He stated it is important to remember this is the beginning phase of the most comprehensive effort ever undertaken City-wide and while everything desired cannot be accomplished in the first, second or possibly the third year, the process should lay a good foundation for safer streets and neighborhoods. He stated Staff will consider the comments made today and bring back to Council a comprehensive plan to accomplish those objectives.
The Study Session was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
PATRICIA L. O’HEARN
CITY CLERK