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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2020.11.10 @600 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Meeting held at: Teleconference meeting Tuesday, November 10, 2020 6:00 p.m. Call to Order Meeting called to order at 6:02 p.m. Roll Call COMMITTEE PRESENT: Roderick Bovee, Kristy Camacho, Eddie Flores, Sophie Martin (6:14 pm), Julie Ann Murphy, Sam Shihadeh, John Skerry, Bill Zemke, Rehman Baig, Nick Maiden, Steven Yee (7:00 pm) ABSENT: Robert Cavalieri ALTERNATES ABSENT: Alan Wong, Patricia Murray Public Comment None. Consent Calendar 1. Approval of the Meeting Minutes of October 13, 2020 Committee Member Sam Shihadeh moved and Committee Member Eddie Flores seconded a motion to approve the meeting minutes of October 13, 2020 as submitted. The motion passed. New Business 2. Review Key Existing Transportation Conditions Eric Yurkovich introduced noted plans to hold a CAC Forum in January focusing on Sea Level rise, adaptation and flooding. Eric Yurkovich introduced Taylor McAdams, Fehr and Peers provided an overview of transportation policy framework. She provided an overview of transportation themes from CAC and community input: accommodate growth; managing traffic congestion; reduce green house gasses emission; improve street safety; and capitalizing on regional investments (BART, Caltrain). Additional community feedback included: struggles with residential parking; pedestrian safety; road maintenance; lack and connections to centennial trail and bay trail; traffic congestion; and desire for a true multi-modal station. She noted that COVID inspired work from home rules may delay traffic congestion, but expect a return to normal at some time. Most trips in SSF are single occupancy vehicle and work trips. Committee questions:  John Skerry asked about collision data.  John Skerry asked about what trade-offs people are willing to make. Taylor McAdams noted that we didn’t hear many comments about what people are willing to give up, but hear support for multi-modal solutions and support for reduced parking at mixed-use developments.  Roderick Bovee asked about comments relating to traffic at East of 101. Taylor McAdams noted that they received a lot of feedback about East of 101 and desire for better connectivity to transportation. Eric Yurkovich added that connectivity to East of 101 was a repeated heard by the community and a reason to go there. 3. Review Legislative Transportation Mandates, e.g. VMT, complete streets 4. Review and Discuss Potential Mobility Topics for the General Plan and Examples in Practice Taylor Mc Adams reviewed the key goals/outcomes for transportation in South San Francisco: multi- modal, safe, sustainable, healthy, and connected. Committee comments:  Sophie Martin asked how community concerns relating to residential parking fit into these outcomes? Taylor McAdams responded that if the city is truly connected to the region, there is an opportunity to reduce reliance on cars.  Sam Shihadeh noted there is also parking impacts in downtown and it needs to be addressed. Need to shift people’s habits. Interested in other ideas to address. Taylor McAdams noted that South San Francisco is designed for automobile use and has not added new multi modal opportunities. Eric noted different parking issues in different neighborhoods that may be impacted by high cost of housing and overcrowding and people using street parking when using SFO.  Roderick Bovee asked about distribution of cars per households. Taylor McAdams noted that SSF has a higher percentage of households with 3 or more cars compared to the County average as well as a higher percentage of 0 cars per household than the County average. Downtown area and around Brentwood has the lowest car ownership. Billy Gross noted that most residents work outside SSF and drive to jobs. Improving resident to job match and services near residents can help reduce need for cars also.  Roderick Bovee noted that Paris has a goal of all needs within 15 minute of a resident’s home. Taylor McAdams noted that the General Plan can include these goals including walkshed to parks/trails. Roderick Bovee expanded on potential need for more grocery stores close to homes. Eric Yurkovich noted that certain stores may be a choice trips (Whole Foods over Safeway). He noted that Portland also has a 20 minute neighborhood goal.  Eddie Flores noted need for reliable transportation options but also need to be creative. Taylor McAdams reviewed the implementation measures from the SSF Mobility 20/20 Plan (East of 101): reduce drive along rate; area-wide trip cap; expand transit and shuttle; improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Some new connections include: Haskins bridge; Utah Avenue interchange; reconfigure 101/grand off-ramp and modernize internal circulation network. Committee comments:  Rehman Baig asked about trip cap. Taylor McAdams responded that a project would be limited by how many trips it is permitted to generate.  Roderick Bovee asked cost difference with trip cap and road improvements? Taylor McAdams noted that the mode shift methods are not enough in east of 101 to resolve the bottleneck issue due to limited access points. Will need a combination of strategies to address growth proposed in General Plan. Expressed concern with continuing to spend money on roadway improvements and need to drive down emissions. Taylor McAdams noted that the entry points are at capacity and there is still a need to expand access, even if improve mode shift and reduce drive alone rates. Eric Yurkovich noted that many of the mode shifts modes are not free, but cost is burdened by the employer. Taylor McAdams provided a comparison of drive alone rates in other areas. Billy Gross noted that the City lacks east/west connections. Taylor McAdams noted that to improve transportation, it needs to be a connected model. Also need to implement complete streets policy to design roadways for multi-modes of transportation and all users. Could include a layered network with some streets prioritizing certain modes of transportation (bike focus streets). She also noted the need to implement a systemic safety approach to address pedestrian and bike collisions on city’s roadway network. Another strategy is to update the development process to align with mobility goals. She noted that City can implement a transportation demand management program for its residents (free bus service for residents, etc.). Residential parking permit programs could help alleviate some parking issues in neighborhoods. Committee discussion:  Roderick Bovee asked if there is a way to consolidate different transit systems (private and public). Taylor McAdams noted that there needs to be public trunk lines to connect transit to employment and residents.  Sam Shihadeh asked how residential parking program would impact downtown. Taylor McAdams noted would only implement program if identified adequate parking for businesses. Public Comment:  Jenny comments that wants to ensure parking permits are not punitive in lower-income areas.  Eric Yurkovich noted that the program can be designed with an equity lens. Committee discussion:  Sophie Martin noted that there can be creative solutions to address equity and can use pricing models to drive people to lesser used parking areas  Rehman Baig commented that some existing parking rules are not being enforced (72 hour limit). Billy Gross agreed that enforcement is key and costly. 5. Highlight Intersections Between Social Equity and Mobility Taylor McAdams noted that any program or approach needs to be holistic and inclusive. Taylor McAdams asked the Committee to consider: 1) if the City should be more hands-on in managing transportation and trip-making; 2) what metrics are most important when evaluating transportation outcomes; 3) how should the city prioritize its resources for transportation improvements? Committee discussion:  Kristy Camacho provided an example of employee permit parking program in San Carlos and suggested this program as a phase 1 approach.  Steven Yee asked about the future of self-driving cars and infrastructure needs. Taylor McAdams noted that it is a ways out as there would need to be wide spreading adoption by users. She noted that they will be less parking demand in the future.  Roderick Bovee noted that safety metric is most important, but how to measure. Taylor McAdams reviewed network metrics.  Roderick Bovee noted need for bicycle parking policies.  Kristy Camacho asked about expanding City current shuttles to address commuters and bring employees downtown for lunch. Could help reduce parking impacts. Taylor McAdams noted that free transportation is the most effective way to shift modes.  Eddie Flores asked about the most common use of City shuttle and noted it is an opportunity for students to use as a mode of transportation.  Steven Yee noted that the aging population transportation and accessibility needs to be addressed.  Rehman Baig noted that driverless cars could replace need for expanded shuttle service. Taylor McAdams noted that this may be the first roll-out as labor cost is the most expensive aspect of shuttles. Could include a policy to consider the latest technology options.  JulieAnn Murphy noted that transportation is regional issue with multiple agencies. Continue to think big picture, but address local neighborhood issues first.  Rehman Baig would like to focus resources on demand.  Steven Yee asked if people will be comfortable returning to mass transit. Taylor McAdams believes in the long run, we will return to previous trip making patterns. Other countries have not experienced issue with COVID spread with use of transit.  Sophie Martin noted that options will vary based on funding sources. Staff Comments None. CAC Member Comments None Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for December 8, 2020 at 6:00 pm.