Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission
City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, Merced Civic Center, 678 W. 18th Street, Merced, CA 95340
Agenda — 23 items
- 1 NOTICE TO PUBLIC
- 2 WELCOME
- 3 At least 72 hours prior to each regular Commission meeting, a complete agenda packet is available for review on the City's website at www.cityofmerced.org or at the City Clerk's Office, 678 W. 18th Street, Merced, CA 95340. All public records relation to an open session item that are distributed to a majority of the Commission will be available for public inspection at the City Clerk's Office during regular business hours. Assisted hearing devices are available for meetings held in the Council Chamber.
- 4 PUBLIC COMMENT: OBTAIN SPEAKER CARD FROM THE COMMISSION CLERK
- 5 Members of the audience who wish to address the Commission are requested to complete a speaker card available at the podium against the back of the Council Chamber. Please submit the completed card to the Commission Clerk before the item is called, preferably before the meeting begins. Material may be emailed to planningweb@cityofmerced.org no later than 1 PM on the day of the meeting. Please specify which portion of the agenda you are commenting on, for example, Report item # or Public Comment. Your comments will be presented to the Commission at the appropriate time. Any correspondence received after 1 PM will be distributed to the Commission and retained for the official record.
- A. CALL TO ORDER
- B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- C. ROLL CALL
- D. PUBLIC COMMENT
- 10 Members of the public who wish to speak on any matter not listed on the agenda may speak during this portion of the meeting and will be allotted 3 minutes. State law prohibits the Commission from acting at this meeting on any matter raised during the public comment period. Members of the public who wish to speak on a matter that is listed on the agenda will be called upon to speak during discussion of that item.
- E. CONSENT CALENDAR
- 12 Adoption of the Consent Calendar may be made by one motion of the Commission, provided that any Member, individual, or organization may request removal of an item from the Consent Calendar for separate consideration. If a request for removal of an item from the Consent Calendar has been received, the item will be discussed and voted on separately.
- E.1 SUBJECT: Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Minutes of August 27, 2024. ACTION Approving and filing the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Minutes of August 27, 2024. ATTACHMENTS Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Minutes of August 27, 2024.
- F. REPORTS
- F.1 SUBJECT: Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Roles and Responsibilities REPORT IN BRIEF For the benefit of new members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC), Merced Municipal Code Chapter 2.52 - “Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission” introduces the BPAC and lists the Roles and Responsibilities below: The purpose of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission is to serve as an advisory body to the City Council on matters having to do with bicycling, pedestrian activity, and other modes of active transportation within the City of Merced, as well as the mobility needs of the elderly and those with disabilities. They are to be used in an advisory capacity to the City Council to improve conditions for users of all active modes in the City of Merced, promote active transportation with the associated benefits of improved air quality, improved safety conditions for users of all modes, and health benefits, and to help advise on matters of policy, programs, and bike routes for active transportation users of all ages. The BPAC shall consist of seven (7) voting members, 6 of which represent a different district within the City of Merced and the 7th member serves at-large. In addition, the City Council may appoint up to an additional 4 ex-officio, non-voting members. The BPAC shall have the responsibilities as provided below: 1. Review and advise the City Council, as directed by the City Council or requested by the staff, on the design of capital improvement projects, street improvements, and parking facility projects as they relate to bicycling, pedestrian activity, or other active transportation issues. 2. Review and advise the City Council, as directed by the City Council or requested by the staff, on changes and updates to the active transportation and safe-routes-to-school plan, general plan, Municipal Code and other policy documents which relate to active transportation. 3. Promote any and all forms of active transportation as a viable form of transportation. 4. Assist in the development and dissemination of awareness and education materials for all forms of active transportation to the community. 5. Initiate requests to City staff from the community on issues of concern related to bicycling, pedestrian issues, and issues that relate to other forms of active transportation or the transportation needs of elderly individuals or those with disabilities. 6. Such other duties as the City Council may prescribe This does not require action by the Commission at this meeting.
- F.2 SUBJECT: Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Brown Act Training REPORT IN BRIEF For the benefit of new members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC), and the regular training of existing members Planning and Legal staff have planned an update on the Ralph M. Brown Act (Sections 54950, et seq. of the California State Government Code) The link to the law is below: <https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?chapter=9.&division=2.&lawCode=GOV&part=1.&title=5>. City of Merced Boards and Commissions that are subject to the Brown Act receive training every 2 years.
- F.3 SUBJECT: Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) Update REPORT IN BRIEF Update Commission on the Multi-Jurisdictional Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) facilitated by the Merced County Association of Governments (MCAG). Representatives from this effort will discuss the update and it’s move forward towards adoption. The development of the Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) is being led and funded by MCAG. A Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) provides a framework for identifying, analyzing, and prioritizing roadway safety improvements on local roads. The LRSP is divided into two volumes - Volume I contains the plan vision and regional strategies, while Volume II contains jurisdiction-specific information and crash data and analysis. Though multi-jurisdictional, the LRSP development process considered issues and needs specific to local jurisdictions and contains content tailored to those communities. The process resulted in a prioritized list of issues, risks, actions, and improvements that can be used to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on our local roads. Here is a link to the adopted plan: <https://fp.mysocialpinpoint.com/mcag-lrsp> Staff has updated the Commission a couple of times and sought your comments. Public review and comment lasted from 8/15/2024 through 9/15/2024. The MCAG Board Adopted the plan at their meeting on October 24, 2024. The City should consider it for adoption at a future meeting. The LRSP’s adoption will provide an opportunity for the City of Merced to seek and qualify for Federal and State funding to address those roadways and intersections in the City that are highlighted by the plan. This does not require action by the Commission at this meeting.
- F.4 SUBJECT: Engineering Report REPORT IN BRIEF Engineering staff will provide informational items to the Commission regarding current projects or other items. This item does not require action by the Commission at this meeting.
- F.5 SUBJECT: Commissioner Comments REPORT IN BRIEF Provides Commissioners an opportunity to make a brief announcement on any activities they have attended on behalf of the City and/or on future community events/activities that relate to active transportation. The Brown Act does not allow discussion or action by the legislative body under this section.
- G. BUSINESS
- G.1 SUBJECT: Election of Chair and Vice Chair REPORT IN BRIEF The Commission must elect Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission. DISCUSSION In accordance with Section 2.52.050 of the City of Merced Municipal Code, A. In accordance with Section 704 of the Charter, the members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission shall as soon as practical organize by electing two (2) of the seven (7) voting members to serve as chair and vice-chair at the pleasure of the commission. B. Notwithstanding Subsection A of this Section, the members of the existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission currently serving as chair and vice-chair shall be conferred their respective roles as part of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission upon the enactment of this chapter shall retain those positions until the next annual election.
- G.2 SUBJECT: Requests to Add Items to Future Agenda REPORT IN BRIEF Provides Commissioners an opportunity to request that an item be placed on a future Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission agenda for initial consideration. Staff reached out to the Commission for topics. For the record the responses included the following topics: Bear Creek Bank Restoration Project - Staff to check with Chris Jensen and invite him to update Commission. Bear Creek 50th Anniversary Wish List - Staff to check on city plans for anniversary and maintenance. Will bring as update so that Commission can add comments and create wish list. Discussion about Pedestrian Improvements at intersections adjacent to schools. The creation of secure bike parking. Presentation by PD about bike theft stats and strategy to decrease such theft. Staff added the following topics: Update on Grants. Staff will arrange orientation meetings with the new Commissioners.
- H. ADJOURNMENT