REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Appoint a City of Sunnyvale Member Representative to the Valley Transportation Authority Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Report
BACKGROUND
Every even year, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) requests that the City of Sunnyvale, a VTA Member Agency, appoint a representative to the VTA Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) (Attachment 1).
The VTA BPAC was formed in 1998. It is a 16-member committee that advises VTA's Board of Directors on planning and funding issues for bicycle and pedestrian projects in the Santa Clara County. The VTA BPAC bylaws (Attachment 2) specify that each Member Agency shall appoint one individual as a representative of its local BPAC. VTA BPAC members are appointed for a two-year term that ends on June 30 of even-numbered years. Typical duties of the VTA BPAC members are to:
• Provide advice to the Board of Directors regarding funding priorities for bicycle and pedestrian projects in the County
• Review and provide comments to VTA staff regarding plans and designs for an effective countywide bikeway and pedestrian system, updates of the Countywide Bicycle Plan and Countywide Bicycle Map, bicycle and pedestrian element of the countywide transportation plan, and bicycle-related issues affecting the transit system
• Make recommendations to the Board of Directors and County Board of Supervisors through the Roads Commission regarding the Countywide annual priority list of bicycle and pedestrian projects for the Transportation Development Act Article 3 program, and regarding the annual Expressway Sidewalk Program project selections
• Coordinate with bicycle and pedestrian advisory committees of other agencies on multi-jurisdictional bicycle and pedestrian issues
• Serve as the countywide bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee for the County of Santa Clara, providing input and recommendations through the Roads Commission
The term of Sunnyvale’s current BPAC representative, Leia Mehlman, expires on June 30, 2026. Ms. Mehlman will remain seated representing Sunnyvale on the VTA BPAC until the City makes a new appointment who is approved by the VTA Board of Directors.
The new Sunnyvale VTA appointee will serve a two-year term that begins on July 1, 2026 and ends on June 30, 2028. Members may remain seated until the local jurisdiction makes a new subsequent appointment.
Members must live and/or work in Santa Clara County during their term and may be re-appointed to multiple and consecutive terms. VTA asks that the appointee not be a staff member of either VTA or the Member Agency they represent, and that the appointee preferably be, but is not required to be, a representative from the Member Agency’s BPAC. Staff confirmed with VTA that Leia Mehlman can serve as the City’s representative even though her City term expires in June 2026. VTA has requested that she continue as the City’s representative at least through December 2026 to maintain continuity as Ms. Mehlman is now serving as the Vice Chair for the VTA BPAC (Attachment 4).
EXISTING POLICY
General Plan - Chapter 3 Land Use and Transportation Element
Policy LT-1.1 Participate in coordinated land use and transportation planning in the region.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
DISCUSSION
Leia Mehlman is a current member of the Sunnyvale BPAC and has been serving since October 2018. She is currently serving her second term, which will end on June 30, 2026.
At its March 19, 2026 meeting, the Sunnyvale BPAC voted to recommend to City Council the appointment of Ms. Mehlman as Sunnyvale’s representative on VTA BPAC for a two-year term, which begins on July 1, 2026 and ends on June 30, 2028.
The vote was 6-0, 1 absent.
(See Attachment 3 - Excerpt of Minutes of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting of March 19, 2026.)
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the City Hall reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff makes no recommendation. By approving the Consent Calendar, Council approves the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission's recommendation to appoint Leia Mehlman as Sunnyvale’s community member representative for the VTA BPAC for a two-year term, which begins on July 1, 2026 and ends on June 30, 2028.
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
An “X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
___ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
___ Labor or personal employment contract
___ Contract under $50,000 or non-fiscal
___ Contract between public agencies
_X_ General policy and legislative actions
* "Competitively bid" means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Staff
Prepared by: Angela Wong, Transportation Engineer
Reviewed by: Angela Obeso, Transportation and Traffic Manager
Reviewed by: Ramana Chinnakotla, Interim Director, Public Works
Reviewed by: Connie Verceles, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. VTA Letter of Request for BPAC Appointment
2. Valley Transportation Authority Bylaws for Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee
3. Excerpt of Minutes of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting of March 19, 2026
4. VTA Email dated March 25, 2026 confirming eligibility of Leia Mehlman