REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Appoint a City of Sunnyvale Community Member Representative to the Valley Transportation Authority Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Report
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) has requested that the City of Sunnyvale appoint a community representative to the VTA Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) (Attachment 1).
The VTA BPAC was formed in 1998 and is a 17-member committee that advises VTA's Board of Directors on planning and funding issues for bicycle and pedestrian projects in the county. The VTA BPAC bylaws (Attachment 2) specify that each Member Agency appoints one individual as a community representative of its local bicycle advisory committee. BPAC members are appointed for a two-year term that ends on June 30 of even-numbered years. Typical duties of the Community Member Representative 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 TDA 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, David Simons, expired on June 30. Mr. Simons remains seated until the City makes a new appointment.
Sunnyvale has been asked to make an appointment to the VTA BPAC. The appointee will serve a two-year term that begins retroactively on July 1, 2020 and ending on June 30, 2022. 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. The 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 a representative from the City’s BPAC.
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
Timothy Oey is a current member of the City’s BPAC. He started serving on the Sunnyvale BPAC in June 2016. He is currently serving his second term, which will end on June 30, 2024. Mr. Oey also served as the Vice-Chair of the BPAC between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018.
At its September 17, 2020 meeting, the Sunnyvale BPAC voted to recommend the appointment of Mr. Timothy Oey as Sunnyvale’s VTA BPAC representative for a two-year term, which begins retroactively on July 1, 2020 and ends on June 30, 2022.
The vote was 7-0.
(Attachment 3 - Excerpt from Draft BPAC Meeting Minutes)
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, Sunnyvale Public Library and Department of Public Safety. In addition, the agenda and report are available at the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Appoint Mr. Timothy Oey as Sunnyvale’s community member representative for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for a two-year term, which begins retroactively on July 1, 2020 and ends on June 30, 2022.
Staff
Prepared by: Lillian Tsang, Principal Transportation Engineer
Reviewed by: Dennis Ng, Transportation and Traffic Manager
Reviewed by: Chip Taylor, Director, Public Works
Reviewed by: Jaqui Guzmán, Deputy City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Valley Transportation Authority Letter of Request for BPAC Appointment
2. Valley Transportation Authority Bylaws for Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee
3. Excerpt of Draft Minutes of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission Meeting of September 17, 2020