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31. Combine P&R and Bike Ped City Hall 10300 Torre Avenue Cupertino,CA 95014-3255 (408) 777-3354 FAX (408) 777-3333 CITY OF CUPEIUINO PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Summary AGENDA ITEM 3/ AGENDA DATE February 6. 2007 SUBJECT AND ISSUE Conduct the First Readings of Ordinance No.(s) 07- 111itJand 07-1111, amending Section 2.36.080, Park and Recreation Commission, of the Cupertino Municipal Code and repealing existing Chapter 2.92, Bicycle Pedestrian Commission, in order to combine the responsibilities of both Commissions into one Commission. BACKGROUND On January 22, 2007, the City Council intenriewed candidates for all but the Parks and Recreation and Bicycle Pedestrian Commissions. These two commissions have a total of five vacancies between them, so the question of combining them was raised. The Parks and Recreation Commission has been established for many years but has most recently been concentrating on such issues as the Stevens Creek Corridor Park and the re- use of the Sports Center pool. The Bicycle Pedestrian Commission was established in 2003 by the Council as a more formal replacement for the long standing but more informal Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee. The Commission's focus has been on walk-ability, pedestrian and cycling safety and trails. Both Commissions have five seats each. There are currently three vacancies on the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission and two vacancies on the Parks and Recreation Commission. This situation presents an opportunity for the Council to consider combining these two Commissions, which have similar subj ect focus but when combined would have a more diverse, balanced and broader view of the operations of pedestrian, bicycle, parks and all forms of recreation Issues. The City Council is currently advised by ten commissions and two committees (audit and CDBG) totaling 72 members. To put this in perspective: the City has fewer than 30 executive and middle managers combined, many of whom are called upon to provide staff support to these Commissions. Printed on Recycled Paper 31- { The adjustment to many Commission meeting schedules to meet every other month instead of every month has helped in the assignment of staff resources. However, there still remains a significant demand on the management staff to support the Commissions, partly because the addition of three new Commissions has expanded the total commission roster by 23 members in the last five years. These include the Teen Commission (13) Senior Commission (5), and the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission (5). Therefore, combining the Commissions would make for a more efficient use of limited staff resources as the two commissions are now senred by staff from two departments. As such, the two Commissions require separate and parallel staff demands for minutes, meeting agendas and other work required by Commission activity. Another consideration is the problem of overlapping areas of interest. For example, those following the Toll Brothers project closely would have attended Planning Commission, Senior Commission, and Parks and Recreation Commission hearings before going to the Council hearings on the project. This extensive and sometimes redundant public process can easily exhaust the average resident. Much concern for combining the Parks and Recreation Commission with the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission has been expressed by members of both bodies, and staff agrees that combining them because the number of current vacancies equals five (and they both work on trails), is probably insufficient justification. The function of these commissions and the department that staffs them needs to be considered. However, staff believes there is value in streamlining the public input process and combining commissions where overlapping missions exist. ST AFF RECOMMENDATION Conduct the First Readings of Ordinance No.(s) 07-1/91., and 07- 1111 , amending Section 2.36.080, Park and Recreation Commission, of the Cupertino Municipal Code and repealing existing Chapter 2.92, Bicycle Pedestrian Commission, in order to combine the responsibilities of both Commissions into one Commission. Submitted by: Submitted by: Approved for Submission: ~4cJU()CA Ralph A. Qualls, Jf. Director, Public Wor /YvL- D" I -MJ~ Tlierese Ambrosi Smith David W. Knapp Director, Parks and Recreation City Manager 31- 2 DRAFT ORDINANCE NO. 07-1996 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CUPERTINO CITY COUNCIL AMENDING SECTION 2.36.080 OF THE CUPERTINO MUNICIPAL CODE TO ADD ADDITIONAL POWERS AND FUNCTIONS TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS: 1. Section 2.36.080 of the City's ordinance code is hereby amended to read as follows: 2.36.080 Powers and Functions. The powers and functions of the City Park and Recreation Commission shall be as follows: A. To hold hearings on matters pertammg to planning and development of parks, cultural activities, historical resources, recreation and capital expenditures related to community activities and facilities; and roadway and transportation improvements pertaining to bicycle and pedestrian needs; and to receive public input pertaining to bicycle and pedestrian transportation and infrastructure issues; B. To conduct such other hearings as are necessary and in accordance with its own rules and regulations; C. To report its decisions and recommendations in writing to the City Council; D. To consider, formulate and propose programs, activities, resources, plans and development designed to provide for, regulate and direct the future growth and development of community activities, parks and a recreation system in order to secure to the City and its inhabitants better senrice; to monitor and update the bicycle transportation plan and pedestrian transportation guidelines; and to review and monitor the City's general plan transportation element. E. To make investigations and reports for future acquisition of park sites; F. To make, in its advisory capacity, any and all recommendations to the City Council relating to the above matters, including the extension of the parks, recreation system and community activities to outlying areas of the City; G. In cooperation with the Director of Parks and Recreation, the Commission will consider, review, and evaluate all parks, recreation programs, and community activities; H. To consider, formulate, and propose cultural activities and historical preservation for the City and its residents. (Ord. 739, (part), 1976; Ord. 497, S 1, 1971; Ord. 303, S 8.1,1965) 3(-] Ordinance No. 07-1996 Page 2 Publication Clause The City Clerk shall cause this ordinance to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation, published and circulated in the City within 15 days after its adoption, in accordance with Government Code Section 36933, and shall certify to the adoption of this ordinance and shall cause this ordinance and her certification, together with proof of publication, to be entered in the Book of Ordinances of the Council of this City. INTRODUCED at a regular adjourned meeting of the City Council of the City of Cupertino the 6th day of February 2007 and ENACTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cupertino the _ day of 2007, by the following vote: Vote: Ayes: Noes: Absent: Abstain: Members of the City Council ATTEST: APPROVED: City Clerk Mayor, City of Cupertino J(~l( Dw ~ ff'}).. t" \. f"" ~j" ~: y, . h. '" I!~ , ORDINANCE NO. 07-1997 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CUPERTINO CITY COUNCIL REPEALING CHAPTER 2.92 OF THE CUPERTINO MUNICIPAL CODE ELIMINATING THE BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN COMMISSION THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CUPERTINO HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS: I. Chapter 2.92, Bicycle Pedestrian Commission, of the City's ordinance code is hereby repealed in its entirety. Publication Clause The City Clerk shall cause this ordinance to be published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation, published and circulated in the City within 15 days after its adoption, in accordance with Government Code Section 36933, and shall certify to the adoption of this ordinance and shall cause this ordinance and her certification, together with proof of publication, to be entered in the Book of Ordinances of the Council of this City. INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cupertino the 6th day of February 2007 and ENACTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cupertino the _day of 2007, by the following vote: Vote: Ayes: Noes: Absent: Abstain: Members of the City Council ATTEST: APPROVED: City Clerk Mayor, City of Cupertino 31-S' c C--/ 2- ~& -() 7 -if 3 ! s~mmarv of cities near CUDertino: Presence of Bicvcle Pedestrian C mmission or Advisory Committee. and which city deDartment they are associated with February 6, 2007 Research done by May Koski, Chair, Cupertino Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Cities with a separate Bicycle Pedestrian Commission or Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Only Morgan Hill has the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee as a sub-commission under Parks and Recreation. All others work with Transportation or Public Works Departments as well as reporting to their respective city councils. Mountain View Sunnyvale Los Gatos Santa Clara Sa ratoga Committee) Monte Sereno (Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Commission) Campbell (Bicycle Advisory Committee) Los Altos (Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee) San Jose (Bicycle/ Pedestrian Advisory Committee) Palo Alto (Bicycle Advisory Committee) Menlo Park (Bicycle Commission, also Transportation Commission) Milpitas (Bicycle Transportation Advisory Committee) Morgan Hill (Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee, sub-committee of Parks & Recreation Commission) Gilroy (Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board) San Carlos (Bicycle/ Pedestrian Advisory Committee) (Bicycle/ Pedestrian Advisory Committee) (Bicycle/ Pedestrian Advisory Committee) (Transportation and Parking Commission) (Bicycle Advisory Committee) (Pedestrian, Bicycle and Equestrian Trails Advisory MY PersDective on the meraer of the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission and the Parks and Recreation Commission: The Bicycle Pedestrian Commission serves as a known point of access for community discussion of transportation issues. It is natural that conflicts and issues arise when cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians travel on city streets to work, school, or shopping and entertainment centers, or for recreation and exercise. It is important to have a well-defined body in the city government that represents pedestrians and bicyclists when working towards solutions, and also when planning transportation projects within the city, such as the Mary Avenue Bicycle Footbridge project. This commission's goals are primarily transportation-related, and should remain associated with the Public Works department. The city benefits from all of its commission members, who act as liaisons with individuals in the community and community groups. The city and commission can come up with practices and guidelines to streamline its work without overburdening the city staff liaison. The staff report mentions 3 vacancies on the commission. All three commissioners whose terms were up for renewal reapplied to the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission. The staff report does not include an example of overlapping commission interests that uses the Bicycle Pedestrian Commission. This seems odd when the issue is whether this commission should continue to exist or not. Partial summary of Bicvcle Pedestrian oroiects in the 2006-07 Our primary work in the last year has been in the area of safe travel within the city. - Monitor and advise: Bollinger Road Bicycle Facility Improvement project -Working at Public Safety Fair in the fall -Address safe travel to school concerns within the city, primarily along Bubb Road and Hyannisport. -Work toward engineering and education solutions to pedestrian and bicycle travel in the city - Discuss bicycle and pedestrian safety in various areas including post office, Whole Foods / Panera / Peets commerce area, De Anza College, Vallco, etc. - Support Bike to Work Week by staffing an Energizer station at the Quinlan Center, and adding to Cupertino Community calendar, line up sheriff support - Support Walk and Bike to School Days in the community - Monitor Mary Avenue Bicycle Footbridge project - Monitor update of county expressways, as relates to Cupertino - Monitor and advise crossing upgrades Lawrence Expressway and Mitty Avenue - Monitor and participate in Traffic Safe Communities Network Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Work Group - Plan strategies for Street Smarts program. Difficulty with our plan as budget was limited and we wanted to focus on school children and their parents initially. - Explore idea of applying for Bicycle Friendly Community. Needs more work before moving forward on this project at some point in the future.