Speaker 1: Recommendation to waive the encroachment permit fees through October 31st, 2021 for the Commercial Streets Program. DeLay short term temporary special event street closures along major commercial and side streets, and accept the September 2020 status report on transportation and adoption of resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for up to $75,000 in county to County Transportation Commission COVID 19 response.
Speaker 0: And Madam, quick response. Actor We're okay with that, doing that before 11 because this is our last agenda item, is that correct?
Speaker 1: Correct.
Speaker 0: All right. So we're still going to move things along. All right. So I see that we have Angie Thomas just can't get enough of this and our city engineer's got with you. But, Councilor Rudy, you've got your hand up.
Speaker 2: Thank you. I'm sorry. Point of order. I had to recuse myself last time, and I just want to verify whether that's still required or not.
Speaker 0: Oh. Because you live on the street.
Speaker 2: Correct.
Speaker 0: Mr. Shin?
Speaker 2: Yeah.
Speaker 0: Your call.
Speaker 2: Is not. Council member of the PPC recently revised its regulations regarding the public generally exception and there is a specific ban there that's called limited neighborhood effects. And the new decision makes clear that a city's decision affecting residential property is limited. If it's limited to specific locations encompassing more than 50 homes, which I believe that this program would be, and that the decision establishes, amend or eliminate restrictions on parking, imposes traffic controls or other measures to improve public safety that the member may participate and fall under the public section public generally exception. And so, based on what I'm aware of, this is a matter that encompasses more than 50 streets, limited to specific locations, and specifically imposes traffic controls for the purposes of public safety. And as a result of the very recent modification, it is my advice that Councilmember Odie now could participate. Thank you for that.
Speaker 0: Okay. All right. All right. And I see I want to also welcome Rochelle Wheeler from the Transportation Department. And Mr. Burden is still here. And so, Mr. Thomas, are you.
Speaker 2: Yes. I'm just going to introduce this item very quickly. I'm also joined not only by Rochelle Wheeler, our transportation planner extraordinaire, but also Scott Wickstrom, city engineer, is here. But I think he got locked out.
Speaker 0: He was.
Speaker 2: Here. Yes. So if if there's anybody who can help Scott get back in. That would be great. We. We provided you.
Speaker 0: To the engineer.
Speaker 4: Yeah.
Speaker 0: He's back.
Speaker 2: We provided you a a large report which really covered four different pieces of our four different major initiatives that we've worked on this year. Um, the accepting of our annual report, which is something we do every year, it's an update on transportation activities that went to the Transportation Commission. We bring it to you every year. But this year's report really also included a lot of information on something we didn't plan to do this year. But we've been putting a lot of time into, which is all of our COVID 19 Slow Streets Commercial Streets program. So we provide you information on those programs as an update. There are really two actions tonight. One is we're seeking your authorization to waive the encroachment permits for the Slow Streets program, the Commercial Streets program. That's just really a business trying to help out the local businesses on Park Street and Webster Street. It's a relatively small amount of money, but we we wanted to get council authority to do that. And then we're also looking to get your support for a to for us to set aside $75,000 as a local match for an TC grant for another $75,000, which would give us $150,000, which would it's a grant that would allow cities to improve bike and pedestrian facilities and infrastructure on our, you know, in in response to COVID 19. So Park Street, Webster Street slows streets rather than going through all four of those. Different areas and issues. What we thought we would do since it's late at night here is just make myself and Rochelle and Scott available to answer questions. We're more than happy to talk about transportation for as long as as you all would like, but it's such a broad range of things. We just thought it'd be best to find out what you would like to hear more about. And then we're here to to answer your questions. Mean as I said, we're really just looking for two actions, the approval of the waiver of the encroachment and the approval to go forth with the grant application. So with that, I'll make myself and Richelle and Scott available to answer any questions or if you'd like more information about any one of these programs.
Speaker 0: Okay. There's actually three items in there. Right.
Speaker 2: The accepting of the annual report as well.
Speaker 0: Right. Okay. And the ability to for the city manager to apply for these A.C.T. funds. Yes. So and I meant to ask this earlier, do we have public speakers on this item?
Speaker 1: Do not have any public comment.
Speaker 0: Okay. All right. So, Counsel, we can proceed in any any order you wish. Who wants to start?
Speaker 2: I mean.
Speaker 0: I'm sorry. Just raise your hand. It's very. That's right.
Speaker 5: Just a couple of questions. Thank you. I guess my question is and then I'll wait to hear from my colleagues. Back in May, we approved a slow street map for rolling out so streets. Are we done with that? And we rolled out everything that's on that map.
Speaker 2: Rochelle or Scott, do you want to address the Slow Street? Michelle Wheeler and Scott Wickstrom have really been instrumental in the Slow Streets program.
Speaker 0: As we were. I'll go ahead. Yeah. Good evening.
Speaker 4: Madam Mayor. And Council. I can't recall what exactly was on the May map, because we've revised the map since then and we have added additional closed streets from the original couple of ones that we implemented first. So but we still have additional slow streets that we're looking to expand to. And that is that that map is the one that's on our current on the website currently.
Speaker 5: So do we know how that map compares to what we what what came before us? I think in May or whenever that was. I haven't had time to look, I'm sorry to say.
Speaker 4: I think that I'm trying to remember what was in May. Things have changed. So I can I can look that up. Scott, do you happen to remember.
Speaker 0: There's a long time ago?
Speaker 5: Yeah. Yeah, I remember my memories. There are more there were more streets than are currently implemented. And I guess I'm just curious if that is correct. And we have survey data that says 72% of people like this thing. Why we didn't. Do the thing. The council said, let's do that.
Speaker 4: Uh huh. Uh huh. Well, we have completed all of first CI.
Speaker 0: And Pacific and then San.
Speaker 4: Jose. I think there was a little more that maybe has not been done as my is my recollection. And then there's some additional areas that we're now proposing to do as well beyond what we showed in May.
Speaker 0: Knock it off you.
Speaker 5: I think it's a.
Speaker 0: Cast member, Odie.
Speaker 2: Thanks. My question. And I think that I'd met with the folks at ABC and they noted that there was no slow street over at the point. And I didn't see anything in here in this report that we were going to be doing this whole street out of Alameda Point. So I wonder what the status is on that.
Speaker 4: We have received a request from APC to allow me two point collaborative to put a slow rate on Orion, and that's something we had started talking about. However, there is a bus route on Orion, and so we're not you know, generally our Slow Streets program is looking not to put slow streets on transit streets. So but we are actively talking about that right now and looking at what we could do out there.
Speaker 2: Okay. I appreciate that, because that's a neighborhood of the city, too, that, you know, does not shouldn't be ignored. So thank you. Mm hmm.
Speaker 0: And who else? Castro. Rivera.
Speaker 4: So just following up on my colleague's questions, I think, you know, what I would like to know is when when these changes get made, where is the update and the review from council and what's the timeline on that? Because I think if we if we think about it, we've been in the pandemic for several months and in particular with APEC, where we have a lot of traffic going through for the launch, the U.S. launch pick up as well as the the food bank. I do have a concern that we're taking a lot of time to make these assessments. And I think that there's also a concern, at least on my end, if some of these bus routes are still active or as active during the pandemic, because we know that the transit has also cut back. So if I could, there's a few questions there. But if I could get some answers on that.
Speaker 2: I think we're. I apologize. I think we're having technical difficulties with with Scott, who can help us answer some of these questions. But what I'm hearing what I'm hearing is the council is very supportive of the Slow Streets program, would like to see expansions of it. And I think what we could offer tonight is to give you provide an A. Yeah, I just got another text. He's still unable to get in, so but what we can do is we can prepare a off agenda, a report or a report for a upcoming agenda, you know, very soon sort of giving you the most current update on our plans for expansion of the Slow Street program, which streets were seriously considering? I know that, you know, it's between public works and transportation planning. We are feeling very overextended with everything that's going on. And that's just just I mean, that's not an excuse. And I'm not.
Speaker 0: It's not to say agitation.
Speaker 2: We are just so you know, when you're like, oh, expand it. Let's do more. Let's do more. It's a bunch of us get all grumpy. But we we hear you. We know it's a successful program. We know that Alameda and Alameda residents have really appreciated it. So let us let us kind of regroup. I think if I've characterized the consensus of the council correctly that you you do like this program, you would like to see us try to continue to expand it. The West End and the collaborative, obviously, I heard that tonight as well. But what we can do is we can bring back the map. We can also bring back the comparison to the May map, which I'm sorry, we just weren't ready and prepared to to do the comparison. But we can kind of tell you how things have changed over the program and and what we think would be possible to do in the very near future.
Speaker 0: And interject. Yeah, I would say it looks like our great junior Scott has found his voice.
Speaker 2: Yes, I do. I am on radio and I can at least on the phone here, although not on video. Just to answer Councilmember Knox Dwight's question about the STS rollout and implementation, we did a really obviously a concerted push in May, June as we get the program rolled out. And then we basically, I'll say, diverted our limited attention, as Andrew saying, towards the commercial streets. And I think as the commercial STS has been very successful getting a lot of PARKLETS out there, there are some additional expansion possibilities with the residential streets. There are a couple additional phases that are potentially out there that we are looking to implement in the coming weeks and months. So that is that is something we have not forgotten about and particularly the area out over in Alameda Point.
Speaker 0: Thank you, Mr. Wickstrom. I think that's a good reminder that, you know, we don't have a huge staff in the city. And so oftentimes the same cohort are working on many different things. And, you know, there still are only 24 hours in the day and you can't work on all of them. And with the streets, I'm a fan and I've really enjoyed walking and riding my bike and I take all of them now. And the only thing that I would ask is communication is really important. And when residents don't get the word until the signs are going up in front of their home or business, then we hear from them. And so just, you know, people people want to be informed ahead of time and communication goes a long way. So that would be my request. Anything else on the. Well, I guess what I'll just jump in and say is that sorry, I have Grossman's temperamental iPad and sometimes it lets me up and staff reported at the time tonight but what I'll say because I'm going to have with this one is I did appreciate the the have to really take a deep breath so I don't say something specific but oh there it came back. I do appreciate the the recommendation that we delay the short term temporary special event street closures along major commercial inside streets because the county public health officer has said no large gatherings and also. We do need to keep our COVID numbers under control. And we've done really well. And I want to congratulate our meetings and I think staff has done a great job. And as I'm reinforcing the message and yet there's still you know, people seem to think that this is you know, it's now passed. And we don't have to worry. We do have to worry. We're going into the the winter season. And so this is the time to really protect ourselves, I think. I know over the weekend a couple of us came upon a swap meet happening out of Alameda Point, which you know that with the report of a karaoke party at one of our yacht clubs on the weekend. These are not things you shouldn't be happening right now. And so certainly street fairs, Halloween fairs, we just have to you know, this is a year like no other. We've got to get past COVID so that we can reopen our businesses. So so thank you for that. The suggestion about the pause of the street closures. Vice Mayor Wait.
Speaker 5: I guess I'll take a slightly different tack on that, but I want to start with I did listen to the Transportation Commission meeting last that where that where the actual status report went over and I passed this along. I'm not sure how far went, but I just wanted to thank staff for all the incredible work that's been done really well, laid out and presented a work and answering questions in a way that was really useful to the team members and the public myself as well. It's just clear that a ton of work is getting done and I don't want to suggest that I do find myself a little, you know, in the second year ties into the beginning of my meeting comments as well. I think the council gave some direction in May related to rollout of streets based on a map and related to actually closing down commercial streets early in the summer to support some of our businesses at a time when we did it. And I think if we're going to make decisions not to do those things or to delay them or whatnot, I think it would be good to at least have some communication back to the council so that we're aware that that work is not moving forward, especially since it's probably in reaction to other work we're asking to be done because we do have a small, small staff. I do know in May we we we pushed up the transportation plan a few months in order to support the slow steps so street so I think we're working on communicating about about tradeoffs. But I do think it would be good to just make sure that there's better communication because until tonight, we haven't had the opportunity to hear that, that, you know, not only have we not done it, but there's a recommendation that we not do it. And, you know, for me, again, great appreciation for all the work that's been done. But five months after after we asked that it be done, I think that some that could have been communicated maybe just a little bit more clearly at that point in time, because we talked about it through the summer as well, that that's just minor feedback. Again, I do want to with the reading through the transportation report, I think it's good and it's clear that a lot of work in very difficult times has being done. And I really appreciate it. So thank you for that.
Speaker 0: Express Mayor. I see councilmember hand that followed by Councilor Rody.
Speaker 4: I also have a temperamental iPad. So I sympathize with the mayor.
Speaker 0: Maybe just kidding with each other.
Speaker 4: Probably same model. So, you know, my my thing is, I think that there's just communication it's communication improvements that we can point to, not just here, but with a number of other things that have happened during the pandemic and not related to the pandemic. I think we can always improve communications both with the council and then also with with the public in general. I know a lot of people are excited about the reopening, but there's still a lot of misinformation about what's permitted and what's not permitted. I'm hearing about different groups getting together for kind of neighborhood events and things like that being publicized. And so I think we need to do a better job of kind of letting people know what's allowed and what's prohibited even outside. And I think that this this oftentimes it's not just our commercial streets. It's also, like I said, in our residential neighborhoods where people want to get it get together for different types of events. So I think we obviously have a lot of information on our website. But one of the things that I found is that a lot of people don't know to go to our website, even though we're promoting it on social media, and the mayor's talking about it at her town halls and we're sending information out. So I think this is a larger kind of issue. I don't necessarily want to put it all on our transportation and planning, folks, because I think it's just kind of part of a bigger communication strategy that we need to figure out as a city, both during the pandemic and outside of it. And then I think, you know, I'm fine. Andrew Within and off agenda update. I think that that's great. Not everything has to be on the agenda, but I think these council offices are very helpful, especially because sometimes these things keep coming up in different forums or meetings with like the business community. And it would be helpful if we can also relay the we can all be on the same page and relay the same message that people stop asking for the same things. And we can we can explain to them why certain things aren't happening. So at least from my perspective, I want to be a helpful ambassador when I go to these meetings. I know my colleagues feel the same way.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Why Republicans were voting.
Speaker 2: Thank you. I just want to share my appreciation to our staff and our transportation team that.
Speaker 0: We've accepted.
Speaker 2: A lot of them before COVID and even after COVID. And I realize there's a limited number of resources, but I think they've stepped up and and been responsive to the council in response to the community as far as the Commercial Street closure. Now, I had a chance to walk Park Street with Kathy Webber, and we were surveying the different businesses, you know, those that were there about what they thought about potential street closures of Park Street. And it was all over the map. So I understand that, you know, there's really not a consensus of the merchants on whether they feel, you know, permanent or temporary or once, once a month or two days a month or whatever is even something that could do. But I still think it'd be interesting to try a pilot because, you know, we have closed Park Street and Webster Street in the past. We're street fairs. So there's no reason why we couldn't try something in the future where we can close it and just make it walkable, you know, for 8 hours or 10 hours or, you know, one day, one day just to see what happens. And, you know, what what are the lessons learned? You know, I've heard from people on Haight Street, you know, that they're they're unhappy with that street, you know, being kind of a a cut through. Right. And, you know, that street may be a viable alternative. It's on the list. But, you know, with the. Know, with the farmer's market and such, you know, there are some days where it's partially closed. So from the neighbors I've talked to, you know, they would appreciate, you know, also it being closed. But, you know, maybe we shouldn't foreclose the idea of doing it. And Taylor, because I haven't talked to anyone on Taylor, but I'm sure that they would appreciate, you know, the same type of safety measures that we've been able to implement on other safe streets. So, again, just appreciation to our staff, our transportation staff. And I, I know we ask a lot of you and I just want to make sure you know that I know that we ask a lot of you, but I also appreciate everything that you're able to do.
Speaker 0: Thank you. And Councilmember Eddy, if the cat wants to speak, I'll give him 2 minutes.
Speaker 2: Yeah, well, this is not the one that usually video bums the meeting, so.
Speaker 0: He has to.
Speaker 2: Rule down Pat.
Speaker 0: Alford. Okay, what else? Council. So we make this to make this recommendation.
Speaker 4: Mayor? Mayor. Madam Mayor, may I? Yeah.
Speaker 0: I'll get back.
Speaker 4: To the question that the vice mayor asked earlier. Oh, sure, yeah. Because I've had a chance to look up what we actually brought back in May to the council. And so at that point, we had already implemented just two short segments of of two streets as low streets, which were for and Pacific. And what we brought to council was a map that included expanding into a phase two. So from the pilot slash phase one A to a phase two, which included extending Pacific Avenue and adding Santa Clara. So we've done that. And then since then we've added a phase three which completed Vici and then also added San Jose. And so the map we brought you in, May, there are still some areas that are kind of future under consideration that we have not yet implemented. And but we do now have 4.5 miles of slow streets in the city and these future phases that are under consideration. The intent is to create kind of link up these different slow streets so you have more of a network. And so that is that is what is ahead of us. And we are looking at streets like Haight and Taylor and trying to figure out which one to add. Plus looking out at now at Alameda Point and also looking at Bay Farm Island. So so we haven't done everything that was on that original map, but we definitely have moved it forward significantly.
Speaker 5: And thanks, appreciate them. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Miss Wheeler OC Council. The um I do have paper copies of my staff report for the same time. So we are being asked to vote to waive the permit fee structure for 21, 31, 2021 for commercial street program delays short term temporary especially the street closures reedit and except the 20th September 2020 status report on transportation. It also adopt resolution authorizing the city manager to apply for and receive up to $75,000 for a city of rapid response bicycle pedestrian grant programs. So that all in one motion. Can't we, Madam Clerk?
Speaker 1: Yes, you may.
Speaker 0: Do I have anyone willing to make that motion? Some. Every day I hesitate.
Speaker 6: So move.
Speaker 0: Okay. Do we have a second? Okay. Who is first with that phrase? Mayor. This mayor next.
Speaker 5: You know who was first. But I'm happy to do it.
Speaker 0: I got you in the corner my first. So did you. All right. So it's been moved by Councilmember De so seconded by Vice Mayor Knox White. Any further discussion? And I, too, want to thank staff. You are doing an amazing job. And I will just quick little anecdote. My daughter is visiting from out of the country right now and she hasn't been home for two years. And she is just amazed. We went on the course on the trail and she loves the streets. And so, yes, keep up the good work. All right. May we ever recover.
Speaker 1: From our day thug?
Speaker 2: All right.
Speaker 1: Next light. Hi, Odie.
Speaker 2: Hi.
Speaker 1: Bella.
Speaker 4: I may.
Speaker 1: Or as the Ashcraft high net carries by five eyes.
Speaker 0: All right. Thank you so much, Staff.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Mayor.
Speaker 0: Appreciate it. Keep up the good work.
Speaker 2: What we'll do is we'll try to also improve our communications through off agenda reports, 515 reports, which I've let drop. So I'll I'll be bringing those back. But I think that would be I would just communication. I totally agree. Like communication's the biggest challenge with everybody being remote and everything going on. So. But we can certainly keep you a little bit more in the loop as things change because they're changing every day.
Speaker 0: Right? Absolutely. And I think we all share your challenges with communications. We're we're fighting those battles, too.
Speaker 2: I would also second that we have a fantastic transportation staff, both in public works and transportation planning. We're very lucky. So thank you for all the kind words.
Speaker 0: All right. Thank you all. Good night, everybody. All right. Okay, Council. Lots of good work tonight. Let's move on to item seven is city manager communications. Mr. Leavitt, just ten mute now that you got the lights back on?
Recommendation to (1) Waive the Encroachment Permit Fees Through October 31, 2021 for the Commercial Streets Program; (2) Delay Short Term, Temporary, “Special Event” Street Closures Along Major Commercial and Side Streets; and (3) Accept the September 2020 Status Report on Transportation; and
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for and Receive Up To Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000) in Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) COVID-19 Rapid Response Bicycle and Pedestrian Grant Program Funds to Enhance and Expand Alameda’s Commercial and Slow Streets Programs; and Allocate up to $75,000 in funds from Local Measure B/BB Bicycle and Pedestrian Funds (alternatively if more CARE funds are distributed, those funds could be used) for the Required Matching Funds, Should the Grant be Awarded. (Planning, Building and Transportation 4226287)