Sebastopol Municipal Code Ch. 2.30 Complete Streets Advisory Committee

A transportation facility that is planned, designed, operated, and maintained to provide safe and efficient mobility for all users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, public transit, and motorists.

The intent is to ensure that travelers of all ages, abilities and modalities can move safely and efficiently along and across a network of complete streets, paths and trails.

The City Council of the City of Sebastopol finds that:

A. It is an indisputable fact that walking, bicycling and other nonmotorized methods, in addition to public transit and carpooling, are popular and viable means of transportation for commuting to work and school, recreational trips and other essential transportation purposes;

B. Traffic congestion, diminishing natural resources, rising fuel costs and concern for personal health and air quality have combined to make alternatives to the use of privately owned motor vehicles increasingly attractive;

C. The role of walking, bicycling and public transit and carpooling will continue to increase in importance;

D. The City of Sebastopol Resolution 5475, Resolution of the City of Sebastopol City Council Establishing Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Target, sets targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Increased walking, bicycling and other nonmotorized methods, in addition to public transit and carpooling, will advance the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions;

E. Promoting the safety and well-being of those who use transportation methods other than privately owned motor vehicles is one of the public purposes of the City;

F. The collective knowledge and active involvement of residents experienced in various modes of transportation is important in advising the City to ensure development of a comprehensive transportation environment;

G. The City of Sebastopol has adopted a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan to:

1. Assess the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians in Sebastopol and throughout Sonoma County in order to identify a set of local and Countywide improvements and implementation strategies that will encourage more people to walk and bicycle;

2. Identify local and Countywide systems of physical and programmatic improvements to support bicycling and walking;

3. Provide local agencies that adopt the Plan with eligibility for various funding programs, including the State Bicycle Transportation Account (BTA);

4. Act as a resource and coordinating document for local actions and regional projects; and

5. Foster cooperation between entities for planning purposes and create Geographic Information System (GIS) maps and a database of existing and proposed facilities Countywide;

H. Increased bicycling, walking and public transit use are indicative of vibrant and livable communities;

I. The City of Sebastopol, designated as a “Cittaslow USA” city, values environmentalism, comprehensive infrastructure policy, quality technology, local production and biodiversity, citizen awareness and social inclusion;

J. The community has stated its support for the creation of a Complete Streets Advisory Committee.

The Advisory Committee is established to provide advice to the City Council on matters relating to all forms of transportation other than privately owned motor vehicles and to raise public awareness of alternative transportation issues. A quarterly report to the City Council shall be made by the Advisory Committee Chair or Vice Chair.

The Advisory Committee is given the following functions and responsibilities:

A. To promote viable and safe transportation alternatives to the privately owned motor vehicle;

B. To make recommendations on any matter of transportation safety not related to privately owned motor vehicles;

C. To recommend and/or assist in revisions to the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan;

D. To review proposals and plans for public and private improvements and provide timely comments;

E. To study and make recommendations regarding the construction of an integrated system of Class I pathways to include comprehensive north-south and east-west routes within the City and its immediate environs;

F. To work with other regional authorities to maximize connectivity to both existing and future facilities;

G. To optimize bus routes, services and facilities;

H. To promote carpooling and ride-sharing;

I. To guide and support the Safe Routes to School program;

J. To study and make recommendations regarding the Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program;

K. To recommend, promote and administer an Ambassador program to assist residents with training and advice in all transportation methods other than the privately owned motor vehicle;

L. To identify potential funding sources for transportation programs and assist in the application process;

M. To enable community visioning including, but not limited to, community awards, “Slow Down Sebastopol,” demonstration projects, public and private bicycle commuting and parking facilities, minor community events, major community events and recreational opportunities.

The Advisory Committee shall have a total of seven voting members; five shall be members-at-large, appointed by the City Council. A sixth voting member shall be Sebastopol’s liaison to the Sonoma County Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. A seventh voting member, appointed by the City Council, under the age of 18 and preferably a student at a Sebastopol area school at the time of appointment, may be appointed to the Advisory Committee. With respect to this final appointment, the Council may indicate a preference for a student who will have the ability to serve a term of more than a single year. The City Council may appoint a member-at-large to the seventh seat should no qualified applicants under the age of 18 years be identified.

The intention is to populate the Advisory Committee with a wide cross section of ages, abilities and user types.

Members of the Advisory Committee are appointed to two-year terms. All terms shall expire June 30th of their respective year. Initially three terms shall expire June 30, 2013; four terms shall expire June 30, 2014, by random draw of the initial appointees.

Nonvoting liaison position opportunities exist:

A. Sebastopol Police Department;

B. Sebastopol Senior Center;

C. Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition;

D. Business community;

E. Local schools;

F. Others as the Advisory Committee sees as appropriate.

The members of the Advisory Committee shall receive no compensation except such expenses as are authorized by law and the City Council. Members serve without compensation. In carrying out the specific functions listed above, the Advisory Committee is not authorized to use City funds or resources without the express approval of the City Council.

A quorum at any regular or special meeting of the Advisory Committee shall consist of a majority of the members of the Advisory Committee. No action of the Advisory Committee shall be valid without the affirmative vote of three members of the Advisory Committee.

Any member of the Advisory Committee who fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the Advisory Committee shall be considered automatically removed and a vacancy shall be deemed to have occurred unless a showing of good cause is presented to the City Council. The City Council shall be the sole judge as to whether or not good cause is shown.

The Advisory Committee shall annually elect a Chair, a Vice Chair and a Secretary to a one-year term from its membership to preside over meetings and perform such other functions as may be prescribed by rule. Elections shall occur at the first meeting and then annually following new appointments.

The City Manager may assign a City employee or other resource to provide technical and administrative assistance to the Advisory Committee as needed.

The Advisory Committee shall meet monthly at regular stated times and places and all meetings of the Advisory Committee shall be open to the public as required by law. The Advisory Committee shall adopt rules for the transaction of business and for the proper conduct of its meetings and the discharge of its powers and duties. All meetings must be in conformance with the California Open Meeting Act.

In accordance with California Government Code Section 36937, the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be effective 30 days from and after the date of its passage.