pages: TransportationCommission/2021-07-28.pdf, 5
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TransportationCommission | 2021-07-28 | 5 | 6B. Recommendations for Commercial Streets (Action Item) Staff Member Wheeler introduced this item and gave a presentation. The staff report and attachments can be found at ttps://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5037420&GUID=2B5A74EA-642E- 4F2F-994C-30CE45C3454E&FullText=1. Public Comments for #6B Cyndy Johnsen, an Alameda resident, gave her support for the continuation and improvement of the Commercial Street Program. She also encouraged that protected bike lanes be incorporated into the program. She discussed her own experiences as a cyclist. Kathy Weber, Executive Director to the Downtown Area Business Association (DABA), discussed the many benefits of the Commercial Street Program, that City Staff had worked so hard on for the businesses during this difficult time. She thought that continuing the program was vital to businesses as they continued to navigate through the pandemic. She was in full support of staff's recommendations. Jim Strehlow thought the parklet structures blocked some businesses' storefronts. He also did not think dining near busy streets was enjoyable. He discussed his other concerns such as backed-up traffic and wanted someone to measure how many people no longer come to Alameda because of the closed streets. He knew many people who no longer visited Alameda. John Frangoulis, owner of Park Street Tavern and member of DABA, thanked the city for all the support they had given restaurants and bars. He supported the continued use of the program and believed that if they made this permanent then more bike lanes would come which would allow people to feel safer. He hoped they would approve all the proposed projects. Curtis Azevedo, an Alameda resident, thought the parklets were a spark of joy during a dark time. He thought instead of dedicated bike lanes they should consider more slow streets and traffic circles. He discussed how much he had enjoyed the slow streets as a cyclist. Ron Mooney, the owner of Daisy's, fully supported the Commercial Street concept and process. He wanted to see more encouragement in changing the mindset of what streets were for, he believed they should first be for pedestrians than cars. He also wanted to see the two-lane change on Park St become permanent and to see the speed limit dropped to 20 mph. He discussed all the positive changes the parklets had done. He wanted to see a permanent parklet feature in Alameda. TC Meeting Minutes 5 July 28, 2021 | TransportationCommission/2021-07-28.pdf |