Mobility Commission Moves Forward

Our dense city has long been a global leader in innovative urban planning.  While most of us can agree to disagree on whether we should extend that trend for a larger population, I hope that we can all come together to focus on how to improve our current infrastructure.

Old Problems, may I introduce Creative & Funky Solutions?

Constantly improving the ability of all of our citizens to move efficiently around our community should be a priority.  With an eye towards holistic planning, the City of Davis could improve our overall quality of life by reorganizing several existing resources.  Last month, in a column about the role of our City Commissions, I ended with a suggestion that we fold three of our existing commissions (Bicycle Advisory (BAC), Safety & Parking (SPAC), and Unitrans Advisory(UAC)) into one new commission: the Mobility Commission.  One reader suggested the we also fold the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Sub-committee (which is currently attached to the Social Services Commission) into this effort as well… I whole heartedly agree.

Since then, I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from current commissioners and other concerned citizens.  In the next two months, this idea will appear as a discussion item on both the Bicycle Advisory and the Safety & Parking Commissions.  In addition to this re-organization of commissions, I’d also like to suggest that the City Manager’s office investigate how to best re-organize staff to mirror this trend toward holistic planning.  For example, the Traffic Engineering Division, Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator, Environmental Services and Green Building could all be housed together in a Sustainability Division that would best fit in Community Development, which currently oversees Planning, Code Enforcement and the Redevelopment Agency… all of which could benefit from the synergy of a new Sustainability Department built out of existing pieces.  And what better way to emphasize our soon to be adopted Climate Action Plan?

Change is never easy, and we should expect this large restructuring to be contentious… wouldn’t be Davis if it wasn’t, right?  That being said, as we move forward with this idea, let’s remember that we all want what is best for Davis… and that “turf wars” often only serve the people trying to maintain the status quo.  Below, I’ve included some selected quotes from numerous emails that I received, most of whom asked to remain anonymous for the time being.

I agree “mobility” and multi-modal transportation options is the appropriate focus.  We need to get away from focusing on each transportation mode separately (and fighting over scare $) because well all need and use multiple methods to get around. As a past “single subject” commissioner serving on multiple commissions (where no public members show up to meetings) and given costs to staff each commission, I support your idea of combining commissions and redirecting focus on best use of resources to improve mobility. – Sheryl Patterson

I completely agree with you about consolidating these three commissions, and I would pull the ADA committee into the fold on this.  But that is not because I think the Unitrans or Bicycle commissions are not doing a good job.  It is more to get out of the divide-and-conquer approach where the “Safety” (and Parking) Advisory Commission (punctuation added) is the one that Public Works most relies on.  And that commission’s role from the beginning has been to support Public Works staff in their mission to move vehicles around this town as fast as possible.  With little attention to the young, old, ill, disabled, poor, or willful citizens who do not drive cars… So go for it.  Let’s begin to bring all the concerns and needs of people who are not in the cars together, to speak with wit raised volume of unity.  -Anonymous former Commissioner

Combining the three commissions will be more efficient – it will give the City Council less to ignore.  Seriously, the number of issues that the BAC has considered over the last 5 years would overwhelm any combined Commission.  Yet, nothing has happened…The Bicycle Hall of Fame is good; actually changing infrastructure is not bad, but [City Council] can’t deal with it right now.  -Anonymous Commissioner

Combining the UAC, BAC and SPAC is an interesting idea. I wonder if a combined Mobility Commission could effectively evaluate & make recommendations on the range of broad and specific issues that come before each commission. And any potential future mobility commission that looks at public transportation issues in Davis should also consider the services that are offered by other providers besides Unitrans (to include) Yolobus fixed route & commuter buses, Yolobus Special paratransit, Davis Community Transit paratransit, Fairfield & Suisun Transit commuter, UC Davis Med Center Shuttle, Amtrak.  -Anonymous Commissioner

Now, please, talk amongst yourselves and let’s see if we can’t come to some consensus on how to create a more innovative and thoughtful place to discuss how we move about town: the City of Davis Mobility Commission.