ETF Meeting Minutes Spring 2021

Posted on Thursday May 13, 2021 by Corinne W.
Part of the Emerging Mobility Action Plan Effort

February 18, 2021 – 4:00pm to 5:30pm

1. Welcome and Introductions

See ETF Member Bios here.

2. Roles, Expectations, Boundaries, and Communication Protocols

3. Equity Task Force Diversity Assessment

Which communities do we need to intentionally engage during outreach?
Which communities do we need to intentionally engage during outreach?

Discussion Themes

Limited English Proficiency communities
The local Indigenous community
People who do not have access to the internet, smart phones, computers, etc.

February 22, 2021 – 5:00pm to 6:30pm

1. Welcome + Review Community Agreements

2. Brief overview of the Emerging Mobility Action Plan
Discussion Themes

Emerging Mobility companies need to hire people who are representative of the community and these services need to contribute to the community’s economy.
It’s important how we define trips, because it influences other developments, such as housing; we need to develop transit that meets the immediate needs of the community.
The City should work with the County and neighboring counties.
We need to consider different socioeconomic statuses within communities when marketing these services, especially low-income communities.
These services need to be available in different languages, Vietnamese and Spanish is not enough.
Who are getting these contracts to operate in the City? BIPOC companies + entrepreneurs should be considered as well.

3. Existing Conditions
Discussion Themes

We need to be intentional with how we define what are community benefits and harms.
Things like age could help determine if there is a lack of access to safe driving education—are we seeing more collisions among young people?
The new bike lanes in Downtown are confusing; changes were made without educating the public (cyclists and drivers) on how to navigate the bike lanes and there were no signs on how to use the new bike lanes.
It is discouraging to bike in Downtown and East San José due to drivers not understanding bike signals, people stealing bikes, streets being too narrow.
Bus times are inconsistent and not reliable; riding bikes in East San José is a “death sentence,” the traffic is chaotic, and people are swerving. Adding bike lanes in East San José might cause more traffic congestion.
Bike lanes need to be made more noticeable to drivers, especially on rainy days and at nighttime.
Access to transit has been used to justify dense development, leaving much of the City with a reason to not allow denser development.
The placement of micromobility like scooters/bikes and EM may have an effect on property values and influence gentrification.
It could be interesting to see the overall economic benefit from increasing transit access

4. Items for Future Discussion

Youth access to transportation and emerging mobility; data on emerging mobility use is inaccurate because it does not account for youth who use someone’s else ID to use these services.
How to educate youth on safe use of public transportation + emerging mobility.
How to improve development agreements to have better transit and reduce displacement.

February 26, 2021 – 2:30pm to 4:00pm

1. Discussion of Early Community Input
Discussion Themes

Policing – There is not a rise in gang crime/violence in East San José; Police have criminalized Chicano culture, which inflates crime rates.
Police are unresponsive to the community in East San José. However, policing and profiling presence is prominent in this community.
The Santee Neighborhood seems like it was designed and built to keep people there and is a neighborhood that is not well connected.
Over half of the Vietnamese population is older (over 60) and reliant on public transit or their children to get around.
Japan Town use to be Pinoy Town.
The Filipinx community do not tend to lean left and do not necessarily understand national politics. It depends on the age group.
Generations and incomes are important distinctions.
Connections need to be made about barriers that impact how all Asians are getting around.
East San José is the most connected community yet lacks the most access to transit.
Some communities feel more connected to local politicians, so we should connect with those communities through council members.
Churches and temples seem like great avenues to connect with certain communities.
This project needs to give people tangible results and not act to pacify communities.
The Indigenous and different able-bodied communities need to be consulted.
Beyond race, the financial status of individuals/communities needs to be taken into account when assessing disparities and access.
Youth need to be involved and their perspective and time should be compensated.
If we help the most marginalized communities, we will help other marginalized communities.

2. Equity Task Force Selection Dilemma + Accountability Discussion

The ETF had a lengthy conversation about how to be accountable to the public throughout their role on the Emerging Mobility Action Plan. They decided that the sensitive nature of their deliberations and the need to speak open, honestly, and freely meant that it would be difficult to have an audience. They determined that the consultants supporting their discussions would be asked to create notes of these discussions to post publicly to keep the public informed about the topics of discussion. They also asked that their bios be published so that people know who they are. It was acknowledged that accountability to the public on the part of the ETF and the part of the City would continue as a discussion throughout the planning process.

March 2, 2021 – 4:00pm to 5:30pm

1. Review Draft Survey + Outreach Strategy
Discussion Themes

There should be an incentive to take the survey + attend the workshop (i.e. gift card).
Translate the survey to Tagalog and Farsi.
Survey questions and/or answers should reflect the reality of COVID.
We need demographic information to know who is taking the survey.
We should add an open-ended question at the end of the survey.
Demographic race question should be modeled after the 2020 census and have additional categories.
Demographic on how you identify: change female + male options to “woman + man.”

2. Public Workshop

ETF members advised moving the workshops from a weeknight to during the day on a Saturday.

3. Community Outreach + Engagement

ETF members discussed the best ways to engage and inform the broader public and their community and how the consultants and City might help support these efforts.

March 9, 2021 – 4:00pm to 5:30pm

1. Review Initial Draft Workshop Content + Logistics

ETF members reviewed the draft presentation slides for the first community workshop and gave feedback on potential changes and additional content needed. After the workshop on March 27th, this content will be available on movesanjose.org.

March 11, 2021 – 4:00pm to 5:30pm

1. What is Emerging Mobility

Discussion Themes

How is emerging mobility a benefit to the marginalized/struggling community?
Barriers to emerging mobility access include lack of credit cards and financial access.
Emerging mobility services can causes gentrification, curb space congestion.
Kiwibot services might disrupt union work for delivery workers for UPS, Fedex, etc.
We need to prioritize who we are planning for because at times it feels like the City is planning for future residents and not current residents.
I have never heard communities of colors asking for these services.
We need to bring grassroots orgs to these conversations, such as Debug, to inform this plan.
How will these new modes impact the current streets? How are we planning to implement these now modes? Answer: Kiwibots on the sidewalk; some in the bike lane; one-way mopeds are not allowed in the bike lanes, will be in mixed streets.
How will investments be made? How do we maximize investment to maximize infrastructure? Where will the funds come from?
We need the infrastructure to support emerging mobility.
We need to consider emerging mobility for families.
How do we talk to BIPOC, low-income folks about this? How do we talk to folks that these services are for them?

March 16, 2021 – 4:00pm to 5:30pm

1. What’s new? New Ideas?

Discussion Themes

Make underused curb spaces into a place for public and community to gather.
LUNA is partnering with Link 21 project. They will be hosting a workshop, so please invite Spanish speaking folks who are interested.
Sexual assault at Diridon station linked to the wave of anti-Asian hate. LEAD Filipinx will be hosting a series of listening session for the AAPI community.
We cannot forget about low-income and aging population as we continue to think about this plan.
We need to focus on why investment is not happening in certain areas and focus resources in those areas.
City departments need to be coordinating with each other and ETF members would personally like to support such planning processes.
How can we focus transit in transit poor areas? More housing and services are needed in those areas.

2. Workshop engagement this week + workshop involvement

Discussion Themes

ETF members shared the different channels and outreach tools they are using to engage their community about the workshop.

3. Post- workshop engagement inspiration and brainstorm

Discussion Themes

ETF members had a brainstorm session on different engagement activities that would best resonate with their community for Community Engagement Phase #1 and upcoming engagement phases.

March 23, 2021 – 4:00pm to 5:30pm

1. Best Practices + Policies

The ETF received a presentation on emerging mobility best practices, policies, and programs. The ETF discussed the content and offered the City feedback and concerns.

Discussion Themes

Clean Mobility Option Program

ETF members think vouchers (reduce rides and/or free rides) should be part of the program, especially for individuals with the most needs.
There is a lack of public transit infrastructure to support Emerging Mobility.

Oakland – Departmental reorg and strategic planning

Just like Oakland, the Emerging Mobility Action Plan should develop specific pillars of focus for the plan.

OakDot 3-year Paving Plan

Made sure under invested neighborhoods are receiving funding.
This plan is great, but it’s important how major or local streets are defined since it will determine where improvements will be made and whether those improvements will actually help low-income communities of color.

Miocar Carshare Pilot Program

There is concern that the undocumented community and individuals who qualify for the AB 60 license will not be able access these kind of services/programs.
Need to conduct outreach with Somos Mayfair and Sacred Heart to ensure these services work for low-income communities, undocumented communities, and the communities with the most significant needs.

Baltimore Dockless Vehicle Pilot Program

The program needs to offer low fares for low-income individuals/families.
We need to make sure that when these programs roll out, they are actually catered to the public. We need to ask what the community wants, not plop it right in front of their community.

March 30, 2021 – 4:00pm – 5:30pm

1. Workshop Debrief + Community Engagement Round 1 + Survey

Discussion Themes
Workshop Debrief

Maps for the presentation were confusing. We should make maps + map keys bigger.
Emerging mobility was not explained well enough for the public, which impacted the workshop participants to provide feedback in the breakout rooms. (+1)
More time needs to be allocated for breakout rooms to explain the workshop/project and to answer people’s questions.

Community Engagement Round 1

ETF members brainstormed different ways to engage and solicit feedback from their community for the remaining duration of Community Engagement Round #1.

2. Racial Equity Discussion

The ETF received a presentation on racial equity, its importance, and why the Emerging Mobility Action Plan is using a racial equity lens. This presentation was followed by discussion.

Discussion Themes

Current policies mean more housing will be built where there is existing transit; would like to see discussion on how we/the City will invest in areas that lack transit.
Beyond race, discussion needs to consider class/financial status as well.
Discussion needs to focus on the immediate needs of our communities, particularly seniors, low-income, and immigrant communities. Would like to explore if any kind of transportation can meet the needs of the community and if emerging mobility can be the solution to any of those needs.

April 6, 2021 – 4:00pm to 5:30pm

1. Community Building Activity + ETF Culture Creation/Discussion

An ETF member facilitated a conversation with the group to reflect on past ETF meetings, provide space for the ETF to share their stories through a community building activity, and connect with each other. Afterwards, the ETF had discussion to establish meeting protocols and agreements.

2. Have a discussion about PAC/TAC and ETF meeting leadership

ETF members were given the option to participate in Public Agency Advisory Committee (PAC) and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings and encouraged to think about how they would like to approach attending in the remaining meetings for the project.

3. Ground Truth Discussion

The ETF was presented a summary of the concerns, frustrations, and barriers to access that have been collected to ground truth what has been heard with the ETF. Through this discussion, we hope to capture any needs, concerns, experiences, etc. might be missing. The discussion will help draft the goals for the project.

Discussion Themes

We need to think beyond where housing is now and need to consider where we want housing to be and build out transit options in those areas.
Emerging mobility need to be accessibie for individuals who are not able to use EM, such as children, students going to school, and elders.

April 13, 2021 – 4:00pm to 5:30pm

1. Community Building Activity

We allocate time for community building activities to build a sense of community and create comraderie amongst the ETF.

2. Follow-up on PAC/TAC discussion

Decision: ETF members will be invited to the upcoming PAC/TAC meetings and each member can attend based on availability.

3. Project Goals Discussion

The ETF participated in a visioning exercise to begin the process of identifying community values and hopes for transportation, which will provide guidance on drafting the goals for the project.

Discussion Themes

Community feels ownership of the transportation system.
Cleaner air and fewer cars in our community.
More connectivity between services and neighborhoods.
Transportation should be an effortless, simplified, straight-forward experience.
People need a safe environment.
People need to have access to resources.
A sense of belonging and community.
Transportation options are affordable.
Transportation is accessible for youth and seniors.
Collaboration amongst different groups, neighborhoods, and organizations.
Elevate community and safety.

April 20, 2021 – 4:00pm to 5:30pm

1. Community Building Activity

2. Follow-up on PAC/TAC discussion

New decision: Only 1-2 ETF members will attend the remaining Public Agency Advisory Committee (PAC) and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meetings.

3. Review Plan’s Draft Goals

The ETF reviewed the draft goals for the project, which were drafted with input from the ETF and public about the communities’ access barriers/concerns, ETF response to the Visioning Exercise from last week, and guidance from the Access and Mobility Plan goals. The goals for the project will act as a compass and guide the City’s actions around emerging mobility.

Discussion Themes

The goal language should include education around how to use emerging mobility and de-escalation training and diversity and inclusion training for employees where it is appropriate.
Make sure the goals consider connections to regional destinations.
Create and maintain affordable and accessible choices.
Create accountability of service providers around intolerance and violence and other safety concerns (on-going education and training).
City infrastructure needs to more inviting, safe, and better connected.

4. “A-day-in-the-life” commute stories

ETF members were asked to share daily pre-covid and pandemic commute stories that reflects their and/or their community members’ experience when traveling around San José. We understand that the communities in San José are diverse and experiences vary, so ETF were encouraged to share multiple narratives. These stories are meant to help illustrate the human experience when looking at data and to ensure the goal language is adequate.

April 27, 2021 – 4:00pm to 5:30pm

1. Brief Community Building Activity

2. Preliminary recommendations breakout group discussion

In the context of this project, the term ‘recommendations’ refer to policies, practices, programs, and pilots relating to emerging mobility.

Prior to the breakout group discussion, we briefly reviewed the project’s purpose and the project’s goals to help frame and guide the preliminary recommendations discussion. During the discussion, ETF members generated an initial list of recommendations, which will be assessed and refined throughout the project, to ensure the recommendations are feasible and will meet the diverse needs of the community in San José.

Discussion Themes

Access + affordable – vouchers, low-income programs for EM services, services for families and seniors
Community focused – community benefits agreements with EM companies

May 4, 2021 – 4:00pm to 5:30pm

1. Community Building Activity

2. Follow-up breakout group discussion on preliminary recommendations

Consultants organized the recommendations, generated by the ETF from last week’s breakout room discussions, into the policies, practices, programs, and pilots and by which goal the recommendation satisfies. After the organization process, further discussion was needed with the ETF to:

See if additional recommendations were needed for goals with fewer recommendations.
Refine and clarify selected recommendations.
Review existing recommendations around emerging mobility to better understand how these are currently serving or not working for the community.

ETF Meeting Minutes Spring 2021

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