Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: President Warren Slocum, District 4
Subject: Reappointments to the San Mateo County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation for reappointments to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, each for a first full term ending June 30, 2028:
A) Michael Barnes, representing Older Adults; and
B) John Langbein, representing Bicycle Transportation; and
C) Elaine Salinger, representing member At-Large; and
D) Kenyon Mark Lee, representing Second Alternate.
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BACKGROUND:
The responsibility of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) is to advise and make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors, to develop and implement an annual work plan, and to provide a public forum for input from the members of the public including identifying unmet needs. The Committee acts as an advocate for people walking and bicycling, and fulfills other duties and engages in other activities as directed by the Board of Supervisors. Committee membership consists of five voting members who shall be residents of the County of San Mateo and who regularly walk and/or ride a bicycle for transportation purposes. One member shall represent the interests of the Safe Routes to School Community; one member shall represent the interests of Older Adults; one shall represent the interests of Bicycling Transportation; and the two remaining seats shall be At-Large.
DISCUSSION:
Michael Barnes has served on the BPAC since his initial partial term began in October 2023 and is being recommended to serve his first 4-year term, representing the interests of Older Adults. John Langbein served as a First Alternate on BPAC since July 2018, and subsequently in his current position as a member in the Bicycle Transportation position since his initial partial term began in August 2020. Elaine Salinger initially served as a Second Alternate on BPAC from April 2018 to August 2020 before being appointed to represent as an At-Large member since the partial term began in August 2020. Kenyon Mark Lee began serving as Second Alternate in November 2023 for an initial partial term on a seat formerly held by Annie Tsai who resigned. Approval of these three four reappointments would reflect a first full term for said members effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2028.
Michael Barnes grew up in Palo Alto, often riding the southern San Mateo County roads to and from the coast. After working for a year on a Louisiana tugboat, and hitchhiking the Southern and Eastern seaboards, he bought a bicycle in Boston and rode back to Palo Alto in 1978. While attending Cal, he would spend two weeks of summer each year riding 1,000 miles around California, and one year rode to Denver. During his time on the Brisbane City Council, he both proposed, and served on, Brisbane's original BPAC, and it's Bike to Work Day Energizer Station. Michael also served 7 years on the C/CAG BPAC. He is a long-time bicycle commuter, with over a decade of riding SF's 3rd street between his Brisbane home and his Mission Bay biotech job. While caring for his mother the last decade, Michael would often ride the length of Bay-side San Mateo County from Brisbane to Palo Alto. He enjoys mountain biking MidPen's El Corte de Madera, the challenging downhills of Sequoia National Forest, and gravel rides such as the Grasshopper. Michael is a resident of District 5.
John Langbein has extensive experience serving on BPACs and is a resident of District 4. In addition to serving on the County BPAC, for which he is currently the Vice Chair, he served on the C/CAG Bicycle Advisory Committee from 1989 to 1997 and the Atherton BPAC from 2015 to 2023. In addition, he served on the County’s Santa Cruz/Alameda de las Pulgas Task Force as the sole bicycle representative and was the BPAC representative on the Community Advisory Committee for the Coleman and Ringwood Avenues Transportation Study. John learned a considerable amount about the design of bicycle facilities while serving on TDA Article 3 grant application evaluation committees. John’s primary transportation mode for his commute trip to work for approximately 45 years has been by bicycle and he is very aware of the impact that different types of infrastructure can have on bicyclists. He has been an active participant at the County’s BPAC meetings, which he regularly attends in which he actively contributes.
Elaine Salinger’s District 1 representation and experience adds to the district diversity of voting members on the Committee. Elaine has served as the BPAC Chair since 2023, and has been an active participant and her contribution in discussions at meetings, which she regularly attends, has been well received by other BPAC members. She has written articles for local newsletters, local news media, and posts on bike email lists as well as on Nextdoor pertaining to active transportation. She strives to stay informed and build support for safe bike lanes in the County, particularly in the vicinity of the San Mateo Highlands where she resides.
Kenyon Mark Lee practiced law for over forty years, handling business litigation matters for corporate clients, as well as corporate governance and transactions for small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups in the fields of computer technology and medical devices, before retiring in 2022. He was an active member of the San Mateo County Bar Association, leading various bar committees, with a particular focus on the bar’s community affairs and services within the county.
Kenyon has a strong interest in cycling in all its forms (commuting, recreational, racing, e-bikes, scooters) and has ridden his favorite bikes in Italy, France, England, Germany, Netherlands, and both coasts of the U.S. He is eager to find ways to support and promote the County’s initiatives relating to bicyclist and pedestrian health and safety, as well as related sustainability goals. He is a member of Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition and long-time member of League of American Bicyclists. A graduate of U.C. Berkeley (and Georgetown Law Center), Kenyon remains a huge supporter of the mission of public higher-education (member, Charter Hill Society) and volunteers regularly for alumni scholarship review committees. Kenyon is a resident of District 2.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.