Committee forwards Multimodal Transportation Commission to council with membership changes, asks city attorney to vet details

The Transportation Infrastructure Committee on March 18 voted to forward a proposal to create a Multimodal Transportation Commission to the City Council, asking the city's transportation department and the city attorney to confirm recommended membership categories and appointment procedures.

City Transportation Director Kat Hernandez told the committee the proposed commission would ‘‘provide input and recommendations to city council on policy and other issues affecting pedestrians and bicyclists’’ and would advise the department on Complete Streets exceptions, transit oriented policy and related street‑design standards.

Why it matters: the commission is intended to provide sustained community input on implementing the city’s recently adopted Complete Streets policy, Vision Zero Action Plan and Transit‑Oriented Development framework, helping translate those policies into design, equity and implementation decisions.

What the committee discussed and decided

Kat Hernandez presented a recommended composition that included council district appointees and seats appointed by VIA and the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Hernandez said the commission would be staffed by the transportation department and recommended to meet at least quarterly.

Community advocate Joey Pollock of Activate SA told the committee he supports a citizens commission that ‘‘will truly be effective in providing input, recommendations, and holding our city accountable on the implementation of these policies and plans.’’ Pollock’s remarks aligned with council members who emphasized recruiting members with lived experience in affordable housing, transit use and neighborhood needs.

Membership negotiations

Committee members debated the composition of mandatory categories and ultimately asked staff to propose a slightly narrower set of mandatory categories than originally written. After discussion the committee agreed to recommend that council consider a structure with fewer minimum slots for specific advocates (council members discussed moving from three required transit‑rider and three required cyclist slots toward two required transit riders and two required cyclists), and to include explicit representation for people with disabilities and older adults. Committee members also asked the city attorney to review the proposed language to ensure it is consistent with the city’s appointment practices and to return a memo describing any legal concerns.

Formal action

The committee voted to forward the item to City Council with the committee’s recommended adjustments and with the request that the city attorney and transportation staff review the recommended membership categories and return a memo before the item goes to council. The vote was taken by voice and passed on an affirmative voice vote.

Next steps

Transportation staff will work with the city attorney’s office to finalize recommended language and will provide a memo describing any legal or procedural issues before the item is considered by full City Council. Staff also said they will assist council members with recruitment guidance to fill the commission categories.

Ending

The committee’s referral sends the proposed commission to council for final approval; staff and the city attorney will provide a review memo and recommended edits to help council and members of the public understand appointment procedures and member qualification categories before the council vote.