November 2022 Election 2022 Novato City Council Candidate Questionnaire

2. If you own a bike, what type of bike(s) do you have and ride? If not, when was the last time you rode a bike, and where (on vacation, for example)?

District 2

Rachel Farac:

I own a mountain bike. I have two small kids under 2.5, so I have not been as active in bike riding. I love riding bikes on vacation.

Andy Podshadley:

Specialized Rockhopper-Specialized Hardrock-Nishiki

DISCTRICT 4

Chris Carpiniello: No response

Pat Eklund:

I own a bike and a helmet, but did not feel comfortable sharing the road with automobiles and trucks. So, I stopped biking.

Nicole Gardner: No response

District 5

Mark Milberg: No response

Vision

3. In your own words, describe your vision for the future of transportation in Novato.

District 2

Rachel Farac:

My vision is to promote more use of bikes, scooters and other method of transportation that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I believe Novato has great potential to creating better bike routes, and other transportation methods.  I would love to implement  a partnership between the company Bird, a bike and scooter programs,  that provide eco-friendly transportation around Novato.

Andy Podshadley:

Continue the expansion of designated bike paths creating easy access to these paths and increase maintenance. This will enhance the many outdoor experiences available in Novato. Creating easy access to these paths will encourage more people to choose their bike for errands and commuting.

District 4

Chris Carpiniello: No response

Pat Eklund:

Provide a safe route through Novato that links to other forms of transportation (bus and raill) with the use of bike lanes and separated pathways.

Nicole Gardner: No response

District 5

Mark Milberg: No response

Traffic

A large proportion of peak hour traffic is made of people driving their children to school. While some people live too far to easily walk or bike to school, many parents are simply afraid to let their children travel by foot or by bicycle because of the high volume and speeds of car traffic.

4. What strategies would make more parents feel safe with their children walking or biking to school, thereby reducing traffic and making everyone else’s trip to school a little safer?

District 2

Rachel Farac:

1. I would collaborate with the schoolboard to consistently distribute communication about safety measures in schools and roads. Novato has safety guard crossings.

2.  Also, I would implement a Novato Bike or Walk to school day. A Novato bike or walk to school day would encourage students and parents to walk to school and this could encourage families making it a regular event. They can see firsthand, the safety measures we have implemented.

3. I think a community forum is important to gain feedback on our safe routes and where we need to make improvements.

Andy Podshadley:

I live in Novato and my children attended a middle school in Terra Linda. My son and daughter started riding their bikes to school. They were quickly joined by others and a teacher even joined the group. They had a great time. Parents need to ride with their children for the first few trips. This will get the children used to the possible safety concerns. We also need to have police presence in the morning during the school rush to enforce traffic laws. We also need to have the police teach bicycle safety and the rules of the road. This is a program that was started when I was young and needs to be restarted.

District 4

Chris Carpiniello: No response

Pat Eklund:

As a member of Novato Safe Routes to School, we have increased the number of children walking and/or biking to school with the use of the buddy systems, designated drop off areas, etc.. I believe continuing the improvements of our infrastructure and continuing school crossing guards would help make families encourage their children to walk/bike to school which is 25% of our traffic in Novato.

Nicole Gardner: No response

District 5

Mark Milberg: No response

A survey from the Transportation Authority of Marin (Figure 18, p. 51) found that over half of Marinites would like to bike more than they currently do. This backs up research that shows that over 50% of adults are interested in biking, but concerned about the threat of fast-moving cars.

5. What concrete steps can be taken to allay these concerns and make people feel safe on bicycles?

District 2

Rachel Farac:

1. Put together a local map of safe bike routes in Novato including fun stop along the way.

2. Safety resource guide and even a training on bike safety at city hall.

3. Set up a biking club where expert riders lead the less experienced riders.

Andy Podshadley:

Enforce the posted speed limit. In high traffic areas install permanent orange delineator (Cones) to separate traffic and cyclists. San Anselmo is doing a great job with the green marked bike lanes. If elected, I would research and visit other communities to see what is working best and discuss these ideas with my fellow council members.

District 4

Chris Carpiniello: No response

Pat Eklund:

I advocated for an annual set aside in our capital improvement program for implementation of traffic calming improvements to ensure that not only will the residents feel safer, but they will be safer. We have initiated the use of speed tables, separated pathways, flashing lights for pedestrian/bike crossings, etc..

Nicole Gardner: No response

District 5

Mark Milberg: No response

Safety

Traffic deaths and injuries are on the rise, both nationally and in Marin (this includes all road users, not just bicyclists). Many cities in California have enacted so-called Vision Zero
resolutions, setting an explicit goal to eliminate traffic deaths.

6. If elected to town Council, will you support such a resolution? If so, what actions do you see as being needed to improve safety? What are the relative roles of infrastructure, enforcement, and education?

District 2

Rachel Farac:

Yes I would absolutely support this type of resolution. I would want to partner with the schoolboard to teach youth the dangers of speeding. We had teens deaths this year because of a traffic collision. Create a community feedback program on how to increase traffic safety in Novato.

Andy Podshadley:

Yes, I would support the resolution.

Maintain bike paths, Enforce current speed limits. Educate our youth with regards to Bicycle and pedestrian safety and enforce the “Rules of the Road” that pertains to bicycles as well as other moving vehicles.

District 4

Chris Carpiniello: No response

Pat Eklund:

I support considering a ‘Vision Zero’ resolution as long as it includes implementation of traffic calming measures. People drive too fast. Infrastructure improvements, enforcement and education all play a role in making our streets safer for all to use!

Nicole Gardner: No response

District 5

Mark Milberg: No response

Climate Change

The latest IPCC report states clearly that greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced quickly in order to stave off the worst effects of climate change. According to Novato’s most recent Greenhouse Gas Inventory, transportation accounts for a majority (53%) of local greenhouse gas emissions. Given that battery electric cars make up 3% of California’s vehicle
fleet, and only 12% of new cars sold.

7. does reducing overall driving have a role in meeting our climate targets? If so, what policies can support transit, walking, and bicycling in place of driving for short trips?

District 2

Rachel Farac:

I think implementing a work from home program can help. As a council member I will work with other council members to promote EV charging stations and other non-profits that encourage EV usage.

Andy Podshadley:

This is such a difficult question. As a green candidate I think about this question often. I would like to see the coalition sponsor family bike events. Get families riding together. We need more bike racks throughout Novato. People seem to forget how fun it is to take a ride on their bike. Having bike events reminds people how much fun it is to ride.

District 4

Chris Carpiniello: No response

Pat Eklund:

Schools generate about 25% of the traffic in Novato. I believe that our Safe Routes to School program can continue to reduce overall driving to and from our schools. If we had more funds to expand our Safe Routes to School program in Novato, we could expand the number of students who bike/walk to school.

Nicole Gardner: No response

District 5

Mark Milberg: No response

Project Delivery

Bicycle/pedestrian plan implementation is notoriously slow with typically fewer than one new bike lane project opening every year.

8. What steps would you take to hasten the project delivery process from inception to ribbon-cutting?

District 2

Rachel Farac:

Have public works prioritize these projects. Also, create a project management plan and utilize standardization for new bike lanes which will increase efficiencies.

Andy Podshadley:

Funding is most likely the issue in our community. I would like to implement creative financing options to alleviate this roadblock.

District 4

Chris Carpiniello: No response

Pat Eklund:

Funding constraints are our major hurdle. If there were more funds available (without competition) from the County, State and/or Federal government, many more bicycle/pedestrian plans could be implemented to make our routes safer.

Nicole Gardner: No response

District 5

Mark Milberg: No response

In all things, there is a tension between “perfect but slow” and “quick and good enough.” Recent years have seen a move toward so-called “quick-build” infrastructure, allowing reconfiguration of streets to facilitate safer walking/biking without a years-long engineering process. While quick-build projects may be less aesthetically pleasing than the standard process, they are cheaper and happen much faster.

9. How do you rank aesthetic concerns of biking/waking infrastructure in comparison to those of cost and project speed?

District 2

Chris Carpiniello: No response

Pat Eklund:

Getting projects completed that makes biking and walking safer is of paramount importance. I have not heard that ‘aesthetic’ concerns are an issue in Novato.

Nicole Gardner: No response

District 5

Mark Milberg: No response

Car Parking

Much of Marin has narrow streets, but on-street parking typically takes up between 30-40% of the street space between the curbs, and is often in tension with the need for dedicated bike lanes.

10. In your mind, are bike lanes ever sufficiently important to justify removing on-street parking, and in what circumstances would you consider that to be the case?

District 2

Rachel Farac:

In Novato, we have a few steep hills with low traffic where there is extremely low foot traffic. I do not see a need to add bank lanes because of the terrain.

Andy Podshadley:

Realistically parking will always be needed. This is something that needs to be taken on a case-by-case basis. There is not a blanket fix but this should definitely be fixed where possible.

District 4

Chris Carpiniello: No response

Pat Eklund:

Bike lanes, especially on heavily used streets, are critical and do justify moving or removing on street parking. I personally support more use of separated pathways due to concerns about proximity to moving cars and trucks.

Nicole Gardner: No response

District 5

Mark Milberg: No response