Climate Action Commission

Transit Advisory Committee — January 11, 2024

Note: Although this meeting was listed under the Climate Action Commission agenda, the official minutes are actually for the Petaluma Transit Advisory Committee, a separate body. The summary below reflects what actually occurred per the official minutes.

This was a regular meeting of the Transit Advisory Committee, chaired by Dave Alden. One member, Dennis Pocekay, was absent, and Gail Abrams departed early due to a conflict. The session covered transit fare policy, electric bus charging infrastructure, and an update on a new microtransit service.

Approval of Minutes — December 14, 2023

Minutes from the prior meeting were approved without discussion.

Fare-Free Transit Program

Staff Member Maria Arce presented an update on the city's Fare-Free Transit Program, covering how it aligns with city goals, existing discounted and fare-free fare structures, program benefits, key considerations, and next steps for implementation. Committee members asked questions and gave feedback, which Arce and Staff Liaison Hall addressed.

Public comment came from Kris Rebillot, representing Age-Friendly Petaluma, who expressed neutral support for the program — acknowledging its potential value for seniors and low-income riders while raising questions or concerns worth monitoring. No vote was taken; this was a discussion and informational item.

Purchase of ChargePoint Electric Bus Charging Equipment

Staff Liaison Hall presented a proposal to purchase ChargePoint Express Plus battery-electric bus charging equipment through the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Program, a mechanism that allows public agencies to bypass a separate competitive bid process. The committee discussed and asked questions about the purchase before voting to recommend approval.

Vote: 5–0 in favor. Yes: Alden, Culross, Heal, Kaljian, Quint. Absent: Abrams, Pocekay. Motion made by Vice Chair Kaljian, seconded by Committee Member Quint.

This recommendation authorizes staff to execute all documents necessary to complete the purchase, advancing the city's transition to electric bus infrastructure.

Microtransit Service Update

Staff Member Arce presented a progress update on plans to implement microtransit service in Petaluma — a flexible, on-demand transit model distinct from fixed-route buses. The presentation covered background, potential use cases, target demographics and land-use scenarios where microtransit tends to succeed, community outreach efforts, potential service zones, and next steps. Committee members provided feedback, which staff noted.

Two public comments were received in support: one from Nickola Frye, representing the Senior Advisory Committee, and one from Kris Rebillot, both highlighting the value of microtransit for seniors and underserved riders. No vote was taken; this remains in the planning and outreach phase.

Staff Comment / Transit Manager Report

Staff Liaison Hall reported that ridership has increased on both fixed-route and paratransit services. Hall also noted that staff attended a transit corridor priority workshop hosted by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). Committee Comment was bypassed to allow time for this staff update.

Key Takeaways