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7A Page 2 Membership in the cities' committees varies greatly, with most consisting entirely or predominantly of community members, and some including City staff or Council members. Some committees meet monthly, others 6-10 times per year, some quarterly, and some as needed. Redwood City is already implementing and enhancing alternative means of transportation, reducing traffic congestion, and ensuring safe and equal access and mobility for everyone, both drivers and non-drivers alike. The City is in the midst of updating its blueprint for the. future, the New General Plan, including the Circulation Element that addresses issues of mobility with a focus on balancing the needs of pedestrians, recreational and commute bicyclists, mass transit users, and automobile drivers. Redwood City is planning for additional pedestrian and bicycle access, and has already implemented enhanced mobility in some areas. This aligns well with new California legislation requiring cities and counties to include Complete Streets policies as part of their general plans. Complete Streets are roadways designed and operated to enable safe, attractive, and comfortable access and travel for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit users of all ages and abilities. The City is actively expanding its network of bicycle paths and lanes, with recent bike lane striping projects completed in Redwood Shores, the Centennial Neighborhood, and Middlefield Road. With considerable input from the Working Group and the community, Redwood City is creating a map of proposed bike lanes and paths as part of its New General Plan process. Redwood City is also pursuing more grant funding to support pedestrian and bicycle projects, and an advisory committee could assist with this work. The study team evaluated and discussed several options for committee scope, duties, and format, and ultimately determined that the appropriate focus for a new committee is a broader r'Complete Streets" perspective rather than limiting the scope to bicycle and pedestrian issues. Any discussion pertaining to bike or pedestrian improvements leads naturally to a consideration of the needs of an users of the roadways, including motorists and transit users. The two options, rlBike and Ped" and "Complete Streets", were discussed with both City staff and with members of the Working Group. The consensus is that a "Complete Streets" Advisory Committee is needed. To ensure that a Complete Streets Advisory Committee remains focused on the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians, and that it does not shift toward an emphasis on automobiles and motorists, the description of the committee's scope includes the words Uwith an emphasis on traditionally under-represented users." There is a future critical need to create less auto-dependent transportation options. Intent: An advisory committee can assist the City in meeting its ongoing mobility goals and objectives, since such projects will require several years and continued focus. Committee members who are the daily users of the City's streets and sidewalks provide the additional perspective of what works well and what is needed, and can offer pertinent information such as preferred connections to existing or planned routes, to assist staff in identifying strategic opportunities. In this way an advisory committee can provide added value.