HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-16; Traffic Safety and Mobility Commission; MinutesTRAFFIC SAFETY & MOBILITY COMMISSION Council Chamber
Ml• nutes 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Sept. 16, 2025, 5 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER: 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Coelho, Penseyres, Proulx, Kohl, Nicholes, Schuck.
Absent: Newlands.
INVOCATION: None.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Chair Coelho led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Minutes of Regular Meeting held on Aug. 4, 2025.
Motion by Commissioner Kohl, seconded by Commissioner Proulx, to approve the minutes of the
Regular Meeting held on Aug. 4, 2025, as stated. Motion carried, 5/0/2 (Nicholes -Abstain;
Newlands -Absent).
PRESENTATIONS: None.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
CONSENT CALENDAR: None.
PUBLIC HEARING: None.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS:
1. CONSIDERATION OF A MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT FORE-BIKE OPERATION IN CARLSBAD:
Receive public input and provide feedback to the City Council regarding the consideration of
a minimum age requirement fore-bike operation in Carlsbad in accordance with Assembly
Bill 2234. (Staff Contact: Nathan Schmidt, Public Works Department)
Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Nathan Schmidt and Lieutenant Jason
Arnotti reviewed a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the Office of the City Clerk).
The Commission received the PowerPoint presentation by Transportation Planning &
Mobility Manager Schmidt and Lieutenant Arnotti.
Christina McGoldrick spoke in support of adopting Assembly Bill 2234.
Marianne spoke in support of adopting Assembly Bi/12234 but expressed her concerns that
parents are not providing their children with enough education.
Sept. 16, 2025 Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission Special Meeting Page 2
Susan Crum expressed concerns with groupthink among middle-school students and
recommended the Commission look into the City of Chula Vista's regulations on e-bikes.
Maggie Riley-Hagan spoke in support of adopting Assembly Bill 2234 but expressed
concerns that more needs to be done.
Debra Bodine spoke against adopting Assembly Bill 2234 and expressed concerns with
drone usage by the Police Department.
Michael Harris spoke in support of adopting Assembly Bill 2234.
In response to Commissioner Schuck's inquiry regarding how the city is working with
schools on enforcement, Arnotti explained that they do utilize school resource officers
and that the Police Department would focus on education to protect the children, build
awareness, and encourage safe, age-appropriate use of e-bikes.
In response to Commissioner Nicholes' inquiry regarding whether there has been a
noticeable change in behavior after citation, Lieutenant Arnotti confirmed that the overall
response has been positive.
In response to Commissioner Kohl's inquiry regarding whether the Police Department has
the resources or plan to increase enforcement, Lieutenant Arnotti responded that the
Police Department is continuing to examine the opportunity to redirect resources and
confirmed that they would make resources available as needed.
In response to Commissioner Proulx's inquiry regarding repeat offenders, Lieutenant
Arnotti responded that the number of repeat offenders would not have a significant
impact on how the program would be implemented.
In response to Commissioner Proulx's inquiry regarding how drones are utilized,
Lieutenant Arnotti explained that drones are deployed in anticipation of targeted
enforcement towards e-motorcycles and is limited to situations where they reasonably
anticipate investigating criminal activity of a certain degree. He confirmed that drones are
not used to target juveniles on Class 1 or 2 e-bikes.
In response to Vice-Chair Penseyres' inquiry regarding whether bicyclists are allowed to
enter crosswalks at the same time as pedestrians, Lieutenant Arnotti confirmed that
bicyclists can enter the crosswalk but must yield to pedestrians.
In response to Chair Coelho's inquiry regarding the primary tool of enforcement,
Lieutenant Arnotti confirmed education over fines and citations would be used as the
primary enforcement.
In response to Chair Coelho's inquiry regarding whether current laws differentiate
between bicycles and e-bikes, Lieutenant Arnotti explained that the Vehicle Code
Sept. 16, 2025 Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission Special Meeting Page 3
provides a definition for classes of e-bikes, however, the laws apply to both bicycles and
e-bikes equally.
In response to Chair Coelho's inquiry regarding how the number of citations issued for
the city compares to that of other jurisdictions, Lieutenant Arnotti responded that during
the four-month period of their summer enforcement strategy, there were 180 officer-
initiated engagements with e-bike riders, not including calls for service.
In response to Chair Coelho's inquiry regarding the consequences allowed by Assembly
Bill 2234, Lieutenant Arnotti explained that they are limited to what is narrowly outlined
in the Assembly Bill. He further explained that it does not grant them the authority to tow
e-bikes or increase the established fine amount.
In response to Chair Coelho's inquiry regarding the ability to include additional provisions,
Lieutenant Arnotti responded that they plan on bringing forth any ordinances along with
the Commission's recommendation to the City Council for consideration, however, these
would be outside the scope of Assembly Bill 2234.
In response to Chair Coelho's inquiry regarding collision locations and how they deploy
resources in relation to where to most activity is, Lieutenant Arnotti explained that the
collisions occur citywide and trend closer to arterial streets, schools, parks, and the
coastal corridor, and they concentrate their resources in response to this trend.
In response to Chair Coelho's inquiry regarding whether drones are utilized in response
to this trend, Lieutenant Arnotti responded that drones are not typically deployed for
these situations as their use must align with the policy that restricts deployment.
In response to Chair Coelho's inquiry regarding cost for enforcement, Lieutenant Arnotti
responded that although he does not currently have an estimate, fiscal impact data will
be provided in the staff report when the item is brought to City Council.
In response to Vice-Chair Penseyres' inquiry regarding whether passengers are allowed
on an e-bike if its correctly equipped, Lieutenant Arnotti confirmed that the current
Vehicle Code permits passengers if thee-bike is designed to.
Commissioner Schuck commented that he would support voluntary tagging for bikes to
easily identify those who have passed education courses.
Commissioner Nicholes commented that he would like to see the City Council engage with
Carlsbad Unified School District more to address this issue.
Commissioner Kohl spoke in support of adopting Assembly Bill 2234 and recommended
the City Council lobby the state legislature.
Commissioner Proulx expressed concerns with the issues caused bye-bike riders outside
of the age range affected by the Assembly Bill.
Sept. 16, 202S Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission Special Meeting Page 4
Vice-Chair Penseyres expressed support for education and safety.
Chair Coelho commented that he would support if e-bikes were registered, licensed and
insured.
Commissioner Schuck spoke in support of limiting passengers on an e-bike if it is not
properly equipped. He also expressed concerns with recommending too many too broad
provisions to the City Council.
Commissioner Proulx spoke in support of adopting Assembly Bill 2234 and limiting
passengers on an e-bike if it is not properly equipped.
Lieutenant Arnotti provided confirmation in response to Vice-Chair Penseyres' comment
that it is already illegal to transport passengers without a properly equipped bicycle ore-
bike.
Motion by Chair Coelho, seconded by Commissioner Proulx, to recommend the City
Council adopt Assembly Bill 2234. Motion carried, 6/0/1 (Newlands -Absent).
Motion by Chair Coelho, seconded by Commissioner Nicholes, to recommend the City
Council adopt a rule prohibiting riders under the age of 16 from carrying passengers.
Motion carried, 5/1/1 (Proulx -No; Newlands -Absent).
Motion by Chair Coelho, seconded by Vice-Chair Penseyres, to recommend staff research
the feasibility of including Carlsbad in Assembly Bill 1778, which established a separate
e-bike pilot program that allows local agencies in Marin County to prohibit anyone under
age 16 from riding Class 2 e-bikes and require helmet use for all Class 2 e-bike riders,
regardless of age. Motion carried, 6/0/1 (Newlands -Absent).
Motion by Chair Coelho, seconded by Commissioner Kohl, to recommend the City
Council advocate for new state legislation granting cities greater flexibility to adopt
stricter e-bike regulations, such as licensing, registration and insurance requirements,
and the option to increase the minimum age above 12. Motion carried, 5/1/1
(Penseyres -No; Newlands -Absent).
COMMISSION COMMENTARY AND REQUESTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS: None.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: This section of the Agenda is designated for announcements to advise the
community regarding events that Members of the Commission have been invited to, and may
participate in. No announcements were made.
STAFF COMMENTS: Transportation Planning & Mobility Manager Nathan Schmidt spoke about
the upcoming Commission meeting on Oct. 6, 2025.
Sept. 16, 2025 Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission Special Meeting Page 5
ADJOURNMENT: 7:00 p.m.
Secretary