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<br />Council to consider authorizing staff to proceed with obtaining a consultant to design Vineyard <br />Avenue between Montevino Drive and Bernal Avenue which included resurfacing the full <br />roadway width with rubberized asphalt and striping the roadway as two-lanes with the <br />construction of a wide landscaped median as it is difficult for pedestrians and bicyclists to <br />negotiate crossing the street safely at Sauterne Way, Touriga Drive and any other point in order <br />to access the sidewalk on the other side of the street. She believed the roundabouts needed <br />to remain until there is a determination regarding the future of Neal School and until <br />development is completed in this area. If Council had an opportunity to discuss improving the <br />roundabouts and making them safer, she asked staff if there was an opportunity to do so and if <br />so, could the roadway be widened at that point or could the landscaping be improved or were <br />there other options to make the roundabouts safer and make traffic flow smoothly. In addition, <br />she inquired about the final cost. <br />Mr. Wilson said staff has been informed by motorists using Vineyard Avenue that the <br />roundabouts are difficult to see at night and are unexpected even with the sign age. Staff could <br />install low wattage lighting and/or paint the approaches with reflective paint so that as vehicles <br />approached the roundabouts they would be more visible and apparent at night. If the <br />roundabouts are wider there is an issue in terms of right of way. <br />Mayor Hosterman asked if it would be possible to landscape the center of the <br />roundabouts and install low voltage lighting facing down to illuminate the foliage so as vehicles <br />approach in the dark, drivers would be aware of the roundabouts as an obstacle and slow down <br />in order to negotiate the roundabouts in a safe manner. <br />Mr. Wilson said staff would plan to landscape the medians and based upon direction by <br />Council, staff has the ability to install low wattage lighting near the roundabouts. <br />Mayor Hosterman invited public comments. <br />Nancy Storch, a Chardonnay Drive resident, said since Vineyard Avenue was reduced to <br />two-lanes the street has become significantly safer and eliminated dangerous speeding and <br />passing. She believed the rubberized asphalt of the roadway would reduce the continuous <br />street noise by three to seven decibels, which would not solve all of the problems and would be <br />dependent upon the amount of traffic and the speed in which the traffic flows. Unlike other high <br />traffic areas in Pleasanton, Vineyard Avenue is designed with many driveways and uncontrolled <br />intersections that open onto it and safety is extremely important for families, children and a large <br />number of senior citizens in the area who frequently enter or cross Vineyard Avenue. She <br />pointed out there are no sound walls on this stretch of the roadway to protect the residents' <br />quality of life. She urged Council to continue its policy of constraining and reducing traffic on <br />Vineyard Avenue for the safety of the pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicles. She asked Council <br />to consider paving Vineyard Avenue with rubberized asphalt and to authorize staff to proceed <br />with landscaping design work for the roundabout center islands. She also requested Council to <br />enforce the 35 mph speed limit between Bernal Avenue and Montevino Drive. <br />Mr. Roush pointed out there are three different items before Council this evening: (1) <br />the traffic signal controlled crossing at Petronave Lane; (2) the roundabouts on Vineyard <br />Avenue; and (3) the roadway width on Vineyard Avenue between Montevino Drive and Bernal <br />Avenue. He suggested that Council separate these three issues so that Mayor Hosterman <br />could participate in discussion and deliberation with respect to the traffic signal controlled <br />crossing at Petronave Lane and the roundabouts on Vineyard Avenue and recuse herself from <br />Pleasanton City Council 20 1 0/04/05 <br />Minutes <br />