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Mr. Brozosky questioned the need to wait until the signal was installed prior to conducting the speed survey. Based on current conditions, Mr. Knowles said staff needed to look at the new survey that was conducted to see it if justified reducing the speed limit to 35 mph. Given the development projected for the Vineyard Avenue Corridor, the possibility of Neal Elementary School and the BMX Park located in the Shadow Cliffs area, which children on bicycles are using the back end of Shadow Cliffs to utilize the BMX Park, Mayor Hosterman supported the motion. The roll call vote was taken as follows: AYES: Councilmembers - Brozosky, McGovern, Sullivan, Thorne, and Mayor Hosterman NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAINED: None Mayor Hosterman invited Council discussion regarding the roundabouts on Vineyard Avenue and whether Council wished to retain the two existing roundabouts until such time as the pending court decisions have been finalized regarding Neal Elementary School, or to remove the roundabouts. Mr. Brozosky expressed opposition to the roundabouts, as it is not intuitive to have a main street yield to a minor street and because the roundabouts create unsafe conditions. He expressed concern about the need to slow down at the roundabouts while the school has not been built and little traffic is using the side streets. There have also been incidents where large trucks have become stuck in the roundabouts while trying to make U-turns and Vineyard Avenue traffic fails to yield to residents who are using the side streets. He believed the lack of a designated bicycle lane was extremely dangerous, as bicyclists currently have to merge into the traffic to maneuver around the roundabouts. If the roundabouts were to be retained, he believed the City should not allow triathlons to be held in this particular area as bicyclists are cutting off traffic. He did not believe it was appropriate to penalize motorists who follow the traffic rules by either reducing the speed limit or installing speed bumps. He strongly supported the removal of the two existing roundabouts. Mr. Thorne believed the two existing roundabouts should be removed, as there is a series of circumstances that makes the roundabouts create more problems than they solve. Mr. Sullivan said he is typically supportive of neighborhood issues and in this case, he had a different take on this matter because he did not view this as something that impacts a neighborhood. He sympathized with the Ruby Hill residents who have to navigate the roundabouts on a daily basis and noted that when the homes are constructed along Vineyard Avenue, Council will need to consider these neighbors and how they will gain access to Vineyard Avenue safely. In addition, if Neal Elementary School is built, Council also needs to consider how parents would get their children in and out of the school site safely without causing a backup of vehicles as the traffic model shows, which is the overriding consideration. He believed the majority of accidents were related to excessive speed or driving under the influence. He wondered if more serious accidents would occur if there were no roundabouts or Pleasanton City Council 21 10/18/05 Minutes