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City Council Minutes 11 April 19, 2005 <br /> the BMP and any future mass transit needs. Any development of a significant size will <br /> have to do a Specific Plan which undergoes extensive review and includes circulation, <br /> land use, and community character. Extensive discussion was conducted on right of <br /> way standards to try to improve the appearance of arterial streets. Mr. Reeds added the <br /> key to future mass transit options are reservations of right of way, in particular the rail <br /> corridors. Although its not included at the present time, the City is drafting a policy to <br /> address mass transit. <br /> Council Member Tucker was concerned about safety, particularly with regard to Class II <br /> bike lanes and vehicles that use the bike lanes as turning lanes. She suggested ways to <br /> discourage that practice either by placing bubbles along the side of the bike lanes, or by <br /> reducing the lane width from four feet to three feet. <br /> Kul Sharma, City Engineer, gave a brief explanation of how vehicles and cyclists share <br /> the same lane at intersections. The normal practice is that as the bike lane approaches <br /> the intersection the lane ends. At the intersection the solid line turns to a dotted line <br /> which indicates the bicycle needs to merge with the traffic at that time. At that point the <br /> bicycle is treated as a vehicle. The intent is to ensure that the vehicle moving toward the <br /> intersection does not conflict with the bicycle. Council Member Tucker was concerned <br /> that vehicles were allowed to enter the bicycle lane where the line becomes dotted and <br /> suggested Class II bicycle lanes should be striped and signed better for the safety of <br /> cyclists. In response to a question from Council Member Tucker regarding bicycle <br /> accidents, Mr. Gilpin suggested the 122 accidents recorded since 2000 have been <br /> evenly split between adult cyclists,juvenile cyclists and vehicle drivers. Two-thirds of <br /> accidents involving bicycles are caused by cyclists. The majority of accidents are <br /> caused by cyclists riding the wrong way against the traffic or riding on the sidewalk. Mr. <br /> Gilpin suggested a number of outreach efforts to reduce the number of accidents, <br /> including additional signage, and educating cyclists on traffic laws. <br /> Mayor Bilbrey asked Mr. Sharma to provide a number of sketches for Council Member <br /> Tucker to document her concerns. <br /> It was moved by Mayor Pro Tem Ives and seconded by Council Member Tolbert to adopt <br /> Resolution 2005-109 approving the Bikeways Master Plan. Voice vote found all in favor; <br /> passed and so ordered. <br /> 10. ITEMS FROM THE AUDIENCE <br /> 11. STAFF ITEMS <br /> A. City Council direction regarding consideration of future annexation requests in <br /> the Larch Clover area — Bill Reeds, Director of Development and Engineering <br /> Services, presented the staff report. The Larch Clover area consists of <br /> approximately 364 acres located along the City's northern border, primarily <br /> between Tracy Boulevard and Corral Hollow Road. There are 189 separate <br /> parcels. The estimated population is 600 people. The City of Tracy and San <br /> Joaquin County have been working on the potential annexation of the Larch- <br /> Clover area and for the provision of sewer services to the area for over 15 years. <br /> Many property owners have maintained support for annexation in order to <br /> increase their property's development potential or obtain access to City sewer <br /> and other services. Other property owners have maintained opposition to <br />