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28 <br /> 1 this would be retained as a backup system. He said all surrounding counties are P25, which <br /> 2 allows for interoperability and mutual aid. <br /> 3 <br /> 4 c. Bicycle Safety Task Force (BSTF) Report and Next Steps <br /> 5 The Board received a presentation on the Bicycle Safety Task Force Report, and <br /> 6 provided direction on next steps. <br /> 7 Abigaile Pittman, Transportation/Land Use Planner II, reviewed the following <br /> 8 background information <br /> 9 <br /> 10 BACKGROUND: <br /> 11 The process that led to the development of the BSTF Report began in November 2014 with a <br /> 12 Board petition to review policies related to bicycle safety and working with stakeholder groups to <br /> 13 develop a culture of sharing the road. The Manager asked Planning staff to work with the <br /> 14 OUTBoard to set up a subgroup to discuss and develop a plan. Planning staff proposed a plan <br /> 15 to address the petition regarding OUTBoard/Bicycle Safety, which was provided as an <br /> 16 information item to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on February 3, 2015. The <br /> 17 materials and minutes for this meeting can be found at the following link: <br /> 18 http://server3.co.orange.nc.us:8088/WebLink8/0/doc/36289/Page1.aspx. <br /> 19 <br /> 20 The staff plan addressed representation from the BOCC, resident participation, public outreach, <br /> 21 task objectives, and ultimately a report back to the BOCC with recommendations. These initial <br /> 22 tasks were addressed through the work of an OUTBoard subcommittee group, and approved <br /> 23 by the full OUTBoard in May 2015. The subcommittee's report was forwarded to the BOCC in <br /> 24 June 2015 where its recommendations were accepted and the staff was directed to return in the <br /> 25 fall with information relevant to next steps. A description of this process is provided in the first <br /> 26 attachment of the BSTF Report (Attachment 1). The subcommittee's report is provided in the <br /> 27 second attachment of the Report. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 Through discussions with the BOCC and the County Manager from November 2015 to January <br /> 30 2016 it was decided that the best way to implement recommendations of the OUTBoard's <br /> 31 bicycle safety recommendations would be through a task force with a defined charge and set <br /> 32 term. It was also agreed that the general focus of the task force should be on education and <br /> 33 communication. <br /> 34 <br /> 35 At its February 2016 meeting the OUTBoard made recommendations regarding the BSTF <br /> 36 membership, charge and term and forwarded it to the BOCC for review at March, May, and <br /> 37 June 2016 meetings. The BSTF Resolution and members were appointed on June 21, 2016. <br /> 38 Commissioner Renee Price was appointed as a liaison to the Task Force. The Resolution, <br /> 39 which includes the criteria for the BSTF members, the Charge, and the direction to report back <br /> 40 to the BOCC, is provided in the third attachment of the Report. The list of appointed BSTF <br /> 41 members is provided in the fourth attachment of the Report. <br /> 42 Bicycle Safety in Orange County, NC Report <br /> 43 <br /> 44 The BSTF met numerous times over a six-month period, with much research and deliberation <br /> 45 resulting in the attached Report with attachments and appendix. The BSTF developed a set of <br /> 46 goals, which is provided in the appendix of the Report; evaluated a bicycle crash report for the <br /> 47 County (the fifth attachment of the Report); reviewed existing and new bicycle laws (the sixth <br /> 48 attachment of the Report); and developed possible actions and time and cost estimates (the <br /> 49 seventh attachment of the Report). <br /> 50 <br />