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air resources in Pleasanton; 13) conserve energy through green building and other measures; 14) continue Pleasanton's economic vitality by supporting appropriate development; and 15) provide for Pleasanton's long -term fiscal sustainability. The General Plan project was first envisioned as a technical update to the 1996 General Plan. Although the update ultimately took considerably longer than the one year originally anticipated and several new topics were addressed in the General Plan, the expanded time line allowed for substantial public input into the General Plan process. Continuing Outreach to the Pleasanton Community. Throughout the General Plan update process, substantial efforts have been made to provide information to, and to solicit feedback from, the public. Citizen participation has taken various forms, as follows: 1) community meetings in various neighborhoods throughout the City; 2) use of web technology to provide information about meetings, background reports and to solicit and facilitate community comment; 3) public hearings and workshops with various boards and commissions held throughout the update process on general and specific topics (e.g, land use, circulation, economic development, etc); and 4) each draft General Plan elements has been carefully reviewed in detail by both the Planning Commission and City Council during several public meetings. Discussion of the General Plan by City Commissions. The General Plan has also been shaped by discussion with the Housing Commission, Library Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Civic Arts Commission, Economic Vitality Committee, Human Services Commission and Youth Commission. In addition, the Pleasanton Energy Committee, which met during 2003 and 2004, was responsible for the first draft of the General Plan Energy Element. The Economic Vitality Committee also guided preparation of an Economic Development Strategic Plan, which provided much of the policy framework for the Economic and Fiscal Element of the General Plan. In this way, ideas and policies from community experts have been incorporated into the General Plan. Consultation with Other Stakeholders. City Staff met with specific organizations and individuals to convey information about the General Plan update, to solicit information regarding their vision for the City's future, and to identify specific concerns about community related issues. Stakeholder outreach included joint meetings between the City Council and Board of the Pleasanton Unified School District (as well as meetings between City and school district staff), and outreach to the business community, including the Pleasanton Downtown Association, Hacienda Business Park, Stoneridge Shopping Center and Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce. New Themes in the Draft General Plan Although the overarching goal of the General Plan remains the preservation and enhancement of Pleasanton's quality of life, there are several important themes and fresh perspectives that distinguish this document from the 1996 General Plan, including: A General Plan Vision. This is the first Pleasanton General Plan to incorporate a Vision Statement that articulates a future vision for the City. This vision statement was used to guide the preparation of the General Plan. It Page 3 of 8