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implemented almost immediately while others will take upwards of 60 days to orchestrate fully. Staff is proposing that this run as a 12 -month program with the exception of the shop local campaign, to be re- evaluated at the end of the calendar year. Vice -Mayor Cook- Kallio said she has heard occasional complaints on the high cost of commercial square footage and asked if there has been any conversation on how to incentivize the lowering of those rates. She acknowledged that property owners are free to charge what they like but noted that an empty building carries no value to the owner or community. Ms. Ott said there has been some limited discussion on that but cautioned that the gift of public funds must be done very carefully. She agreed that those stories exist but shared competing ones of property owners working with their tenants to ease the burden of the current economy. Mayor Hosterman said that she and Mr. Fialho have been systematically working their way down Main Street to discuss the downtown situation with property owners and encourage them with methods for securing quality tenants. She estimated that there have been some successes resulting from that but suggested that the next few months will provide a much clearer picture. Councilmember McGovern confirmed that the City is putting $225,000 towards the program and asked where the funds are coming from. Mr. Fialho stated that it is General Fund money that has already been built into the operating budget. He noted that it has only been factored in for the first year, not the second, and that is why staff has suggested a 12 -month pilot situation. Councilmember McGovern confirmed that the City anticipates the return of a portion of those funds as a result of low interest loans. Mr. Fialho added that increased occupancy and spending would deliver increased sales tax revenue to the General Fund, as well. Councilmember McGovern asked if staff had considered the application of any of these programs outside of the downtown area. Ms. Ott confirmed, stated that she is acutely aware of the needs of businesses throughout the community and explained that it is really a matter of ensuring the financial wherewithal and ability to roll these projects out is in place before attempting to do so in a broad sense. Mr. Fialho cited Stoneridge Mall and the Staples Ranch /Hendricks Automotive PUD application as examples of the sales tax reimbursement program in place outside of the downtown area. Councilmember McGovern asked for confirmation that staff is proposing to pilot these programs for one year, return with an analysis of each element's impact on economic vitality, and make recommendations on increasing the scope of those which were effective. Mr. Fialho advised that the target area is specifically the downtown area but that the current language of the program does not exclude other businesses throughout the City from participation. He assured the Council that if the right opportunity approaches and it is fiscally possible, staff will allow the participation of any community business. Councilmember McGovern confirmed that it would be suitable to advertise the opportunity to all local businesses. Mayor Hosterman opened the item to public comment. Christine Salidivar, Executive Director of the Pleasanton Downtown Association, cited current economic challenges, commented on the limitations posed by the City's lack of redevelopment City Council Minutes Page 10 of 11 June 2, 2009