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but noted that the conditions would still limit the total noise to 70 decibels. She said live music is quite costly and assumed the applicants were seeking flexibility more than anything else. Mr. Dolan confirmed and said the applicants have not described any scenario where the number of nights per week is significantly expanded upon the 3 that occur to date. Councilmember Sullivan, appellant, stated he supports the efforts of the City and PDA to increase downtown traffic and strengthen the local economy but feels the need to balance these activities with the fact that people live downtown. He said that many of these activities did not exist when people moved into the neighborhood, their quality of life is an important issue, and he does not feel it has been properly addressed. Barone's Restaurant is a wonderful asset that he would like to succeed, but he urged the Council to consider tweaking the conditions to meet the needs of everyone. He said the applicants seem mostly interested in providing outdoor amplified music on weekends and suggested amending the conditions to limit it to Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings while allowing acoustic music outdoors until 9 p.m. the rest of the week. He cautioned that this sets an unwanted precedent and disagreed that living downtown should require one to put up with this sort of issue. Joseph Barone, owner /applicant, shared his industry experience and the history of Barone's Restaurant. He said that when he and his wife purchased the two lots, they did so with the intention of providing ample parking for a restaurant that would keep locals from taking their entertainment dollars elsewhere. He said his family is very active in the community, cited various charities and fundraisers in which they participate, and noted they received the Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Award in 2006. He said that the current economy has forced him to close for lunch, lay off several employees and explore other revenue sources. He said he saw an opportunity in the closing of the Pleasanton Hotel, which previously held live events until 10 p.m., and reinvested in his property with a full overhaul of the rear patio area. Mr. Barone said the restaurant's Thursday night events have drawn customers from throughout the region and many Pleasanton residents have commented on what a wonderful environment they've created. His wife personally selects music designed to draw an older crowd and dress codes are strictly enforced. He said he believes this evening's entertainment will benefit all local businesses and it is a positive step in the revitalization of what is now a beautiful downtown area. Peter MacDonald, representing the applicants, stated that Barone's Restaurant has established itself as a destination restaurant, putting Pleasanton on the map for Bay Area food aficionados and now with the opening of their evening patio service, thousands more have come to downtown Pleasanton. The residential neighbors most affected are those in the St. John's Court townhomes. He assured the Council that the Barone's are committed to protecting their neighbors but noted that evening sound until 10 p.m. has long been a part of downtown area living. Mr. MacDonald stated that acoustical engineers have recommended a 10 x 48 foot muffler wall running behind the rear stage and expect it to provide a 10 decibel reduction in sound levels at the townhomes' property line. He said that a 10 p.m. end time for outdoor music is a critical component to the business' success. He assured the Council that the applicant has no desire to open at 6 a.m. but would like the flexibility to do so for special requests. He explained that the sound monitoring conditioned by the Planning Commission is cost prohibitive and requested that the Council modify Condition 4 to replace it with the proposed muffler wall. City Council Minutes Page 8 of 15 September 1, 2009