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Mayor Hosterman said she is very impressed with her colleagues in light of what is a difficult <br /> and contentious issue. She assumed some culpability for the disconnect between the Council <br /> and the public on this matter but said that she left the joint workshop with the understanding that <br /> the task force would be put together following the conclusion of the General Plan update and <br /> Staples Ranch discussions. Neither was anticipated to take as long as they did, but she is <br /> ultimately very pleased with the update and its principles, plans, programs, and policies. She <br /> noted that Pleasanton is one of the first cities in the state to include elements on water and <br /> energy, address state mandates on greenhouse gas emissions, and incorporate a theme of <br /> sustainability. The entire RHNA issue is unsustainable and she and staff worked for some time <br /> on instituting a different perspective on jobs, housing, and how the two meet. She noted that <br /> Pleasanton has been on both ends of that scale, at one point being a bedroom community to <br /> the Silicon Valley and offering little employment. She suggested that considering those issues <br /> on a more regional basis would show a better balanced jobs -to- housing ratio. <br /> She voiced disappointment that state law has been manipulated in such a way that Pleasanton <br /> has come so close to losing local control over development. She assured the public that <br /> tonight's recommendations are not scare tactics and that the City is embroiled in a very real <br /> lawsuit which will largely determine the extent to which it can govern the future of the <br /> community. She said she intends to make every decision in the collective best interests of the <br /> community and that she believes that means supporting the rezoning of all three properties, with <br /> the recommended task force. She requested that the task force be brought forth at a November <br /> Council meeting and invited the public to participate. <br /> Councilmember McGovern asked for clarification on the motion and which properties it would <br /> support rezoning. <br /> Councilmember Thorne said that, without divulging what was discussed in Closed Session, he <br /> believes that rezoning all three properties would provide the best opportunity with pending <br /> litigation. <br /> Councilmember McGovern argued that only two properties would be required to satisfy the 2003 <br /> RHNA requirement of 521 units. <br /> Vice -Mayor Cook Kallio said she would support the rezoning of all three because it shows a <br /> clear intent to comply. She reiterated that zoning does equal an entitlement to build. She said <br /> that the entire reason the Council is voting on this now as opposed to later is to present the <br /> strongest possible argument to the courts. She believed this would indicate intent to comply with <br /> the first RHNA requirements, as well as make a dent in the second and that the initiation of a <br /> task force indicates a clear intent to move forward with the matter. <br /> Councilmember McGovern said she would strongly prefer to rezone only sites 1 and 2. She <br /> noted that the preferred plan outlined in the General Plan calls for dispersal of housing units <br /> throughout the community and that 14 different properties have been identified as potentials for <br /> high- density housing. She advised against focusing entirely on Hacienda Business Park and <br /> said that if the task force determined that lot 3 would be beneficial, it could return with that <br /> recommendation. <br /> Vice -Mayor Cook Kallio requested confirmation that the third parcel would fulfill a very small <br /> portion of present RHNA requirements. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 18 of 25 October 20, 2009 <br />