CCMIN102009 - Laserfiche WebLink

He agreed that the City has a jobs housing imbalance that needs attention but said that the RHNA process is fundamentally flawed and does not involve people who have ever been involved with land use planning with this community. Having said that, he acknowledged the need to be realistic and pragmatic, realizing that the authority to govern locally comes from the state and is in jeopardy as a result of that process. The best way to deal with this litigation is to take action on the rezoning and establish a process that allows the participation of all stakeholders. He also recommended that core principles and policies be indentified to guide the task force. Vice -Mayor Cook Kallio said that while she understands the public's concern, there exists a very real risk of losing all control if action is not taken. She noted that rezoning would only provide the flexibility to meet the state guidelines which are imposed on the City and would not guarantee any specific development. She assured the public that the Council is not attempting to ignore its commitment and argued that it is actually attempting to retain the control necessary to honor that commitment. The Council has always intended to include the public in this process but that the current conflict between state law and local ordinance requires action to be taken. The reasonableness of the public's request resonates with her, but she cautioned that it may result in the opposite of what is intended. Council members are not separate from the rest of the community and they ran for office because of a desire to do what is best for that community. She said that the City has presented its intent with regard to these housing requirements with words but not actions; and that it has further defended these charges by stating intent to act but failing to do that, as well. She stressed that failure to take action now could very well result in a complete loss of local control here, possibly resulting in an even higher density than is currently being considered. She advised that other options do nothing to strengthen Pleasanton's case or advance its credibility. She said there seems to be a tendency to use "zoned" as a synonym for "build" and assured the public that it is not, that all development processes are deliberate. She too would have liked the task force to be established earlier, but the intent is to do so by the next meeting. In addition, she would like to see the development of policies which reflect a desire to comply with state law, as well as manage growth and retain as much local control as possible. She supported the rezoning off all three properties, with the requirement that the task force be established and that staff provide policy options that speak to local safeguards. Motion: It was m/s by Thorne /Cook Kallio to approve the staff recommendation, with the additional recommendation that a task force and associated principles be established expediently and staff returns with policy options for safeguatding growth management. Councilmember McGovern said she had intended for the task force to educate her, as well as residents, as to what transit oriented development really means and whether one would truly serve this community well. She voiced disappointment that the Council is considering rezoning properties on which she is not convinced the community will ever support such a development. She is frustrated that the City is constantly chasing its RHNA numbers and will most likely continue to do so, with no one at the state legislature acknowledging that further growth cannot be supported. Her primary concern as a public official is to ensure that she never undermines the quality of life which brought residents here to begin with. She concurred with the public that more real data is needed and strongly supported the formation of a task force with core values and principles. She asked that the public attend the next Council meeting to actively participate in the establishment of these principles and values. She also stressed the need for safeguards that protect the growth rate in the event that the growth management ordinance is overturned. City Council Minutes Page 17 of 25 October 20, 2009