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BACKGROUND In 2010, the Pleasanton Downtown Association (PDA) board of directors contracted with the Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI) to host a workshop describing a model for how communities can successfully incorporate hospitality venues and activities to enhance the economic vitality of downtown districts. At the PDA's invitation, the workshop brought together 30 people from various stakeholder groups affected by downtown activity, including restaurant owners, residents, downtown property owners and employees, and city staff from the Community Development, Economic Development and Police departments. The discussion was framed by the RHI model which identifies six key elements to be considered: • Public safety - What police and other practices are most effective to convey a sense of safety and order to visitors? • Music and entertainment - What rules and regulations will encourage opportunity for music venues and entertainment while minimizing conflict with nearby residents? • Multi-use sidewalk - What incentives and rules will entice public art, sidewalk benches, street entertainers, and an active street life, day and night? • Quality of life -What practices are effective to control unnecessary noise, trash, litter and nuisance of all kind? • Transportation - How to promote pedestrian friendly streets and provide opportunity for safe transportation home for people who need it? • Venue safety and security - How can the venue owners, police and the downtown community collaborate to assure that patrons are genially channeled into appropriate behavior to each other, serving staff, neighbors and police? After the initial workshop, PDA reconvened these participants, and invited interested community members, to brainstorm issues and ideas related to each of these six areas. Each of the six subgroups then vetted and narrowed its idea list, and researched concepts for additional discussion. These group proposals were then presented and further developed at a third stakeholder meeting, resulting in a list of priorities for each of the six elements. The collection of these tasks was then reviewed and prioritized by the PDA and outlined in the PDA's March 2011 Downtown Hospitality Plan document. Implementation of the Downtown Hospitality Plan is one of the four priority items the PDA submitted to the City Council for consideration to be included in the Council's 2011-2012 priorities. The Council acknowledged the intent of the Downtown Hospitality Plan - to ensure a socially and economically vibrant downtown by fostering a variety of daytime and nighttime activities and venues in a safe and welcoming atmosphere - and did include it on its priority list. As noted in their discussion, the Council members wanted the City to take the lead role on a specific item contained in the plan: exploration of a "downtown hospitality district" with the PDA's active participation. To do this, staff is recommending the creation of an ad hoc task force to review relevant downtown issues and to develop a set of guidelines for consideration by the Planning Commission and City Council. It is envisioned that these guidelines will bring a measure of Page 2 of 5