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ATTACHMENT B Background: 1. Planning Commission members attend Ridgeline Preservation Ordinance sessian at League of California Cities conference where they receive several ordinances from several cities. 2. March 1, 2006 - In a joint City Council and Planning Commission Meeting, Margaret Tracy from Preserve Area Ridgelands Committee discusses excluding slopes over 25% from the density calculation for housing. [excerpt from Meeting Minutes] http://www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/pdf/cc-minutes-060301.pdf Margaret Tracy, 1262 Madison Avenue, Livermore, speaking on behalf of the Preserve Area Ridgelands Committee, complimented the city planning staff for the well-organized staff report. She wondered which of the listed properties had been under the Williamson Act arid their current status. She believed the Lester property was one. The Committee supported the proposal to exclude slopes over 25% from the density calculation. In addition, there is support for not having more housing west of Foothill Road. The USGS information on Alameda County has maps showing landslide potential on Pleasanton Ridge. Most of the eastern side of the Ridge indicates landslide potential and she urged the planning staff to consult the USGS information regarding landslide potential west of Foothill Road. She felt it was important to the liability of the city for approving development with known landslide potential and known seismic activity. She believed the city assumed financial liability for any effects from an earthquake. Mayor Hosterman noted that Mrs. Tracy was part of an organization that was founded years ago in an effort to save the ridge lands. If it were not for her good work and the other members of the organization, the ridge might not look like it does today. 2. April 18, 2006 - Planning Commission (Anne Fox) requests that development of a ridgeline preservation ordinance be agendized and Planning Commission agrees. 3. April 25, 2006 -City Council and Planning Commission have a joint workshop. Margaret Tracy from Preserve Area Ridgelands Committee speaks and walks through the previous Pleasanton General Plan policies in place regarding no development on hillsides of 25% slope or greater. [excerpt from Meeting Minutes] http://www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/pd:f/cc-pc-minutes-ws-060425.pdf Margaret Tracy, 1262 Madison Avenue, Livermore, speaking for Preserve Area Ridgelands Committee, indicated it is important to return to the General Plan policies in place before passage of Measure F. These policies did not allow development on hillsides of 25% slope or greater.These slopes were excluded in density calculations. In the past months there have been many articles regarding the 100th anniversary of the action on the San Andreas Fault. Land slipped up to 21 feet along the fault line. Knowing that similar action is expected on the Hayward fault within the next thirty years and anticipating similar action possible on the Calaveras fault west of Foothill Road, it seems wise to exclude development in that area to lessen the liability to the city. General Plan land use decisions made on a case-by-case basis for such a major area of the City, visually important to all residents, seems unwise. Case-by case decisions lead to unreasonable speculation on land. PARC urges Council to go back to the previous General Plan designation, which does not allow development on slopes of 25% or greater and excludes these slopes from calculation.