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15% affordability and give that land to middle or upper middle income residents. She asked the city to go beyond the state's directives for affordable housing and provide its own leadership by planning housing to match its jobs. Carol Cohen, Ironwood resident, stated concern for the preferred plan. Her concerns result from the undoubtedly high infrastructure costs developers will incur, which will require the maximum allowed development in order to achieve financial feasibility. She stated concern that east Pleasanton is being saddled with a disproportionately high number of units due to its open space and perceived ability to get approvals without neighborhood opposition. She said Ironwood residents would be significantly impacted by any development in the plan area, particularly with regards to traffic and schools. She asked the Council to address these impacts and provide mitigations before committing to a preferred plan. She requested a show of hands from Ironwood residents supporting her comments. Jim Farrell, Ironwood resident, said he is very concerned with existing traffic conditions on Valley Avenue. He said he recently drove Valley between Stanley Boulevard and Santa Rita during both AM and PM peak hours and reported travel times ranging from 2 minutes 45 seconds to 4 minutes 44 seconds. He asked that the Council take this into consideration when making a decision. Julie Testa stated that term "preferred plan" implies an absolute bias. She noted that only 11 of 19 task force members supported the plan and said the term implies an untrue preference. She asked the Council to take the voter approved Urban Growth Boundary as seriously as was intended and said new growth absolutely must pay for itself. She stated that every Pleasanton school exceeds enrollment levels identified in the General Plan as well as state recommendations. These levels continue to increase while the available land does not. She applauded the school district for finally being honest about its needs and abilities, but said this does nothing to address issue. She said that continuing to move forward with project approvals without addressing schools would undoubtedly condemn existing residents to a bond in order to absorb the burden of new growth. Colleen Winey, Zone 7, spoke to some of the conceptual challenges associated with the plan alternatives. She said the Zone 7 board has expressed a willingness to work with the city and entertain proposals in this regard, but is committed first to meeting its water supply and flood control goals. Zone 7 is not a parks partner. Therefore, any capital costs associated with facilities, improvements, operations and maintenance of recreation facilities on Zone 7 property would need to be taken on by an outside agency. The Chain of Lakes is a critical component of future operations although the lake uses have not been fully identified. Zone 7 has prepared a lake use evaluation which will be presented to the board tomorrow evening. At this time, Zone 7 staff is recommending no body contact for Lakes H and I. Cope Lake may also be impractical due to drastic changes in water level. She invited the Council and public to view the full evaluation on the Zone 7 website. Councilmember Brown asked if the variability in water levels at Cope Lake means that it could be unsuitable for swimming at times. Ms. Winey explained that Cope Lake is much shallower than its neighboring groundwater lakes. Staff has identified storm water detention as a likely use, which does require periodic emptying of the lake in anticipation of a storm related water influx. Mayor Thorne closed the public hearing. BREAK: Mayor Thorne called a brief recess at 9:00 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 9:10 p.m. Mayor Thorne stressed once again that the purpose of this meeting is to determine which alternatives to submit for EIR review, not to design a project. He said he was not particularly concerned with which plan is termed "preferred," provided all of the elements necessary to prepare a thoughtful plan with a certified EIR are present. City Council Minutes Page 9 of 13 October 15, 2013