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Vice-Mayor Pentin noted that he and two other members of the Council served on the Parks and Recreation Commission when the resolution was approved. He explained that for him the moratorium came about because of the emotion involved in some of these requests versus a desire to really honor someone for their service to the city. He cited the request to rename the skate park after Ryan Gordon as an example. The Commission's feeling was that it would be best to wait some time and see if the desire was still there before taking such a significant action. He said that in his mind, a decision made tonight about Ken Mercer would not be an emotional one nor would it be any different that one he would make five years from now. Mayor Thorne acknowledged that Mr. Mercer was a huge fan of the sports park, but noted that he had a tremendous impact on the entire city. He said he believed his greatest contribution to Pleasanton was his leadership and suggested the Council and public consider other commemorative options such as the Civic Center. Mayor Thorne opened the public hearing. Bob Silva agreed that Mr. Mercer was a leader to the entire community but said that the sports park was particularly near and dear to him. He requested the Council's support for the renaming. He said he could also support renaming the Civic Center, if there was interest to name two things after Mr: Mercer. Brad Hirst shared several comments on the previous item, noting that the perception of safety evident in people's activities is a real compliment to the entire community. He said the economic benefits of an ice arena, both for hockey and ice skating, are enormous and cited a recent southern California hockey tournament that spanned five arenas as an example of the demand. He said he supported shared facilities and noted that Mr. Mercer was the principal person to initiate this in Pleasanton. He agreed that of all of Mr. Mercer's involvements, the sports park was nearest to his heart. He said the idea to rename the park in his memory, when put forth at his memorial service, received a positive response from all 500 people in attendance. He stressed that when people pass, they tend to be forgotten, and Ken Mercer is not someone who should be forgotten. He noted that the Pleasanton Public Library was dedicated to the memory of George Paleopolis within five years of his passing. He read several letters from former Mayor Robert Butler, former Mayor Bob Philcox, Tom Orloff and Jim Pease in support of the renaming. He requested the Council's support as well and said he particularly hoped to have the renaming official by Mr. Mercer's birthday on September 2nd Shelley Despotakis, Mr. Mercer's daughter, said the very suggestion of this honor means the world to her family. He said her father served on the Council from 1976 to 1990, which spanned her entire childhood and young adult years. As a busy man, she and her brother saw him most on the weekends while at the aquatic center or Sports Park. She said he would be completely honored and humbled by the very consideration of naming anything in his memory, but that the sports park would mean the most. Gary Haas shared his full support for the renaming, despite the moratorium. Mayor Thorne closed the public hearing. Councilmember Cook-Kallio noted that resolutions and ordinances are often amended by the Council. She said this is about more than Mr. Mercer's role in developing the sports park; it is about the totality of who he was. She shared several stories demonstrating his leadership and compassion for people as individuals as well as the larger community. She said she felt the sports park was fitting because it is what he talked about most. She said she strongly supported City Council Minutes Page 9 of 11 June 3, 2014