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organization's 50th anniversary in Pleasanton next May. Staff and the three clubs also discussed plans <br /> to renovate Main Street Green, including installation of the clock tower and the possible renaming of the <br /> park or plaza in Rotary's honor. Earlier this year the city engaged Keller Mitchell & Company to prepare <br /> a schematic park plan. The planning process included city staff, Rotary representatives from all three <br /> clubs, the Pleasanton Downtown Association Design Committee and the Parks and Recreation <br /> Commission. The schematic design is based on the approved concept that was addressed and <br /> depicted in both the 2002 Downtown Parks and Trails System Master Plan and the Downtown Specific <br /> Plan. Both plans envision the site to accommodate modest active and passive recreation, as well as to <br /> serve as a recognizable entry to the downtown area and eastern trailhead for the Centennial Trail. <br /> Landscape Architect Fulford provided a brief orientation of the site, noting that the portion of the park <br /> under discussion fronts Main Street and Vervais Drive and is currently developed with a only a small <br /> green area and bus stop. As explained by Ms. Andrade-Wax, the Rotary clubs of Pleasanton have <br /> generously offered to donate a traditional monument style clock tower to be featured at the corner of <br /> Vervais and Main. The city is also proposing to install a plaza with amenities around the clock. <br /> Mr. Fulford presented several slides depicting the vision for the '/, acre park site. He reviewed the <br /> current site character, calling particular attention to a large heritage Bunya-Bunya tree that would be <br /> preserved under the current proposal. He also reported that one notable idea to come out of the <br /> planning process was to create a similar or matching plaza on the opposite side of Main Street to frame <br /> the entrance to the downtown. While time and budget constraints do not make it a viable part of this <br /> project, it is something that staff and stakeholders would like to consider in the future. <br /> Jacque Keller, Keller Mitchell & Company, reviewed the site plans in detail. She described a large <br /> plaza, perhaps including existing commemorative pavers set in a concentric circle, with a 12 foot tall <br /> clock tower as the centerpiece. The plaza would include a semi-circular metal trellis above café tables <br /> fixed with checkerboard tops, an existing drinking fountain, perhaps a doggie waste dispenser and a <br /> widened trail head. The Bunya-Bunya tree would be surrounded by a small area of no mow grass and <br /> low fence to protect pedestrians from the rather large and spiny pinecones it may drop. The edges of <br /> the park would include mulched areas as well as existing and new deciduous trees common to the <br /> Pleasanton area. The proposal includes the installation of two 13 foot by 75 foot fenced bocce ball <br /> courts and four picnic tables, a barbeque, drinking fountain, recycling containers and trash cans. At the <br /> southern edge of the park they have proposed the installation of a native plant demonstration garden <br /> and a small area for public art, which has been recommended as a viable location to relocate Bob's <br /> Bench. The eastern portion of the site would include eleven paved parking spaces, one of which would <br /> be ADA compliant. There is also a proposal to install some LED lighting to provide enough illumination <br /> for safety and surveillance but not nighttime activity. <br /> Mayor Thorne inquired about the location of existing homes on Vervais. <br /> Mr. Fulford demonstrated their location, as well as those of other nearby developments. He noted that <br /> the city has purchased the properties adjacent to the park over the last several years but that they no <br /> longer have direct access to the site. He said that with the Ponderosa development and all that is going <br /> on downtown; this has the potential to be a really wonderful park site. <br /> He briefly discussed lighting, noting that the PDA had recommended that the bocce ball courts be lit but <br /> the Parks and Recreation Commission ultimately decided it was inadvisable. The current proposal is to <br /> allow the park to operate from dawn to dusk but to provide enough lighting to allow safe pedestrian <br /> access through the park to Main Street. <br /> He acknowledged earlier comments by the public about bringing forward new projects during an <br /> unprecedented drought, but said that once developed this park would likely yield little to net increase in <br /> water use than it represents today. Most surfaces will be hard scape and all plantings will be drought <br /> tolerant. He thought the addition of a demonstration garden was actually a very timely and relevant <br /> City Council Minutes Page 6 of 16 July 15,2014 <br />