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Vice-Mayor Pentin asked if staff felt that eliminating the 1,759-unit alternative, which would leave a range of zero to 1,430 units, offered enough breadth for the EIR. Mr. Dolan confirmed, though noted that the 1,400-unit alternative would be the only remaining alternative with any multi-family development. Mayor Thorne asked if eliminating that option would prevent the potential for any multi-family development. Mr. Dolan explained that while the impacts of multi versus single-family are subtle, they do exist and that additional CEQA might be required to accommodate multi-family development. He advised in favor of retaining some variety in alternatives evaluated in the EIR. Mr. Dolan very briefly reviewed an outline of the Preliminary Draft Plan, noting certain features with which the Council is already very familiar including Development Standards and Design Guidelines. He explained that the content of the Plan, which already contains a fair amount of self-mitigation, will be subject to the EIR and any new mitigations identified may be added to the Plan at the end of the EIR process. He also briefly reviewed the general concept of infrastructure financing, which focuses on the idea the full cost will be borne by the property owners. He explained that relationships and responsibilities regarding how those costs are assigned and the mechanism by which funds are collected will remain somewhat broad until the Plan is finalized. Councilmember Brown noted that infrastructure development may need to outpace the rate of residential development and asked whether the city intends to front the funds and get repaid over time. Mr. Dolan stated that the city has no intention of being involved in the funding. He also noted that the Council was very clear that it does not want another Stoneridge Drive situation where development is completed before the infrastructure, which may require some small type of assistance from the city, but that the overlying policy decision is that the property owners will be responsible for the funding and completion of infrastructure prior to the completion of development. Mr. Dolan reported on the latest Task Force meeting, which included a consensus to forward the Preliminary Draft Plan to the Council before proceeding with the EIR, a request for additional dialogue in the Plan regarding the history of RHNA and how evolved from one of the primary considerations of the Plan to being largely irrelevant, and a request for staff verify its assessment how the 1,300 units are placed within the plan area. The Task Force also requested correction of several minor typos and additional information on the environmental initiatives and sustainability measures that could be brought forward as part of the Plan. He acknowledged that the Task Force was only briefly educated on what is required under the city's Climate Action Plan and said that staff does intend to expand on this education and explore where there might be room to be more aggressive with sustainability efforts in the Plan area. He provided a preview of the expected schedule stating that staff anticipates completing the Draft EIR in February 2015, assuming the Council signs off on the Base Plan and alternatives this evening. Staff has already committed to conducting additional neighborhood meetings, particularly with those neighborhoods closest to the Plan area as well as any of those who make a special request. Staff then anticipates meeting with the Task Force in May regarding the outcome of the public workshops and Draft EIR as well as to formulate a final recommendation to the Planning Commission and City Council. If all goes well, staff anticipates beginning the Planning Commission hearings in June before coming to the Council in July or August. He stated that staff is requesting that the Council provide comments on the Preliminary Draft EPSP, confirm the Base Plan and alternatives, and authorize the City Manager to execute the amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with EIR Consultants, Gates +Associates. City Council Minutes Page 5 of 18 Dec 16,2014