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city to repurpose the land to a use that will be a true asset to the community moving forward. He said <br /> that Kewitt has been fully engaged in the Task Force process and supports its recommendations. <br /> Ganping Ju congratulated Councilmembers Narum and Olson on the recent election, noting that this is <br /> an excellent opportunity for them to demonstrate their commitment to the Development Plan process <br /> and slow growth. He cited several concerns shared with him by his neighbors in the Ironwood <br /> Community. Of the greatest concern is the overall number of units, which most feel is excessive and <br /> would negatively impact the quality of life across the city. He said he was disappointed to hear some <br /> push back at the latest Task Force meeting relative to adding a statement acknowledging that the <br /> driving force behind the total unit count is infrastructure costs and thought it should not be assumed that <br /> this is well known. He urged the Council to request that staff exercise due diligence in identifying <br /> meaningful ways to reduce infrastructure costs such that the total number of units can be reduced. He <br /> also expressed concern with the assumption that the El Charro extension is needed to mitigated traffic <br /> impacts of the plan and asked that this assumption be more thoroughly examined. <br /> Mayor Thorne closed public comment. <br /> MOTION: It was m/s by Pentin/Narum to authorize the City Manager to approve a Third Amendment to <br /> a Professional Services Agreement with Rasmussen Planning, Inc., and Gates + Associates for <br /> $116,624 for services related to the preparation of the EPSP and EIR. Motion passed by the following <br /> vote: <br /> AYES: Councilmembers Brown, Narum, Pentin, Mayor Thorne <br /> NOES: None <br /> ABSENT: None <br /> RECUSED: Councilmember Olson <br /> Councilmember Brown thanked the public for their comments. She called attention to Mr. Ritter's <br /> reading of the Vision Statement which says that land use in East Pleasanton should benefit the entire <br /> community and noted that some citizens have shared comments that they don't feel the alternatives <br /> presented in this EIR will accomplish that. She stressed that she is not opposed to development of the <br /> East Side but said that it needs to be a project that the community can get behind and that whatever <br /> comes forward should go to the voters. She reiterated her concern over the Urban Growth Boundary, <br /> which represents a clear and physical limit to the sprawl of development within Pleasanton. She also <br /> reiterated her original misunderstanding regarding recreational possibilities at the Chain of Lakes, <br /> noting again Zone 7's own admission that Cope Lake is not suitable for recreation. Nonetheless, the <br /> steep rocky slopes of the lakes and their proximity to adjacent homes does present a safety hazard that <br /> needs to be addressed, likely by some sort of barrier fencing that is incongruous with the recreation <br /> area she had originally envisioned. She stressed that both the EIR and Task Force need to take a <br /> careful study of Measure FF and the intent of the voters, stating again that expanding the Urban Growth <br /> Boundary by 112 acres is not what she would consider a minor change. She again said that she <br /> supports some level of development of the Plan area but is not comfortable supporting something as <br /> intense as the Base Plan, and thought that even 500 units might be excessive. <br /> Vice-Mayor Pentin said that he too is concerned with the Urban Growth Boundary but again noted that <br /> Measure FF initiative anticipated from the start that the quarry lands would be evaluated for <br /> development at some point at the future and that this may lead to a revision of the Urban Growth <br /> Boundary. He reminded the Council and public that the discussions regarding what is minor versus <br /> what is major are a discussion topic for another day, though he is not convinced that anything identified <br /> in either the Base Plan or alternatives represents a major change. He also reminded the Council and <br /> public that he served 6 years on the Parks and Recreation Commission and said that Chain of Lakes <br /> were never viewed as an active recreation area aside from the potential for trails around them. He said <br /> he did not envision this changing based on Zone's 7 intent or anything outlined in this plan, and also <br /> noted that the lakes are already surrounded by chain link fencing regardless of what does or does not <br /> City Council Minutes Page 9 of 18 Dec 16,2014 <br />