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Vice Mayor Brown agreed with the value of placing this on the ballot as is evidenced by numerous other landmark planning decisions made in this community. She said she is impressed with intelligence and engagement the public has demonstrated and that she trusts them to make smart decisions based on what they value about Pleasanton. While she initially supported Option 3, she said she could also support the Mayor's recommendation. Councilmember Narum said her position also evolved throughout the meeting and that she is now inclined to agree with the Mayor and Vice Mayor. She would, however, like to allow the Task Force to wrap up its process with a formal recommendation. She requested clarification on how the status of the EIR would affect the binding nature of the public vote. Ms. Seto explained that without a certified EIR, the ballot measure be advisory in nature. Mr. Fialho described a two part process, the first of which would ask the voters in November whether or the planning process should continue as originally described, with the results of the Task Force effort eventually making its way to the Planning Commission and City Council and then that decision subsequently subjected to a vote of the people. This would be an advisory test of whether or not the process should continue. If the answers were affirmative, the second part would be for the planning process to proceed with hearings on the specific plan and EIR, certification of the EIR and then that certification would be subject to ratification by the voters at some point in the future. Alternatively, the Council could elect to place only the second part on the ballot. However, without a specific plan or certified EIR that could not occur until sometime in 2016. Councilmember Pentin requested further clarification on the Mayor's intent. He agreed that the process should stop because of the drought and that other issues such as traffic and schools or whether the modeling used by the EIR is valid can and will be addressed over time. Having said that, he felt the Task Force should be allowed to complete its work. Mayor Thorne said he was thinking along the lines of halting the process, pending an advisory vote and perhaps until the start of the next RHNA cycle in 2022. Vice Mayor Brown said that RHNA was a driving force for the east side when she served on the Task Force in 2012. She reminded everyone that the city has approved zoning for 1,800 housing units that will likely be coming forward and thought that banking this land on the east side could be a bid benefit in terms of planned progress. Councilmember Pentin acknowledged the point but reminded her that there could be unintended consequences to that approach. As has been mentioned, "no plan" can result in applications for industrial projects coming forward which would preclude that land from being used to meet future RHNA requirements. During the last round of rezonings staff and the Council worked diligently to spread that impact throughout the city. There is a finite amount of land in town and in 2022 if that bankable land is lost, the housing will have to be accommodated elsewhere, likely in areas that have already been asked to share that burden. Councilmember Narum asked what the ballot language for an advisory vote might look like. Mr. Fialho said staff was not in a position to craft that tonight. However, if it were the direction of the Council to place something on the November ballot then staff would return at a June meeting with language to consider. He cautioned that they are a bit late to the process and most of the editing of the ballot question would have to occur by the second meeting in June. Mayor Thome asked whether they could allow the Task Force to complete its process during this time. Both Councilmembers Narum and Pentin indicated their support. City Council Minutes Page 13 of 15 May 19,2015