01 - Laserfiche WebLink

municipalities handle hillside protection and he stated we do not want to end up looking like Dublin. He expressed concerns about the debate of whether a road is or is not a structure. He understands that the Sycamore Heights Homeowners Association would have to advocate a road and stated he is "pro- referendum." He urged the Council to find a compromise that honors past agreements and Measure PP. Bill Lincoln commented that he lives in Sycamore Heights and that the referendum activity will end this Friday. He thanked the 50 volunteers who gathered signatures for the referendum and gave kudos to the Weekly and Independent newspapers for continuing to support Measure PP and keep the remaining hills natural and untarnished. He urged residents to visit the website and to sign the referendum petition in the next two days. Sara Campbell stated that she lives on Junipero Street which dead ends into traffic. She has had two cars hit trying to go to school. She stated she and her 14-year-old daughter were sexually harassed by paid signature gatherers at Safeway and was told at the police station there was nothing they could do since it was after the fact. Two days ago she was at Safeway with her 4-year-old and was videotaped by paid signature gatherers who told her they would report her to Child Protective Services. She also witnessed drug deals and petitions being left out in the open with voter signatures on them. She expressed concerns that paid signature gatherers are allowed on school grounds when parents have to be background checked before they can come on campus. She does not have a company name and is concerned because the paid signature gatherers are harassing children and families. Her father was at Raley's and a signature gatherer accused him of not being a citizen of the United States. She is concerned for the safety of her children and family and will not allow them to be where paid signature gatherers are congregating. Amanda Brown stated she lives on Junipero Street and sees the dangers of growing traffic. She is against the referendum and she and two other mothers have been working to distribute flyers against the referendum and are near the paid signature gatherers and have witnessed their negative tactics. There have been threats against their children and videos and pictures taken without their parent's consent. The paid signature gatherers also smoke excessively by the children and threaten that they will file false police reports against them. All of the mothers have faced that threat and have had to stop passing out flyers against the referendum as their children have been exposed to intimidation and threats. She was told owner of company would come and find her and she immediately went to the police station. The solution cannot be to intimidate mothers and we need to create a political environment that is respectful. She inquired as to who is paying the signature gatherers and stated that Councilmember Brown has denied requests for the company name for the paid signature gatherers. Allen Roberts stated that he has spoken with about 1000 residents and encouraged Council to speak with the citizens about the referendum. This is the final week of collecting signatures and noted that the 50 volunteers have collected the majority of the signatures. He believes the measure will make it to the ballot. This has stirred a lot of emotion and the Juniper and Ventana neighborhoods have been promised less traffic in the past. The hillsides must be protected and there are multiple solutions which can achieve both. He would support a new project with less traffic on Lund Ranch Road and one that keeps the integrity of Measure PP. He suggested codifying the commitment to Ventana Hills and Measure PP which he believes would yield a better outcome. In response to an inquiry from Mayor Thorne, Mr. Roberts stated he would not reveal the name of company used for paid signature gathering. Doug Pilzep stated he is a professional petitioner and college professor and that most paid signature gatherers are professional, looking to help, and to do something that makes a difference. He enjoys what he does and confirmed that occasionally petitioners get carried away and use negative tactics. He believes the Lund Ranch II project itself needs a lot of work and is not ready. He suggested letting the parties have the time they need to find a proper solution. City Council Minutes Page 3 of 12 February 2,2016