CCMIN030116 - Laserfiche WebLink

Mark Priscaro spoke in regards to PUD 25 and that it was a fair compromise; it is the same people who do not want the actual referendum to go to the voters. The referendum is not about Measure PP, rather it is about a select group of individuals that live on hillsides who do not want this project "in their backyard." They do not want to accept traffic or views from their own hillsides. Do not let them get away with it. They go out and ask residents to sign the petition and now they are requesting not to let them vote. It is hypocrisy. This election will give all the voters the opportunity to carefully investigate the facts rather than the false statements posted to the proponent's website. He requested a blend of Options 3 and 4 for the ballot measure language. He supports placing the measure on the June ballot and encouraged residents to investigate the facts, visit the project site, and see for themselves that the homes will be below the ridges. He recited a quotation from actor Samuel Jackson. Justin Brown stated that one of the frequent promises of the referendum proponents was to give residents a chance to vote. He implored them to stop trying to strong -arm the Council. He mentioned proponent Allen Roberts and encouraged him to let them vote in June for costs you asked the residents who signed the petition to incur. The referendum proponents only received 298 signatures above the required minimum and there does not seem to be an overwhelming mandate by the residents for this referendum. He also indicated that many of the signatures were gathered using false information, accusations that Councilmembers would benefit financially, and that some of the graphics shown by petitioners were from Oak Grove and not reflective of this project. He requested support for ballot measure language Option 3, with the addition of the phrase "southeast Pleasanton" and other brief modifications. In response to an inquiry from Councilmember Brown, public speaker Justin Brown stated that he just wants to vote to occur so the community can move on from this issue. Bill Lincoln, Sycamore Heights resident, stated that each of the Councilmembers received a group email from him. He supported the success of the Lund Ranch II referendum as he believes the project needs more thought and modification. He stated that during the signature gathering there were frustrations from the residents regarding the amount of building throughout the City and the perception that the City readily gives developers what they want. We do not have the infrastructure or water service in place to serve this new community as designed. Rescinding the Ordinance will incur no further cost to the City and the savings could be used to mitigate traffic. He stated that Mayor Thorne and Councilmember Narum stated they were against spending City money and now they will be doing just that if they call for a vote. If the Council does elect to send this matter to the voters, he suggested a November election to minimize costs and encouraged simple, clear ballot language. He would prefer that they rescind the Ordinance and send the project back to the builder, City Council and staff, and both neighborhoods to design a legally compliant development. Greg O'Connor is a Hillside protection and Measure PP supporter. Lund Ranch II is larger than just a dispute between two neighborhoods as there are six or more projects to come before the Council with similar issues. There was a hillside analysis report in 2008 which identified the developments that could be affected by Measure PP, of which two projects are currently before the City. He is concerned about a Community Development Department update received a few weeks ago (P150564) and the precedent that could be set by the Lund Ranch II project. They have gone back and forth with definitions of key points of Measure PP and it is obvious this project does not fit the intent of Measure PP. When the residents voted in Measure PP, they thought they would be getting no scarring and no grading on any of the hills with more than 25% slope or within 100 feet of a ridge. Please rescind the approval for the Lund Ranch II project and allow the neighbors and developers more time to find a Measure PP compliant project. Vicki LaBarge stated she was a 32 year resident of Mission Park. In regard to getting people to sign the initiative, the only way they would have signed is if they were lied to. They were told it would stop all development in the hills, if she did not know better she probably would have signed it, too. Mission Park and Ventana Hills residents can educate other citizens about the fair compromise that was reached and City Council Minutes Page 5 of 10 March 1, 2016