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BACKGROUND At its July 19, 2016 meeting, the City Council authorized an update to the Downtown Specific Plan and the creation of a ten member Task Force to guide that process.' Thereafter, in August 2016, the City Attorney's Office, at the request of City officials, began correspondence with the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) staff counsel regarding Task Force membership and potential financial conflicts of interest under the State's Political Reform Act. At its September 14, 2016 meeting, the Planning Commission appointed two members (Nancy Allen and Herb Ritter) and one alternate (Justin Brown) to serve on the Task Force. The Task Force membership was subsequently ratified by the City Council at its October 4, 2016 meeting. Based on informal email correspondence with the FPPC on August 16, 2016, November 8, 2016, December 2, 2016, and December 28, 2016, FPPC counsel advised that financial conflicts of interest required that replacement appointees to the Task Force be selected for one of the representatives for the Planning Commission (Nancy Allen) and one representative from the Economic Vitality Committee (Olivia Sanwong). Subsequently, at its December 14, 2016, meeting, the Planning Commission appointed Commissioners Brown and Ritter to the Task Force, and appointed Commissioner David Nagler as an alternate. The Economic Vitality Committee appointed Sylvia Tian as its alternate representative. These replacement representatives were ratified by the City Council on January 17, 2017. On May 22, 2017, staff counsel from the FPPC responded to an April 12, 2017 request by Nancy Allen and City Attorney Dan Sodergren requesting further evaluation of Commissioner Allen's potential conflict of interest. The FPPC opined that Commissioner Allen may participate in and vote on decisions relating to the Downtown Specific Plan Update despite having an interest in her jewelry making business and receiving income for the sale of her jewelry from Studio Seven Arts at 400 Main Street. The FPPC has also provided formal written advice that Councilmember Karla Brown may participate in decisions involving the Downtown Specific Plan. In addition, by separate written formal advice, the FPPC advises that Parks and Recreation Commissioner Bryan Bowers may attend and speak at meetings of the Planning Commission, Downtown Specific Plan Task Force and City Council regarding the Downtown (but not participate if matters involving the Downtown Specific Plan come before his own Parks and Recreation Commission). Most recently, at the request of Planning Commissioner Jack Balch, the City Attorney's Office on June 2 sent a formal request to the FPPC asking if he may participate in decisions involving the Downtown Specific Plan. In response, the FPPC The Task Force has 10 representatives comprising: (A)two Council Members and one alternate;(B)two Planning Commissioners and one alternate;(C)two Pleasanton Downtown Association members and one alternate;(D)one Economic Vitality Committee member and one alternate;and(E)three at-large members. 2 This request for formal advice was spurred, in part,from formal advice received by Councilmember Brown where the FPPC staff counsel stated that she may participate in decisions involving the Downtown even though she receives income from Berkshire Hathaway Home Services,which has an office in the Downtown. Page 2 of 3