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CITY OF PLEASANTON <br /> CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES <br /> February 24, 2022 <br /> This meeting was conducted in accordance with Governor Newsom's <br /> Executive Order N-29-20 and AB 361 COVID-19 pandemic protocols. <br /> SPECIAL MEETING <br /> Mayor Brown called the teleconferenced special meeting of the City Council from various remote <br /> locations to order at the hour of 7:00 p.m. <br /> ROLL CALL <br /> Present: Councilmembers Arkin, Balch, Narum, Testa, Mayor Brown <br /> Absent: None <br /> PUBLIC COMMENT <br /> Brad Hirst urged the City Council to select a map easy for residents to understand using main arterial <br /> roads and other easy boundaries and encouraged the Council to keep neighborhoods intact. He noted <br /> it is a 10-year plan and a long-range decision. He endorsed the Lime Plan for its simplicity of having the <br /> four districts meet at a single point and having Districts 1 and 3 vote in 2022 and Districts 2 and 4 vote <br /> in 2024 for ease of understanding. <br /> Larry Annis endorsed the Lime Plan, stating the other maps under consideration all look <br /> gerrymandered. He added the Lime Plan has simple boundaries which are easy to understand. He <br /> added the Lime Plan has the lowest population deviation between districts and noted each Lime Plan <br /> district has a geographic diversity of downtown, suburban, and outlying neighborhoods. <br /> Steve Van Dorn, President of the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce, reported the Chamber analyzed <br /> each map and recommends the Lime Plan. He stated it is because the Lime Plan splits downtown <br /> along Main Street, follows major arterial streets, has the lowest population deviation at 1.8%, would be <br /> easily defensible if the City faces a lawsuit, is easy to understand, and features the simplest split of the <br /> Hacienda business park. He cited the Tangerine Map's awkward split of downtown and the use of <br /> residential streets for dividers as negatives. He stated, should the Chamber-supported Lime Plan be <br /> chosen, the Chamber also recommends having Districts 1 and 3 vote in 2022. <br /> In response to Mayor Brown's inquiry, Mr. Van Dorn stated he must have misunderstood how the Lime <br /> Plan splits Hacienda business park. <br /> In response to Councilmember Testa's inquiry, Mayor Brown confirmed they have to wait until after <br /> public comment has concluded to discuss the comments. <br /> Justin Brown, speaking as a citizen and not as a Planning Commissioner, endorsed the Lime Plan. He <br /> stated the most important criteria for him is having something easy to understand, a goal best met by <br /> the Lime Plan's simplicity. He stated the map is easily defensible and added it has the lowest <br /> deviations. He added he does not like the Tangerine Plan's boundary between Districts 3 and 4 and the <br /> difficulty of explaining which district many residents would live in. <br /> Ken Morgan endorsed the Lime or Green Plans. He stated it is easy to understand visually for using <br /> major arterials, and has normal shapes, noting many cities in California and elsewhere have squiggly- <br /> lined districts. He stated there are some positives despite the City being coerced into this process, <br /> citing the opportunity for a Councilmember to gain an even better understanding of their district and be <br /> able to serve it better by more closely knowing its needs. He stated it would be best to split the city like <br />