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City of Pleasanton, CA - City Council Minutes Page 11 of 16 Mr. Brozosky said Measure V addressed agricultural club and youth club and specified they were quasi-public and are allowed under the initiative. Regarding the design competition, he said the jury's biggest concern was the location of the cultural arts center near the freeway. The jury liked the plan except for that. He supported moving it toward the northeast comer since the sports and arts groups agree on this and it intensifies the uses closer to downtown leaving more open space toward the middle. One thing not addressed yet is how to use the open space. Even though there is discussion about a meadow, he felt people had different visions for an open space. Some people like the hay field; others want paths and botanical gardens with benches. He believed more water features needed to be included. People gather near water and it would cool the area in summer. He believed without water features, there would not be people in the park on hot summer days. He referred to the design of the cultural arts building and felt it will not be a rectangular building like the civic center, but will be a work of art in itself and will be an accent piece for the Bemal property. He wanted the specific plan guidelines to indicated the building should be designed as an accent, not just a functional building. Even though it has height at certain areas, it could frame or enhance the view of the hills behind if done correctly. Mr. Sullivan noted there have been no elevations to show what the arts center would look like from various points and he felt this was a little premature for that. Mr. Brozosky wanted to know how to go forward with this process and what will be in the specific plan. He did not want it to be too specific. When funding becomes available ten or twenty years from now, would the plan have to go back before the voters? He suggested designating preferred locations for certain elements, but not being so specific that if future circumstances require changes that the whole plan does not have to go back for a vote of the people. Everything will be part of a planned unit development, which is referendable, so there is still an opportunity for the people to have a vote. He proposed a concrete list of uses with a couple of proposed drawings to be presented to the voters. He referred to the amplified music and the distance to the houses and noted the distance is much farther than the proximity of concerts at Fridays in the Park are to the houses on First Street. There are going to be tradeoffs for everyone on this property. He felt people who bought houses in this area were aware of the proposed sports parks and the fairgrounds and have certain expectations. He supported the northeast corner proposal and liked the number of fields. He was concerned about all weather fields and wanted them open for use and not fenced in. He had heard of problems in Texas, when the fields had reached the end of the useful life, and there were problems about how to get them removed because of all the sand in them. A field like this could add 400 tons into the landfill, so he wanted people to be aware of all this. With regard to the tennis courts, he first wanted to survey what the problems are in the City and how existing courts can be improved or maintained better. He suggested the Parks and Recreation Commission take on this task. He noted the School Liaison Committee is discussing lighting the tennis courts at Pleasanton Middle School and making them available to the public. He suggested a review of all the sports fields in the City in conjunction with the General Plan Update and find what the needs are at build out of the City. Perhaps there could be a park or lighted sports fields on the Staples Ranch property. He believed the whole community should be considered, when finalizing plans for the Bemal property. Mayor Hosterman agreed that plans B, C and E should be eliminated at this meeting. That leaves options A or D with the cultural arts facility near Valley Avenue. There are pluses and minuses for that proposal. On one hand it is distant from downtown and she would prefer to have it closer to downtown. She was also concerned about the scope and scale of the building. Staff has spent a great deal of time identifying how to identify the view shed for the surrounding hillsides and keep them open. She believed that was a critical part of maintaining the open space feel for this property. If there is a building that is 90 feet tall, she http://www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/archive/ccminutes050512ws.html 6/9/2005