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In response to an inquiry by Chairperson .Arkin regardil""l.g the Bank of- An'l.erica parkil,g lot" 1'v'Ir. 1'\./IacDonald emphasized that a parking tax vvol..:l.ld re.pel busil"1eSSeS trOlT'l Pleasanton. He believed that such a tax vvould be a disincentive to otl-:ter property ovvncrs to invest in Dovvntovvn.. He noted that the PDA V'V'ould continue to vvork vvith Bank of- America V'V'ith respect to use of their parking lot. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner l'v1.:aas regarding honor system parking" lV'lr. l'v1acDonald replied that people generally did not like to pay for parking in Pleasanton. He did not personally like an honor systcn'1" and believed that many people did not pay. Vince Barletta,. 6290 Laura Lane,. strongly disagreed vvith the idea of a business tax vvith respect to the Bank o:f- ~merica", as vvell as the use of final"1cial leverage against th..e bank. He noted that he vvould not use an honor system in a parking lot_ He expressed concern about liability in a private lot 1.hat vvas used a-tt:er hours. Chairperson Arkin st:ated that l\Ilichael Roush had offered City indemnif"ication ror liabilit:y. J\..Ilr. Barletta agreed vvith that suggestion" and believed that tl"1e carrot ratl'l.cr than a stick V'\Iould be efTective in dealing vvith t:he Ban.k of ArYl.erica. _Tim Frcitas noted that the Bank of- An'l.crica parking lot V'V'as alrcady being used as a public lot" and added that it vvas difficult to find a parking space. He suggested that t.hey offer 10 minute parking Tor ~ TI'\I1 use_ Chairperson. Arkin recalled that bank parking lots vvere generally empty at night" and emphasized that l""l.e did not intend to provide disincentives for busincsses inPleasanton through a tax_ lV1:r. Iserson noted that the City had ll""ladc a number ofe:tTor1:s to lease or buy a portion of the parking lot from thc Bank of ~merica.. Cl'1airperson ~rkin noted that l""l.is parking tax suggestion ""as not ITl.em'1t to a:tTect all businesses irl. Pleasanton,. but t:hat the Bank of America"s specif1c situation led him to th..at proposal. Commissioner Roberts thanked lV1:r. Iserson for bringing l'\I1.r. Byrd"s letter to tl'1e Planning Commission"s attention." and for stafl:""'s response. Commissioner l'Vlaas supported the City"s proactive stance and its Dovvntovvn-Yriendly positions. Commissioner Sullivan 110ted that: he usually did not have problelTlS parking dovvntovvn unless it V'\Tas a major event. He understood and supported the PDA"s and the City"s goals. He liked the concept of more public parking because o:f-the availability and fle:xibility" and believed that the parking assessment made sense in some lots. He vvould like to see PL~~ING COJ'vlJ'vlISSION IVIINUTES September 10, 2003 Page 1 6