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BACKGROUND <br />On April 15, 2003, the City Council directed staff to begin preparation of a <br />comprehensive update of the City's General Plan which had been last updated and <br />adopted in 1996. As outlined in earlier staff reports, this process consists of the following <br />broad steps: issues identification; identification of opportunities, constraints and potential <br />resolutions to address the issues; an analysis of alternatives; preparation of a draft <br />General Plan and EIR; and certification of the EIR and adoption of a new General Plan. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Progress on the General Plan Update: As of January 2007, we are about two-thirds <br />through the General Plan update process. Progress made so far includes: <br />• Continuing outreach to the Pleasanton Community. This has included: public <br />input at numerous Commission and City Council meetings; five community <br />meetings held in various locations in the City; a community meeting held to <br />discuss the General Plan Vision; and use of the City's website to provide <br />information on the project schedule and background reports on the General Plan <br />web page, as well as to solicit and facilitate community comment on the General <br />Plan Message Forum. Outreach to the general community and to stakeholders <br />such as property owners and outside agencies and organizations will continue <br />through General Plan adoption. <br />• Issues identibcation. This step consisted of preparation of an Issues <br />Questionnaire, administration of the questionnaire to all Council members, <br />commissioners, and committee members, discussion of the results of the <br />questionnaire with the participants at public meetings, and preparation of the <br />General Plan Update Issues Report (August 28, 2003). In addition, during this <br />phase, the Planning Commission hosted five community meetings, presented <br />background on the General Plan process, and solicited information on issues to <br />be addressed by the General Plan. These meetings also started the discussion <br />of potential options to resolve the issues raised. Information from these meetings <br />was summarized in the Community Meetings Summary Report of January 7, <br />2004. Identification of issues has continued during public meetings since that time <br />and through discussion of the draft General Plan elements. <br />• Preparation and discussion of background data needed to address <br />Circulation and Land Use issues. From January 2004 through March 2006 the <br />Planning Commission and City Council met 18 times in joint workshops and in <br />separate meetings to discuss reports addressing circulation and land use issues. <br />These meetings culminated in the selection of a Consensus Agreement Land Use <br />Plan and a "Working Draft" Circulation Network. <br />• Preparation of background data and discussion of a Vision for the General <br />Plan and Draft Elements for other topics. The Planning Commission and City <br />Council have reviewed and refined a "Working Draft" General Plan Vision and the <br />following General Plan Draft Elements: Public Safety; Public Facilities and <br />Page 2 of 7 <br />