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Marlyce Jean Dezzutti, 1105 Lund Ranch Road, said Pleasanton has a small town <br />atmosphere and is a good place to raise children. She used to live in Colorado Springs, <br />Colorado. One section of town in Colorado Springs is strictly for extrasensory or psychic <br />businesses. She would like Pleasanton to do the same and keep this type of business in an <br />industrial area. When she is sick she visits her doctor; when she needs spiritual help she visits <br />her church. She does not walk along Main Street looking for help. She believed in freedom <br />of speech and everyone has the right to do what he or she wants but she felt the downtown area <br />was not the place to locate these businesses. <br /> <br /> Jody Ward, 5636 Hansen Drive, said she knew many of the people here tonight and none <br />of the people endorse threats or hostility. That is not what the community is about. She would <br />like to address the permitting process. She moved to Pleasanton specifically because of the <br />wholesome atmosphere for her children. It is because of her pride in the standard of living for <br />Pleasanton that she strongly objects to allowing extrasensory or psychic businesses to operate <br />in the Pleasanton area. Just because the staff report states that there were no negative impacts <br />found in other cities does not mean there would not be negative impacts in the City of <br />Pleasanton. Some of the negative impacts might be negative impressions, lowering property <br />values, and introducing an undesirable flavor to the character of the City. She understood the <br />First Amendment issues are a concern. It is currently being debated in the courts whether <br />fortune telling is being accepted as a business practice and therefore does not enjoy the <br />protection of the First Amendment. Regulating the practices of psychics does not infringe on <br />free speech and provides cities with the means to restrict the expansion of this undesirable <br />element. The proposed ordinance and permitting process reflect some of these regulations. <br />While these permitting requirements are a good beginning they do not go far enough to regulate <br />psychics and protect the community. Other possible requirements might include: require <br />fortune tellers to pass professional and certification examinations and licensing similar to what <br />counselors and therapists take; require recertification on a regular basis; prohibit fortune tellers <br />from accepting any property or thing of value in lieu of fees; require the list of fee schedules <br />to be listed with the Police Department and inform officials of any changes; require an <br />inspection at the time of business license renewal; provide an investigation process on all <br />complaints received (the business would have to pay for the investigation if the complaint is <br />valid and criminal action is necessary); and establish a process for civil action against fortune <br />tellers. If the ordinance is carefully drafted and narrowly targets practices rather than speech <br />it probably would withstand any legal challenge. She believes that this ordinance will only cause <br />headaches for the Council. The Council needs to carefully study and review the ordinance and <br />take its time in making a decision. She encouraged Council to vote against the proposed <br />ordinance and pursue a cautious course in drafting any future regulation. <br /> <br /> J. J. Green, (no address given), understood that from a legal standpoint the City must <br />allow the permit under the First Amendment. She has specifically investigated gypsy crimes for <br />the last five years. She does not believe that all gypsies commit crime. She has learned from <br />gypsies that fortunetelling and psychic operations are a front for scams and financial fraud. <br />Fortunetelling and psychic operations have no religious basis. She also learned from a family <br /> <br />Pleasanton City Council 25 12/01/98 <br />Minutes <br /> <br /> <br />