CCMIN041696 - Laserfiche WebLink

The motion died for lack of a second. The mayor continued, on three occasions, Council has supported the concept and we think the community supports the concept, but we never get anywhere. Them is disagreement on funding, support, who is doing what, etc. We lost funding from ISTEA because we didn't take a strong enough position. How we do it, who funds it, whether there are trails next to it, fencing, the process of getting it done correctly, all are separate issues. What we are asking the community is do we want the history of a train, excursions from Sunol, etc. If 85% of the community says it likes the idea, I bet it happens. If 85% say they don't like it, they want ErRs, or they think it will be devastating, then it won't happen. The debate about how far it goes is another question. Mr. Pico felt if the question was to be put to rest~ it should not be an advisory vote; it should be an initiative that has some teeth. Mr. Tarver felt this was a complex issue, with concerns about how to put the project together, and if you do it through an initiative, you lock in the requirements and you must go back to get voter approval to change anything. He has seen advisory votes before and it gives clear direction. People can make their arguments and the people will decide based on their feeling about Pleasanton, downtown, railroads, etc. Ms. Michelotti felt there should be an environmental study to address the issues mentioned. Mr. Tarver said it is not Pleasanton's decision, it is the Alameda County Board of Supervisors who control the right of way and they will make the determination. Pleasanton does not control the railwad or right of way. We are just asking, do we like the idea or not, so we are not in the way of the Board of Supervisors supporting or not supporting the train. Ms. Michelotti indicated that means people have to go to the Board of Supervisors for public hearings. Does that mean we have no public hearings with regard to what comes to our downtown? Mr. Tarvet reiterated it is the decision of Alameda County. The County will ask us what we think. Those decisions in terms of safety issues, design issues, corridor issues, and all the rest will need to be made through that process. If the applicant wants to do an initiative and lock it in the way Tom suggests, dot every "i" and cross every "t", then they need to go get signatures. All he wants to know is if the community supports the actions of this and previous Councils that it was a good idea. There will be no more questions of support and we can proceed to get the project approved. Ms. Mohr asked if those who want a community center or pool ask for an advisory vote to put it as top priority on the CIP, would Council have justification to say no to them? She 04/16/96 -34-