CCMIN091995 - Laserfiche WebLink

Mayor Tarver questioned when the process will be ~nalized for how the General Plan EIR/Update will be handled. Mr. Swift stated that the Steering Committee has tentatively reached a process for reviewing and referring to the Assembly the final documents. The Steering Committee will be looking at different work product as the process is gone through. The key timing issue is, however, does the draft Plan go back to individual subcommittees or just go to the full assembly. Mayor Tarver commented that in the staff report it states that "as staff understands it," what might be submitted to the voters, if approved, would not be consistent with parts of the existing General Plan. Which parts are those? Mr. Swift replied that the issues which have been discussed with staff concern the growth rate policy and the cap on total population. Both are at variance with existing General Plan policies. Ms. Michelotti commented past general plan revisions have never gone to the voters. The process was started and finished with no time pressures. She felt there was a problem bringing people on (i.e., a consultant) who has not been a part of the entire process. Mr. Pico stated outside consultants were being brought in to work on the EIR. He wanted to clarify that in the staff report it said it might save some time to bring on a consultant. The report could be accelerated by a month at this time. It might slip if the process after that point in time took longer. It also means that the current time table could also slip by an increasing amount by the same issues. He wants the General Plan done before a new City Council takes office. He wants to see items of the General Plan put on the ballot to have the people of the City of Pleasanton ratify them. Substantial changes will be made and just because it hasn't been done before doesn't mean that it can't be done. The process needs to get on and everything needs to be done to accelerate the process. It is unacceptable to let the process drag on and go past the November elections. Regardless of the process entered into, staff needs to think about alternative steps to put items on the ballot, to get this General Plan adopted before it goes on the ballot, so that items that Council wants to put before the people are consistent with the Plan that has been adopted. It is essential that this process be moved forward. Ms. Dennis commented that you can still ask the voters if there are parts of the General Plan that they wish to ratify and place that on the ballot without having the General Plan completed. This way you could ask the question and debate the issue of what the pros and cons are on issues like a growth cap or an urban boundary. Ms. Michelotti stated the City went to the community, work sessions were held in the community and in every neighborhood; it went into the General Plan process; the Steering Committee had subcommittees; involvement was available by anyone who wanted to participate; and now the end of the process is coming and you want the community to ratify the Plan with a vote? She asked, doesn't Council represent the community? 09/19/95 -18-