CCMIN050499 - Laserfiche WebLink

Item 6c Consideration of whether to direct staff to prepare at this time an analysis of the Pleasanton Public Planning Initiative. (SR99:121 ) Deborah Acosta presented the staff report. Ms. Dennis had a question on the Economic Development Advisory Board (EDAB) process. Ms. Acosta said the process is simply a review and input process using EDAB funds. Mayor Tarver felt that Council was getting into an area where it did not belong. The information will be gathered at some point in time. He felt staff was very careful about remaining impartial. Mayor Cathie Brown has indicated that she would like this issue brought up at the Mayor's Conference. He said EDAB is an interest group that is involved in economic development. It's viewpoint will be discussed at the Mayor's Conference. He felt the Merritt project proponents had already done an effective job in getting information to the public. He thought the Council should ensure the debate is balanced. He felt the counties, cities, the Economic Development Advisory Board, the Tri-Valley Business Council, nor anyone else should not be throwing their weight into the process of saying they want to defeat the initiative. He did not want to use the resources of the government to advocate a position. He agreed that the people need to get the information to make an informed decision, but the information needs to be balanced. Ms. Dennis felt with two Councilmembers endorsing the initiative there is an opportunity for the information to be balanced. She said this endorsement does not exist in any other city that is being targeted by the Public Planning Initiative proponents. She said if all the Councilmembers have questions, the report should be pretty balanced. Ms. Ayala said she needed the information herself in order to make an informed decision. She asked if Council would support doing an analysis once the petitions are turned in. Mayor Tarver did not have a problem with staff doing an analysis and giving Council a report. He felt getting involved in the process right now would send the wrong message to the community and was not appropriate. He believed it would be better to follow the normal process, which is to wait until the petitions are turned in to the City Clerk. Ms. Michelotti said she would like information for her own benefit and felt in the process of gathering information, the public could benefit from the same information. She felt this initiative had far reaching effects on the General Plan that had already been established by 300 citizens on three different occasions. She would like to get information that has been outlined in Pleasanton City Council 13 05/04/99 Minutes