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Meg McCallan, 1097 Beneta Drive, as a member of the Abbie 4-H, she needs an area to raise project animals. Abbie Livestock Group has been forced to move numerous times over the last several years due to the loss of agricultural land and the need to raise 4-H animals continues to increase as more areas are developed. Currently animals are kept in the Vineyard Corridor area. The proposed changes that Council is considering tonight will seriously impact the Pleasanton 4-H livestock program. She is here tonight to ask Council to reconsider the proposed changes to accommodate the 4-H program. The animals only require a home for a short period of time and feel this request would not impact the environment or surrounding communities. Two 4-H members explained what 4-H about Community Service. They participated in parades, Red Ribbon Week, raised guide dogs for the blind; described community clean up projects such as the Augustine Bernal Park, Pleasanton Sports Park and Arroyo del Valle; helping Senior Citizens by singing carols for them during the Christmas season, decorating for parties and serve meals; helping the Needy by holding can food drives, giving a Christmas party for the under privileged children and a magazine drive for inmates. Craig Smith said 4-H teaches leadership skills such as public speaking, working with others, self confidence, presentations skills and time management; values such as responsibility, self-esteem, sportsmanship and respect for the land; and education in money management, profit and loss, budgets, saving and fund raising to support projects. They leam skills needed for public appearances, decision-making, record keeping, and animal science. He also said if the ability to raise 4-H livestock is taken away, the heart of 4-H will be taken away. Patrick James, 4092 Rockingham Drive, has been a member of Abbie 4-H for six years. He indicated that he had been able to raise large animals for projects at the Abbie farm located off of Bernal, but during this last year he was unable to do so because of a project housing development. He moved to the Vineyard Corridor and the proposed plan with its livestock restrictions would ruin his chance of raising large animals. Not being able to raise animals would greatly impact the Alameda County Fair. Rachel Onojafe, 4410 Clovewood Lane, believed the plans to restrict the agricultural rights of the Vineyard Corridor are unjustified. As a 4-H member she feels it would be a great experience to raise a large animal. The taking away of the 4-H farm would make it difficult to do so. She asked Council to please consider the consequences when making its decision. Janet Smith, 1732 Harvest Road, asked if more research could be done as to why limiting the number of animals in the Vineyard Corridor would be beneficial to the community. She said it would be a shame to lose such a successful program. She felt at a time when the City is trying to promote activities for youth, it would try and keep the 4-H program. The agricultural program is a big commitment and is good for the youth. She asked that the surrounding areas be researched before any decisions are made. Pleasanton City Council 11 05/18/99 Minutes