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better decisions regarding development in the City of Pleasanton. The residents are not saying they are against growth, just that there should be a limit on the amount of growth. Geoff Cooper, 7534 Flagstone Drive, felt the Planning Commission and the City Council did make the right decision. He said this project would help finish the improvements to Foothill Road. He said this development should be approved because it is meeting the housing goals and has relatively low density. He said put it to the vote of the people and see what happens. Tom Gill, 4540 Muirwood Drive, believed the residents have spoken in their support of the referendum. He agreed that the Council approved the project according to the 1996 General Plan, but many things have happened since that approval. Among these is that the air quality in the Bay area is recognized as among the worst in the nation; the need to inject treated sewage in the aquifer to accommodate more growth; traffic has increased 30 to 40 percent, making the Sunol Grade one of the worst commutes in the Bay Area; the future need to use the Del Valle reservoir for drinking water and local schools are overcrowded. Because of these events the General Plan is outdated and should be revised. He believed the people were not signing the petitions just to sign them. He believed the people are really concerned about what is happening and that it was time for the Council to be concerned. The citizens want the leaders to react in a manner that will ensure their quality of life. Please send a strong message to the citizens that the Council understands their concerns and rescind the decision made on the Merritt project. There were no further speakers. Mr. Pico appreciated the referendum proponents staying within the five-minute time limit for speakers. He felt many communities were moving into a new era, regarding the approval of residential development projects, not only in Pleasanton but also in the Tri-Valley area. He said the City is seeing the results of planned progress and that result is unsustainable development. Twenty-five intersections at unacceptable future levels of service mean gridlock on the streets. The 1-680 south, Sunol Grade commute is the worst commute in the Bay Area. The 1-580 eastbound pm commute from Foothill Road to E1 Charro Road has just moved up to third worst commute in the Bay Area. The worst is yet to come. He predicts that within two years Pleasanton will have the worst am and pm commute traffic in the Bay Area. The City is being asked to drink recycled sewage to provide for more growth and will lose the recreational access to Del Valle reservoir. He cannot accept any more progress. There are 2000 homes approved, but not yet built. He listed several projects coming before Council for approval. He said the School District and the sewer and water agencies do not approve growth, but this Council continues to approve growth. He felt this going to the ballot was a test of the new initiative process. He welcomed the test. He felt the people would support the vote in June. He did not want to waste money by going to the ballot, but would rather spend the money in order to send a message that needs to be sent about where this community stands on growth. He said the blind rush of approvals need to stop. He said the residents have spoken and the Council should be concerned. He agreed the 1996 General Plan does not reflect the major issues. Something has to Pleasanton City Council 18 03/02/99 Minutes