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400 <br /> <br /> Ms. Dennis then stated that the City is not in compliance with <br /> the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in placing this <br /> measure on the ballot because CEQA provides that General Plan <br /> amendments which have the potential of resulting in a physical <br /> change in the environment qualify as projects, and projects require <br /> an initial study by the lead agency to determine whether it would <br /> have a significant effect on the environment. She added that <br /> although the City has completed and certified the West Pleasanton <br /> Sphere-of-Influence Study for purposes of its application to LAFCO, <br /> the Council's ballot measure was introduced subsequent to that <br /> certification and declares itself to have different purposes than <br /> what the sphere-of-influence study was intended to address. <br /> <br /> With regard to the Section 1. Declaration of Purpose, Ms. <br /> Dennis stated that the measure implies that its passage would <br /> guarantee that Ridgeland property owners will annex to the City and <br /> that the electorate would be considering development projects which <br /> would create access roads and permanent open space facilities, the <br /> direct environmental impacts of which should be analyzed. She <br /> suggested that the measure be amended to remove the words <br /> "citizens" and "Initiative" from the title and that an initial <br /> environmental impact study be completed in compliance with CEQA <br /> requirements, before placing the Council's measure on the ballot. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lyman Higgins, 2171 Goldcrest Circle, stated that in the <br /> past, citizens have complained that ballot measures were not clear <br /> with regard to who sponsored these ballots and what the measures <br /> propose to do. He commented that it would help clarify issues if <br /> the phrases "sponsored by the City Council" and "sponsored by SPRC" <br /> be added to the titles of the respective measures. He likewise <br /> suggested that OPTION 2: Section 2 (c) be deleted and that the <br /> sentence "This measure may only be changed by a vote of the people" <br /> be added to both measures. He then inquired how long the City <br /> Council measure would stay in effect if it passes. <br /> <br /> Mr. Mercer replied that Council has no way of guaranteeing <br /> how long the measure would stay in effect and added that whichever <br /> measure passes would stay in effect until the citizens vote it out. <br /> <br /> Mr. Thomas P. Pico, Jr., 795 Neal Place, indicated his support <br /> for the SPRC Initiative. He stated that it would be inappropriate <br /> for the Council to propose a measure because it subverts the best <br /> interest of the residents and undermines the efforts of a lot of <br /> people. He commented that had the Council been more involved in <br /> the leadership process and taken a responsive role in the <br /> community, the public would not have had to resort to the <br /> Initiative process. <br /> <br /> Ms. Mohr asked Mr. Roush to respond to the legal questions <br /> addressed by Ms. Dennis. <br /> <br /> 3-7-90 <br /> - 8 - <br /> <br /> <br />