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323 <br /> <br /> Ms. Bev Beckendorf, 7797 Forsythia Court, expressed her <br /> concern about the impact on downtown. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert Rainey, 725 Main Street, stated that he has seen <br />this happen in the redevelopment of old Sacramento and the <br />revitalization of downtown San Jose. He was concerned about the <br />drop in his new business should City Hall move. <br /> <br /> Mr. Sandy McTirnen, 625 Main Street, speaking on behalf of <br />the Pleasanton Merchants Downtown Association, commented that the <br />merchants have a general feeling of being abandoned. He mentioned <br />that they were trying hard to put the downtown together and make <br />it a viable retail area, and the move would leave them in the <br />lurch. He asked that the Council consider alternatives that would <br />keep City Hall in and about the downtown area. <br /> <br /> Ms. Marlene Winsler, 739 Main Street, said that City Hall <br />belongs to the downtown, and moving out would amount to desertion. <br />She added that this issue should be brought up to the voters. <br /> <br /> Mr. Mercer reiterated that no decision has been made and that <br />Council brought this up to get the citizens' input. From the <br />financial viewpoint, it would cost $3.5 Million less to move City <br />Hall. The Council has to decide if it is worth $3.5 Million in <br />savings to move City Hall away from the downtown area. <br /> <br /> Mr. Jack Hovingh, 4250 Muirwood Drive, stated that he was in <br />favor of keeping City Hall where it is, and moving it to the <br />fringes of the City would not be a good planning decision. He <br />proposed that the City purchase the Kaiser property, hold it as a <br />real estate investment and make the decision on whether or not to <br />move City Hall over a longer period of time. Funds could be <br />diverted from bonds and put into the property. <br /> <br /> Mr. Mercer replied that it is not proper government to buy a <br />property and make money out of it. He added that the Council's <br />decision should be either to do it or not. <br /> <br /> Ms. Bev Beckendorf inquired if there would be any possibility <br />of having the City do a telephone or mail survey to get citizens' <br />opinion. <br /> <br /> Mr. Mercer explained that the Councilmembers would decide on <br />the matter based on its merits rather than on the opinion of 100 <br />people, which would not reflect the thinking of the 52,000 people <br />in the community. He continued that he would prefer spending <br />money and time getting questions answered to getting a sampling of <br />people's feelings. <br /> <br /> Mr. Thurman Caudill inquired where the money to buy Kaiser <br />would come from. He pointed out that the City has been trying to <br />get money to develop the downtown area and felt that this should <br />be attended to before considering another City Hall. <br /> <br /> -18- <br /> <br /> 9-19-89 <br /> <br /> <br />