CCMIN120688 - Laserfiche WebLink

355 project that would only be completed after all of the other projects were done. If Council and CDA do not feel parking structures warrant consideration in this program, the Chamber would also recommend these be removed so as not to pose a stumbling block to the plan, which they feel is the perfect funding mechanism to complete the projects that are listed. She cautioned that if a project is removed from the plan that it could not be added later time. The Chamber also supports the recommendation of the Planning Committee and staff that the City of Pleasanton advance monies to fund the projects that are listed on the plan's list for immediate completion so as to minimize the inconvenience to the businesses and the citizens of Pleasanton rather than waiting out the full term of the plan. With the revision that they have projected, this brings the project to well within the guidelines of the projected funding made by staff of $33 million. The Chamber of Commerce supports and recommends that Council and CDA support and approve the redevelopment plan. Mr. Ben Fernandez stated that thirteen years ago he addressed the City Council in support of a redevelopment plan, unfortunately it failed. He urged support of the redevelopment plan. As Chairman of the Downtown Committee of the Chamber of Commerce he has been supporting these projects for several years. As Chairman of the Downtown Committee he was asked to serve on the Project Area Committee. He felt the support of a redevelopment plan is in the best interests of downtown. He stated that approval of the redevelopment plan by Council would give a commitment to downtown. He stated the Prop 4 election of 1986 included downtown improvements which were not delivered. Substantial dollars have been spent in downtown in the past few years but support of the plan would evidence a tangible commitment on the Council's part. He stated that Pleasanton on the whole is looking great; this is largely due to Council and the development community. North Pleasanton is the envy of many communities, however, it was built with large development dollars. There are no large development dollars downtown. These are small small merchants, and an assessment district would have little chance with so diverse a group of owners. The plan is a better answer. He stated that Alameda County has cut the plan size: the projects included in the · watered down version should be chosen carefully and should be supported. He stated that one of the recommendations from PAC was that the City lend dollars to the CDA until the CDA funds are developed. Whether this can be done interest free or not is not known but it does provide an efficient mechanism for doing all the work in a timely fashion. He stated that one of the important elements to the CDA plan is $100,000 of annual promotion. Most of the members of the PAC felt this money was necessary for promoting business while reconstruction was being done downtown. He stated the Council recently allocated funds for a program called "Advantaged Pleasanton", which was money set aside to promote the development community in Pleasanton. He felt the same kind of commitment can be made to downtown. It is consistent with finding investors to go into North Pleasanton to find people who are - 28 - 12-6-88