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tax assessment is unfair, the budget is excessive - especially the expenses related to the director, and that the expenditures are unproductive. She reviewed the var- ious meetings held with the Downtown Association Board, advising that nothing produc- tive resulted from these meetings. She stated she felt this assessment district is taxation without representation; stating the assessment district is run by the Board and that this Board is accountable to no one. Mrs. Thaiman stated she conducted a survey of the Downtown business people; out of the 183 merchants surveyed, 150 busi- nesses do not want the assessment district, 26 stated they did want it, and 7 did not care or refused to answer. She requested the City Council do something about the tax assessment since the majority of the downtown merchants do not want it. She asked that it be abolished now, and in a manner fair to all concerned. Mr. Norman Thalman, 2076 Catalon Court, stated this tax assessment district is bad news for businesses in the downtown area. He stated he felt this is taxation without representation, and the only way out is to disestablish the assessment dis- trict. He advised there is no accountability to the constituants; no annual meetings, no quorum, and very little participation available to the average constituant. He stated he was treated like a child by the Board. He advised he could not see any re- sults of the assessment district, and he felt that many businesses were unfairly taxed. Mr. Thaiman stated that Council has been given data indicating that the majority of the downto~.~ people are opposed to the tax assessment district. He stated he is not op- posed to a business relationship among downtown business merchants but not with this tax assessment district. Mr. Barry Mobley, Main Street Exxon, stated he did not feel the formula for levy- ing the taxes was fair. He cited several examples of gross sales versus net profit. Mr. Nick Peralta, Liguria Delicatessen, 915 Main Street, stated he felt the busi- ness merchants and the Association Board should work together on this matter, but so far they had not been able to do so. He stated he felt every attempt had been made by the business people to work out the problem, but with no results. He concluded by stating the downtown merchants would not be here tonight if they felt the assessment district was fair. Mrs. Judith Mayhew, Photo Plant, 610 Main Street, and President of the Pleasanton Downtown Association, stated that many meetings were held in an attempt to work out an equitable formula for the tax assessment district, and that all business people could have participated in these meetings, but that very few attended. She stated the tax was structured according to the type of business. She advised that the first assess- ment is for an 18 month period because of fiscal year and calendar year difference be- tween the City and the Assessment District. She advised that a flat rate or "cap" was considered but it was felt this method would be more inequitable than the method used. She stated that a Director is very important to the operation and success of an assess- ment district. She stated that if assessments are lowered, the hours of the Director would have to be decreased. She advised that the Director represents the Assessment District at all downtown business meetings, institutes sales promotions, and generally oversees improvement of the downtown area. She advised that a poll taken when considera- tion was first given to formation of the assessment district revealed that at that time most business people were in favor of the improvement district. She concluded by stating she felt the assessment district is vital and essential to the improvement and on-going of the downtown area. Ms. Joyce Getty, 925 Kottinger Drive, and former downtown merchant, stated her two dreams for the downtown area were the establishment of design guidelines and an assess- ment district. She stated she is not opposed to a "cap" levy on the tax assessment but felt it is important to think of the future. She advised that several new businesses are anticipated for the downtown area which will add to the assessment district budget. She stated that the Director is necessary if the assessment district is to work for the 13. 3/12/85