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lieu housing fee fund, which is now over $10 million, to build and rehabilitate affordable <br />apathnents here in Pleasanton. Council should appoint a blue ribbon affordable housing <br />committee of no more than 5 people to present to the Council a high priority action plan <br />to build or rehabilitate a significant number of living units for residents of all ages and <br />family groupings in Pleasanton. Council has done many things in the past to promote <br />affordable housing in Pleasanton but there is much more to be done. She realizes the <br />question has been raised as to why they are not in front of the City's Housing <br />Commission right now. They intend to do that, but they are before the Council now <br />because they feel the situation is dire and it is time to step in and add a sense of urgency <br />in making affordable housing a policy in Pleasanton. She appreciated Council listening <br />to the group and will be encouraged by the forceful action taken on this matter. <br /> <br /> Mayor Pico stated that he had a number of speaker cards on this subject. He <br />advised those present that this is part of the "Meeting Open to the Public" section of the <br />agenda and Council cannot take any action on this item tonight, but certainly Council will <br />listen to those present and determine whether or not Council would want something on a <br />future agenda. He urged the members in the audience to go to the Housing Commission <br />and make their views known the Commission or the Commission will give Council <br />guidance. <br /> <br /> Ms. Belding asked those members of the audience who were present in support of <br />affordable housing to stand up. <br /> <br />Mayor Pico welcomed all of them. <br /> <br /> Judie Johnson, 6289 Garner Court, and said she was present on behalf of <br />affordable housing for Interfaith and also present on behalf of the St. Vincent DePaul <br />Society. She takes a different view whether housing is needed for senior citizens, <br />affordable housing for teachers, firefighters, etc. She is present representing the low, <br />low-income people. She is present representing those people who take care of the food <br />that is eaten in restaurants and for those cleaning the table in that restaurant. She is <br />present for those that are clerks in Walgreen's and Wal-Mart. The housing that <br />Pleasanton has right now and the market that we have right now and the plans we have <br />right now are not really adequate for the low, low-income people. They at St. Vincent <br />DePaul have helped people by going into homes, seeing what the specific needs are, and <br />helping people with some food, rent, and utilities. In the past year they have spent <br />$13,714 on rent and $2,855 on lodging. There are so many people that work in <br />Pleasanton that have lived here for years and years who cannot afford the affordable <br />housing. It should be mandatory that affordable housing be built instead of paying a <br />share of it because developers do not want to build it. There is no place for those people <br />to live and they do not all have cars that can transport to and from the area. She strongly <br />backed what Ms. Belding stated about creating the blue ribbon committee. <br /> <br /> Sue Cheney, 1920 Buckeye Court, is a 30 year resident of Pleasanton and <br />remembers when the Heritage Days Parade was 20 minutes long and the only stop in <br />town was the sign by Safeway. Her husband has practiced orthodontics in the City since <br /> <br />Pleasanton City Council 8 04/17/01 <br />Minutes <br /> <br /> <br />