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there is theater, choral, instruraental music and fine arts. Using just the Friday's In The Park as an example, there might be any number of people on the stage, yet there are hundreds of people coming in to find a spot to enjoy the music. This is drawing people into the community and is a huge value to all of us. Julie Lewis, 233 Junipero Street, thanked Ms. McKeehan for all of the hard work that goes into putting together a budget. It is important to do things in life that we do strictly for enjoyment and relaxation. She felt that Pleasanton has already demonstrated that it is an artistic community. The arts community is pulling together and they want to let everyone know that they are a very active group. She expressed her excitement in living in a place where the art of living is practiced. Pat Smith, 7595 Flagstone Drive, thanked Ms. McKeehan for her encouraging words. The competition for the cultural arts center is great and they meet once a month. They have demonstrations and a lot of people attend. They conduct workshops where people are squeezed into a small room. They are asking for some place somewhere to conduct their meetings. Charlotte Severin, 4513 Mirador Drive, immediate past president of the Pleasanton Art League and board member of the Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council, serves on the Amador Park Task Force. She thanked Council for the support of the arts facilities study. She wants funding behind the support because nothing is ever accomplished if funding is not available. She understands the process and they have talked with staff earlier this evening and the explanations given tonight are very helpful. She would like to see a fund created for the arts facility and have it earmarked for the arts. She felt that balance was needed in the community. In her thirty years of teaching experience she has seen students who have academic problems find that they could create with the arts and build self esteem that allowed them to excel in academics. She has seen adults greatly helped by participation in the arts, helping them to handle whatever life struggles they are experiencing. She felt that everyone needs this type of balance in his or her lives. Keith Wardin, 2931 Liberty, recalled the standard greeting by late Red Hackathome, "Good evening Mr. Mayor, members of the Council, and the lovely Ms. Deborah." He said lots of people are going to offer up a rationale for continuing our progress in attaining the needs of the people who are interested in the arts and creativity, but he especially thanked the City Manager for setting down a coherent overview of the history and aspirations that all citizens have in this room. He also thanked the Council for what he perceives is a genuinely encouraging attitude towards the things that many of the previous speakers have mentioned. Margene Gerton Rivara, 628 St. Mary Street, Civic Arts Commissioner and she serves on the Bemal Task Force for the Park and serves on the Amador Community Park Task Force. She thanked Ms. McKeehan for clarifying for the community that there is planning going into the budget for the parks but also for the arts in the community. This is very important that art be in the community, both in the performing arts and in the visual arts. It makes the community much healthier; gives people more pride; encourages Pleasanton City Council 10 Minutes 06/19/01