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Bud McElwaine, 5150 Case Avenue #108, said he submitted a letter for inclusion in the staff report and reiterated his opposition to the train. Martha Morse, 5130 Case Avenue #C107, indicated she was representing the senior residents at Ridge View Commons. She felt no consideration has been given to the seniors. She has attended many meetings on the train proposal and she is sick of it. For years Jack Lyon campaigned against the train and unfortunately he is now deceased. He led a group of people to Sacramento to try to stop a loan to the PLA. She has spent a year on this for nothing. She did not want Council to grant another 18 month extension to consider this, after nine years of their trying to stop it. She referred to a petition she presented with 143 signatures opposing the train. She strongly urged Council to put this matter to a close tonight. Theresa Aimar, 4625 Second Street, explained how she came to live in Pleasanton and how much she and her friends love the downtown area. She and other mothers love to stroll downtown and go to the parks. She felt if the train comes in, it will divide downtown and destroy the area. The family feeling downtown will be lost and she objected to the trash that would come with the trains. Jack Chestnut, 4128 Stanley Boulevard, supported the Downtown Specific Plan and was happy to see the proposal for sidewalks on Stanley Boulevard. He believed there was a safety issue without them. He also encouraged a reduction of the speed limit on Stanley. Finally, when people come for downtown events on the weekend, they frequently park on Stanley and sidewalks would be good for that as well. He did not have an opinion one way or another on the train. He agreed splitting downtown would be a major problem. However, he did live in Fremont and felt when the train started coming there from Sunol, it added character to the Niles area and the citizens there really enjoy it. He believed if the train came to Pleasanton it would be a benefit to the restaurants, because the quality of food here is better than in Fremont. He said he also has a house above Sonora and there is a steam locomotive train that runs there. They figured out how not to have it block traffic and he believed it was a plus for that city also. It brings back character and restores the turn of the century historical value. Val Engebretson, 4583 Second Street, said the Downtown Specific Plan was to meet the needs of both commercial and residential areas of downtown. She believed the Pleasanton Downtown Association tolerates the neighborhoods but is really concerned with Main Street. She felt a vibrant downtown area combines residences and businesses that work together to develop a community. What she treasurers about the downtown is the community feeling. She felt that sense of community was being destroyed by a debate that doesn't end. She did not think there was a solution that would make everyone happy. Continuing the debate another 18 months will not solve anything. She felt the only reason to continue the debate was to wear down the opposition so people would stop paying attention and the PLA or PDA would eventually get their way. She felt there was a lack of trust on this issue. First she was told the train would only mn a couple of times on Sunday; then it was Saturday and Sunday; then it was Saturday, Sunday, and a dinner train every once and a while; then it was Saturday, Sunday and holidays, etc. Where does it end? She lives at Second and Angela and one of the turn around places for the train is three doors from her house. She walks across First Street to the parks and downtown every day. She shops there and treasures that part of the community. She was hurt by previous Pleasanton City Council 18 02/05/02 Minutes