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petitions at various locations and she has collected 832 signatures of people who enthusiastically supported a park. She described the park she would like to see on this property. Brace Fiedler, 251 Kottinger Drive, urged Council to ratify a plan to have at least five acres of senior housing at a single site convenient to transportation, shopping, and other services. He also wanted ten acres for housing affordable to Pleasanton's workforce, at sites sprinkled throughout the area. The community is running out of places that are economical to develop and build, and convenient to schools and services. He urged Council not to miss this golden opportunity. Chuck Cole, 787 Sylvaner Drive, expressed his appreciation for the work of the Task Force. He felt the first thing that will be seen when one turns off Main Street is a twelve acre parking lot and he preferred to have something green at that comer. An arts facility would be better and it could be designed to be very attractive. He referred to the drainage creek between the park and the station that could be beautified as part of the arts facility. He felt a single entry to the parking lot for the station would be a detriment. If it were moved farther south, closer to Valley Avenue, it would be possible to have three entries. Charlotte Severin, 4513 Mirador Drive, commended Marilyn Kane for her presentation regarding Lithia Park. Council has an opportunity to develop many wonderful things on the jewel of Pleasanton. She commended the Task Force for its work. She indicated she was speaking for herself, Rudy Johnson and the Pleasanton Art League. She referred to a statewide survey that found the public's value and support of the arts is significantly higher than previously thought. The public feels the arts are vitally important to education and the economy and there is widespread support for expanded funding of the arts. She said 78% of those surveyed were willing to pay $5.00 more in state taxes if the money goes directly to the arts; 81% believed the arts improve the academic performance of children (she related an incident from her experience in teaching art in schools); 90% believe the state government should play a role in arts funding; and 91% believe the arts are as important if not more important than sports. She said the placement of arts facilities as proposed is not good. They need to be visible, accessible, and in walking distance to town, especially for the performing arts. She agreed with moving the train station farther south and placing the arts facilities in its place. Dave Wright, 5331 Northway Road, agreed with the repositioning of the arts center near downtown. He felt it would be good for the downtown vitality. He said that for each dollar spent at a performing arts facility $11.00 is spent in the community. He urged Council to think about connecting the facilities with nice walking paths to downtown. He pointed out that the Civic Arts Commission had unanimously voted to keep the arts center close to Bemal Avenue and as close to downtown as possible. Maureen Dompe, 4411 Newman Place, agreed with the previous speakers. She had voted to purchase the property and to keep the housing off it, but she agreed there are many needs in the City. However, she was concerned about the amount of land being set aside for the school facility, which may not be needed. That seems to be dictating placement of many other facilities, such as the arts center and the train station. If you want to place an arts center on Bemal, but not have it be a structure blocking the views, it could be set back. She suggested reconfiguring the Pleasanton City Council 15 01 / 15/02 Minutes