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housing has always been the issue on this piece of land. If Measure I had been approved, the City would have 400 acres of open space, with 374 units of housing. She believed it was time to address the housing issue in order to move forward. Mr. Campbell asked if Ms. Ayala was in favor of putting a measure on the ballot and letting the Task Force finish? He believed that if there is a ballot measure, the Task Force would have better direction. On the other hand, if we let the Task Force finish, do we take its recommendations and then put something on the ballot? Ms. Ayala said she did not want to wait any longer. She felt Council needed to put something on the ballot to give closure. The Specific Plan can be changed by any three members of the City Council. She would like to give direction to the Task Force so it can finish its job and she would like to put something on the ballot. She referred to a statement that said if you put housing on the ballot, it will fail. Ms. Michelotti disagreed. She said if you single out affordable housing with no education of the public as to what it might be, then it would be divisive to the community and would probably fail. Mayor Pico felt Council needed to decide if it wanted to put a measure on the ballot in November. Do we want a Council sponsored initiative, or two initiatives (one from the citizens and one from Council) or do we wait for some future date to put a Council measure on the ballot and wait for the citizens' initiative to go through the process. Once we get past these issues, then we can decide what we want to do about the Task Force. Ms. Dennis applauded the work of the Task Force and all the people who participated in that process to address community issues, including the affordable housing advocates. She appreciated what Pleasanton has done with housing in the General Plan and felt that was as important as what is done with preserving open space. The Task Force has developed its top twenty uses for the property. She did not feel there was enough time to be specific on where the uses will be located and how much acreages is dedicated to each. She would like to see the list uses be approved by the voters. Then as the Task Force, Planning Commission, and Council consider those projects, they will know the uses were allowed by a vote of the people. Realizing that housing is a controversial issue, she suggested limiting the acreage that could ever be considered without going back to a vote. She believed that would not offend the affordable housing advocates nor will the entire 318 acres be covered in housing as people fear. She believed the most acreage asked for was fifteen acres and that leaves over 300 acres left for a park. She would be happy to list the uses on a ballot measure with a limit on affordable housing that would not exceed 3-1/2% of the property (15 acres). She was not in support of adopting the citizens' initiative ballot language. She felt that was an insult to those who had participated in the Task Force process. If people want to sign a petition that says they don't agree with the Task Force's work, that is fine. She felt the Council was obligated to support the work of the Task Force. When the City considered buying the property, people may have voted for Measure I so there would not be housing, but that is not what Measure I said. It said the City would control what occurred on that. Pleasanton City Council 12 04/16/02 Minutes