CCMIN091702 - Laserfiche WebLink

Ms. Ayala was concemed that there is no money set aside for the bypass road. She referred to item 4e on the 9/3/02 agenda regarding repayment of $3.5 million already spent on the golf course to be put in the General Fund. She was also not happy about allocating $2 million from the golf course bond issue to the Vineyard Corridor infrastructure. She asked staff if the $3.5 million could be set aside for the bypass road. Ms. McKeehan reiterated that the money is not the reason why the problem has not been solved. If the problem of the road location can be resolved, then there are many ways of financing it. Ms. Dennis felt that alternatives need to be reviewed. Some may happen more quickly in conjunction with the annexed properties and how those will ultimately develop. Before one talks about the funding, she agreed you need to figure out what the project is. That is paramount now. Council has never said there will not be a bypass road, but it has identified problems that need to be addressed. The issue of cormecting the studies to the occupancy of the homes is a classic example of getting in your own way when you are trying to solve a problem. She did not think there should be linkage. The time it will take to do the study and construction cuts both ways. Nothing will happen to impact the residents while the study is going on and she felt there was ample incentive to get on with the study and to reach some kind of conclusion. The Specific Plan still commits the City to providing a bypass road. If the location of the road is changed, there is still a commitment to do the necessary environmental studies. The road will not come out of the plan unless everyone reaches the conclusion that it is impossible. Ms. Michelotti said she met with residents of Happy Valley and she has tried to be direct and honest with them regarding this issue. When Council did not approve the Summerhill project, it was concerned about the environmental effect of that road. She could visualize the road and did not think it was what anyone wanted. She was having difficulty with this matter and felt wishing for a bypass road was not going to make it happen. She has explored alternatives with staff and supported retaining an expert to assist in getting a bypass road in some type of configuration that keeps traffic out of the Happy Valley loop. Staff has not been encouraging about the road alternatives. This is a very difficult issue and we need to be honest about the viable alternatives. Ms. Ayala reiterated her position that it takes money for the viable alternatives. Ms. Michelotti remembered the commitment that the City would pay its fair share of the road improvements, but she did not remember any prior discussion about setting aside funds for the bypass road. She was also concerned about the people who live on Alisal and their ability to connect to the water and sewer lines. Mayor Pico restated the three major issues and said Ms. Ayala has added a fourth issue of earmarking the $3.5 million. He did not object to doing that. He asked for comments from the Councilmembers on these issues. Pleasanton City Council 20 Minutes 09/17/02