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Fire Chief Stewart Gary accepted the proclamation and reminded people to routinely change the batteries in their smoke detectors. Other speakers Joyce Getty Shapiro, 925 Kottinger Drive, related her family history and the buildings her father had purchased in downtown Pleasanton. The first building was 500 Main Street, which was built by the Bank of Italy. She explained her involvement in the Chamber and Downtown Association. She operated a business in the 500 Main Street building with her sister. At~er her sister left the business and moved, she sold it and rented the building to a person to operate a restaurant. Due to various personal difficulties, it became necessary for her to sell the building. This building has always been dear to her and the classic Bank of Italy architecture can be found throughout the State of California. Last week, she noticed that there was drastic saw cutting occurring at the building. She contacted the Planning Department and was told the owner did not have a permit to do this. A stop order was issued. A special meeting of the Downtown Design Committee was called at the site the next day. Later on the date she had first contacted the Planning Department, she noticed the property owner had continued to install the new windows. She attended the meeting the next day and voiced her concerns about the damage to this historic building. The tenant of 500 Main Street indicated he thought he had City approval and further indicated he had operated thirty restaurants across the nation and had never had trouble before. He also claimed it was necessary to see into a building to have a successful restaurant. Ms. Getty believed the saw cuts can be filled, but she was uncertain if the integrity of the building has been compromised. If this work had not been stopped, she felt there would have been a very different building at 500 Main Street. Lowering windows does not guarantee a successful restaurant or business; you need good food and good business attitude. This matter will go before the Planning Commission on 10/23/02 for review. She felt the issue is not the size of the window, but how to keep this beautiful building the same as it was originally constructed. In 1999, there was a committee reviewing the Downtown Specific Plan. She felt there was an historic overlay district as part of that Plan and it was shelved due to neighborhood objections. She urged Council to adopt an historic overlay district and eliminate any future misunderstandings of property owners or tenants regarding buildings in the downtown area. She hoped the Planning Commission will not allow the modification proposed by the tenant and preserve the historic design of the building. Jack Hovingh, 4250 Muirwood Drive, indicated that political signs on private property are an example of the First Amendment right of free speech. In the past, people have removed signs from his property and he urged Council to apprehend and punish anyone who does this in the future. This is supposed to be a community of character and our Constitutional rights are sacred. These rights are what make our country different than any other in the world. Jeff Renholts, 7489 Aster Court, referred to an opinion published in the Pleasanton Weekly authored by a Council appointed Commissioner regarding a measure on the November ballot. He felt this was an improper forum for such an appointed or elected official. He urged Council to admonish its appointees not to use this forum. Pleasanton City Council 4 10/01/02 Minutes