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Pleasanton. The neighborhood would like to see that section stay and to preserve the trees and wildlife. He applauded the efforts of Zone 7 to recharge the Valley's aquifer, but he felt there could be better ways to do it than the current proposal. The plan is to excavate a large part of the buffer strip and it is not clear that is necessary. It is not clear how deep the algae will penetrate the gravel slope, how much gravel would need to be removed or how often. There may be other ways to keep the slope clean, such as a filter. It is also not clear what kind of equipment will be used. If it is scraped it would just remove a layer of gravel, but would stir up the dirt, which would just settle back down and only concentrate the silt. Scarifying would not do much better. He did not think the proposal was well thought out and is being rushed because there is a developer willing to take the dirt from the excavation. For the long term, if they keep scraping the slope it will eventually disappear. There is a maintenance road at the top that is sixteen feet wide and that is as wide as Martin Avenue. That should be adequate access to maintain that area. The environmental impact report ignores all sorts of factors that he felt would have significant impacts. It says there is no potential aesthetic impacts. The wildlife in the area such as foxes and whipsnakes are ignored. Kelly Cousins, 3736 Cameron, presented a copy of a letter sent by the neighbors in May to the Board of Directors of Zone 7. She commented that she walks the buffer area daily and was upset that the environmental study did not mention sightings of the whipsnake, fox and many birds and other animals in the area. This is a sensitive area and she has seen a difference since the installation of the path to the school. She did not want to make the area into a manicured park because it would impact the wildlife even more. The area is used a lot by the neighborhood. She noted the changes due to the recent spraying of insecticide in the manicured park area. She wanted to preserve the habitat areas and with further development it will become even more of a refuge for wildlife. The neighbors are willing to work with Zone 7 and the City to find a plan that will work while still maintaining Lake 'T'. She supported the proposed letter from the Mayor to Zone 7. Jeff Roy, 2602 Chocolate Street, suggested a retaining wall to reduce the amount of property to be taken by Zone 7 from the buffer. He indicated he lives in a medium density, zero lot line, development. Persimmon Streets runs along his development to Mohr Elementary. There is thirty feet near the edge of the pit that he hoped could be added as an extension of the buffer zone. He would like to have the berm removed, the fence moved closer to the edge of the pit and landscaping installed for a place for children on the east side to enjoy. Hans Wiest, 3744 Trenery Drive, reiterated Zone 7 is evaluating plans at this point and has no firm plans. Assuming it needs the access road, he felt it could be accomplished with minimal alterations to the buffer. He suggested a ten to twelve foot retaining wall at the bottom of the slope. He felt only half the excavation would be necessary and that would save about fifteen feet at the top of the slope and would save most of the trees. It only uses half the buffer strip because the north side is wide enough that there is no issue. Zone 7 could excavate the whole thirty feet and it would not cause severe impacts. He noted the slow growth of trees and was not confident the plans for planting new trees would mitigate the loss of the old mature trees. Removal of 70-80% of the mature trees has a definite environmental and aesthetic impact. He suggested planting new trees without removing the old ones and reviewing the growth in five years. If the new trees have truly grown in as expected, then take out only those old trees Pleasanton City Council 17 06/03/03 Minutes