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Mr. Sweeney pointed out that once a BMX Park is located somewhere, it will be difficult to move it. Christine Steiner, 596 Hamilton Way, urged Council to support the project. She noted that this project was very difficult, and believed Ponderosa had been very accommodating to the neighbors and housing staffwho have worked together on this project. She believed the questions asked relating to the bonds were appropriate and reminded everyone to keep in mind that many cities have issued these types of bonds for years. The bonds are highly monitored and the risk involved is minimal. Many communities refinance the bonds to realize greater affordability. She believed the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance should be given a chance to work. She also believed the developers should be given some type of assurance that the credits are secure. As the City approaches build out and huge developments are not being constructed, she believed there would be circumstances where the credits would need to be transferred in order to achieve additional affordable units. She pointed out that the neighborhood had a great deal of input as to what will be developed on the 23-acre site. Patricia Belding, 7703 Highland Oaks Drive, representing Citizens for a Caring Community, the affordable housing advocacy group, addressed Council in support of the affordable housing credits and the issuance of bonds. The Citizens for a Caring Community also supported the right to credits and was pleased to see more affordable credits in the development. Michael Bards, 7479 Highland Oaks Drive, Pastor of Pleasanton Presbyterian Church, mentioned that his church had a long history of being involved in affordable housing. They were involved in both the Pleasanton Greens and the Pleasanton Gardens development. Pleasanton Presbyterian Church has a big interest in seeing that affordable housing takes place in the community, as the church will be the next door neighbor to senior housing on the Busch property. He was glad to see the original allocation of affordable units and supported the additional allocation. It is important to have a developer like Ponderosa who has extended itseif to make this project work. He believed the developer ought to be acknowledged for its efforts in attaining the extra 51 units, which created the credits, and which benefits the City. He encouraged Council to provide the credits. By acknowledging Ponderosa, it will send a signal to future developers that the City is honoring current projects using current City policies and regulations even if there were some reservations. He encouraged Council to find a solution to make the affordable housing credits work. Anne Fox, 2866 Garden Creek Cimle, was hopeful the School District would purchase the 23-acre property and build another school facility to address the over crowding issues in Plessanton. She supported the City in helping the School District to achieve this, as there are minimal continuous large pieces of land lef~ in the City to build another school. If the City does not want to obtain a secondary position on the land and if the School District is not able to financially purchase the land, and given the ennstralnts on the Bemal property, she believed the City should revisit the 23-acre site as open space. She believed that 34 housing ownership units were more valuable than 51 rental units. Pleasanton City Council 13 11/4/03 M'mutes