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asked youth and adults for their ideas and better water slides appeared on the list. The <br />Committee was then told that the City could not pay for these types of activities and <br />should look to the business community to help make this happen. She pointed out that <br />this project is exactly the type of partnership that has been encouraged. The Committee <br />has been researching youth centers for the past year, and she has gone on field trips to see <br />what other communities have to offer for its families. She noted that the City of Newark <br />is building its own conununity water park next to its community center. Even though the <br />City of Newark already owned the land, it is spending over $13 million dollars out of its <br />General Fund to build the water park. Members of the community would like the City of <br />Pleasanton to have enough money to improve the Bemal property, a new library, a teen <br />center and sports fields. This is an oppommity for the City to gain an improved water <br />park as well as a much-needed BMX Park at no burden to the taxpayers, and generate <br />revenue for EBRPD, the City and the School District. As a taxpayer, she believed this <br />proposal was a great opportunity, and she believed the City would be foolish to miss this <br />opportunity. She asked Council for its leadership, and asked Council to remove the fear <br />and emotion and to evaluate this project on its facts. She believed that supporting this <br />project would be the right decision for Pleasanton. <br /> <br /> Doug Boedecker, 2979 Chardonnay Drive, concurred with the previous speaker's <br />comments. The water park will not be a huge mega water park and will not attract the <br />same type of crowds that the Concord and San Jose facilities attract. He disagreed with <br />the statement made that the expansion of the water park is in ten plus acres of natural <br />habitat. He believed the positives far outweigh the negatives and urged Council to <br />approve the project. <br /> <br /> Bill Rose, 5550 San Juan Way, mentioned that he is the Director of the Ohlone <br />Autobon Society and has to test the expansion of the park on environmental and <br />ecological grounds. Shadows Cliffs Park has a unique riparian woodland. This <br />woodland is unique in the Tri-Valley area in that it is home to an egret, heron and <br />cormorant active riparian; the nearest comparable riparian is located in Hayward. Many <br />native birds rest at Shadow Cliffs Regional Park and need peace and quiet to successfully <br />nest and raise their young. The expansion of the water park will have a significant <br />negative impact on these birds. If the expansion of the water park was approved, he <br />suggested that the following provisions be included in the project: an extensive effort <br />should be made to mitigate the negative impact that the construction and the operation of <br />the water park will have on birds and animal life of Shadow Cliffs; construction activities <br />be halted during the nesting season and the activities of the park be reduced during the <br />nesting season; and hire a recognized naturalist to advise and supervise mitigation efforts. <br />This consultant would review construction schedules and provide advice to the <br />contractors in order to reduce the impact on park wildlife. EBRPD and the City, with <br />California Splash paying the consultant fees, could appoint the consultant jointly. He <br />believed that a percentage of the gate entrance fees should be set aside for continued <br />mitigation efforts. He protested the expansion of the water park and believed the location <br />was inappropriate. He believed there were other places in the Tri-Valley area that were <br />more appropriate or acceptable for this type of development. He noted that EBRPD was <br />not formed to become a profit center, and he wondered why a non-profit entity is being <br /> <br />Pleasanton City Council 9 03/23/04 <br />Minutes <br /> <br /> <br />