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including the recent 1-580 interchange. If this plant is to be closed down, it will leave one asphalt supplier creating a monopolyl for the material in high demand in this market. Also at loss will be millions of tax re~,enue and high wage jobs. She believed a solution exists that will allow Granite Construction Company to continue to operate, employ, generate tax revenue, produce a prodpct in high demand, and do it in such a way that works in this community. Bill Hanna, Regional Manager of Associated General Contractors of California (AGC), noted that his organization iI the professional association for engineering and building contractors of which Granite Construction Company is one of its founding members. AGC represents more thaa 1400 construction companies statewide and it represents better than 500 companies in the Bay Area. Granite Construction Company is a good employer and it has been rated nationally and has won many national awards, as well as being awarded locally and within the State of California. Granite Construction Company has never operated as a backdoor company. It has always been forthright, up front and always looked to end up and find a community resolution when issues have faced them. The National Asphalt P~tvement Association has found that Granite Construction Company has won fou~ of seven community involvement awards nationally. He noted that the City of IPleasanton is recognized as a leader in the Valley. The letter that was to be signed by the Mayor was not presented until the meeting of the City Planning Commission. AGC did not have the required 72-hour notice that this letter even existed. The minutes of the Planning Commission reflect that the Chair abstained when she should have recused herself. Because of the location of the plant, he did not believe the Council had any jurisdiction. He believed the letter needed some explanation. He asked who wrote and directed tha writing of the letter. He believed these questions were essential in order to gain a bettqr understanding of the real issues and concerns. He pointed out that the California Public~ Records Act, the Freedom of Information Act and the Brown Act entities AGC answer~ to these questions. He noted that Pleasanton cares about the impacts on its community ~md following the rules. Granite Construction Company would be subject to a hearing pursuant to the County letter dated June 22, 2004. It is appropriate for citizens, Councilmembers, and City officials to express its interest at that hearing. It is also appropriate to place into this report the evidence that should be available for all to see. Hq believed the City needed to live up to the high standards that it demands of the public and going forward with this matter, when there are cloudy issues, does not serve the City's reputation well. He encouraged the Council to take the partnering approach and not take a political approach to help resolve this issue. Mayor Pico asked staff to respond to the purported violation of the Brown Act and to other questions that were asked. Sandra Lemmons, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services for the Pleasanton Unified School District, said that when the School District acquired the property for Neal School in August 0f 2000, it was not aware that there was a permit that was available for this asphalt plant. Over the past few years, the School District has been working on the design of the school and to assure that it was within the necessary setbacks. When the School District became aware of the asphalt plant being placed near Pleasanton City Council 7 08/03/04 Minutes