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Ms. McGovem said it looked like the land is now contiguous with Dublin Canyon Road. She hoped that Council could have some type of report regarding when this land would be open for public use. Mayor Hosterman invited public comments. Ayn Wieskamp, East Bay Regional Park District Boardmember, noted that the Vinson property is a significant piece of property to the Park District, which is about half of the cost of the project. She pointed out that the Park District spent ail of the AA Bond funds on Pleasanton Ridge a long time ago. She noted that the population in the Tri- Valley continues to grow and people need access to this space. By making this deal, the Vinsons are choosing to build only one house and not to build on the other 100 acres that they are legally entitled to build on. The Park District is maintaining open space and has worked with the Vinsons for possible trail connections. The Vinsons are providing the Park District with an easement and for the short term, it will serve as an access for emergency vehicles to allow for better access from the north. For the long term, the Park District hopes to have a staging area off Dublin. She noted that the idea is to have some staging areas where there would be real trails that are not as difficult as the present staging area for Pleasanton Ridge. She recognized a portion of the Vincent property for its beauty and said the Park District is glad that the Committee chose unanimously to go forward with it. She commented on the priority list as mentioned in the Settlement Agreement and noted that the Park District could only specify general areas. Mayor Hosterman asked how soon the public would have access to this acreage. Ms. Wieskamp mentioned that one of the biggest problems the Park District has is finding maintenance and operational funds. The District seems to find funds through bond issues and propositions to purchase property. The District has a difficult time obtaining money because it takes a two-thirds vote in order for the District to establish a maintenance operation tax. The District has not been successful in passing this tax in Alameda County; this tax was passed by 67.3 percent in West Contra Costa County and some of that money will be going towards maintenance and operational costs. It is simply a matter of the State not taking away any additional funding, and if the District is growing enough, the District will try and open this acreage. She pointed out that the City of Dublin is working to obtain connection on the north side of 1-580 through Schaeffer Ranch. A tunnel has been constructed under the freeway and the District has the potential for making it easy for people both north and south of the 1-580 freeway to connect, which is high on the Park District's priority list. Mayor Hosterman noted that the City of Dublin and particularly Mayor Lockhart, have been extremely gracious in supporting this land acquisition. Mayor Lockhart has been visionary in looking at the linkages and seeing what can be accomplished in the years to come. She pointed out that this land acquisition is really a regional acquisition. Ms. Wieskamp thought it was wonderful how the cities in the Tri-Valley have worked together on the open space issues. The Park District wants to continue to work with the Tri-Valley cities. The County has been gracious with the Altamont Landfill funds and is looking at extending it to the Vasco Landfill. Pleasanton City Council 13 03/01/05 Minutes