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_-- community and the country at large over all these years. The building stands as a memorial to the honor of the veterans. CouncJ~ in the past believed it wouJd be appropriate to allocate this amount of money to renovate the facility so that it looks good from the outside and functions well from the inside so that the building may contain programs for the veterans and the community. The other purpose of this project is to bring this building up to today's code standards so that it is a safe, usable and cost efficient building which meets all current requirements. He noted that the amhitect has taken special efforts to design the facility so that it pays respect to the historic architectural integrity of the building on the outside and the inside. He noted that many of the historic finishes on the inside will be preserved while bringing the building up to a condition that the City would be proud of. Mayor Hosterman declared the public hearing open. Mike Madden, President of the Pleasanton Downtown Association (PDA), urged Council to approve the renovation plan as presented by staff and as approved by the Planning Commission. By approving the renovation plan as recommended by staff and the Planning Commission, the project will be consistent with the Downtown Specific Plan, which calls for public restrooms in the downtown. Council would also be helping the PDA achieve one of its long-standing goals, which aro public restrooms in the downtown. He said the Pleasanton Downtown Association does not want problems in the downtown and if this project was approved as recommended by staff and it proved problematic, the PDA will be the first to recommend closing the public restroom facility. -- Darryl Alexander, owner of the building next to the Veterans Memorial Hall, said the veterans have been wonderful neighbors. He supported the project, including the addition of the public restroom at the exterior of the building. He believed it would be a groat benefit to the community. David Ham, a Pleasanton resident, noted that he was the current Post Quartermaster for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6298. He pointed out that Vietnam was an unpopular war lacking a clear way for people to deal with it. The public tended to take it out on the soldiers returning home. Although the soldiers served with great honor, it become unsafe for the soldiers to wear uniforms, and the one place where they could always wear their uniforms was at the Veteran Memorial Halls throughout the United States. Even now, the Veteran Memorial Halls are a sanctuary for our veterans returning home from Iraq. He was proud of the City of Pleasanton for holding patriotism in such high regard. The Veterans Memorial Hall is more than a building; it is as the name implies, a memorial to our veterans and a shrine that each veteran is willing to protect with their very lives. He believed the issues of safety and security for this restroom can be addressed. He asked Council to not address these superficial issues but the heart of what the veterans are really concerned about. He encouraged Council to consider what this building means to the veterans. The veterans believe that having a building known, as the "public outhouse" does not serve the interest of this community's veterans who have served so honorably, or the Pleasanton community at large. Mayor Hosterman acknowledged the veterans for playing a large roll in _ _ maintaining the security of this nation and for promoting democratic values across the globe. The people of Pleasanton aro lucky and blessed to have such a strong and active veterans group. On behalf of Council and staff, she thanked the veterans for Pleasanton City Council 4 03/01/05 Minutes