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the renovation of the Veterans Memorial Building is twenty years to late. He mentioned the shoddy treatment of the soldiers returning from Vietnam and the building's role as a refuge, not to mention the degradation the building would suffer housing a public restroom. Ken Bennetts, a Pleasanton resident, noted that he is a 30-year retired military veteran and Past District Commander of the American Legion in the State of California. He referred to Council Resolution 97-01, which accepted ownership of the property for the Veterans Memorial Building and related site improvements located at 301 Main Street, Pleasanton, California, from the County of Alameda to the City of Pleasanton. This resolution assured veterans continued access and use of the building and property as required by the California Military Veterans Code. He referenced a quote from the staff report that supported this resolution, which states, ~the City agrees to maintain and operate the Veterans Memorial Building in accordance with the State of California Military and Veterans Code. Sections of this Code require the building to be maintained for the use and benefit of the associations of the veteran soldiers, sailors and marines who have served the United States honorably in any of its wars and who are organized for patriotic, fraternal and benevolent objects, and to provide for such other uses not inconsistent with the continual use by the veterans' organizations, which will not interfere with the use of the veterans responsibilities." He asked Council to reconsider modifying the Master Plan to exclude a public restroom at the exterior of the facility, as it will unduly interfere with the veteran organization and its functions. He reminded Council to not lose sight of the fact that this is a dedicated building. Richard Fredette, a Pleasanton resident and veteran, believed that turning the Veterans Memorial Building into a public restroom is a slap in the face. He believed Veterans Park is a better location for a public restroom. He pointed out that the Veterans Memorial Building is a tribute to those men and women who did not return home. Vic Malatesta, a boardmember of the Pleasanton Downtown Association and restaurant owner on Main Street, pointed out that the Downtown Specific Plan includes a policy to construct public restrooms on Main Street, which is important to the downtown public use. If Council chooses not to proceed with the restroom as designed, he hoped that they would expedite the process of constructing a public restroom at Delucchi Park or Lions Wayside Park, which would assist the vitality of the downtown and would cater to the public that looks at the downtown as the heart of Pleasanton. Barry Duke, a Pleasanton resident and Current Post Commander of American Legion Post 237, concurred with the emotions and sentiments that were expressed this evening. He thanked staff for its efforts throughout this process and the many documents it produced. Raymond Cloutier, Chaplain for the Pleasanton Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, presented a letter to Council expressing his personal feeling of opposition for the proposed modification to the Master Plan to allow a public restroom at the Veterans Memorial Building as designed. He pointed out that in this time of conflict, many of the City's young servicemen and women visit the Veterans Memodal Building where they come to share in support and comradery. It is therefore essential that this landmark of the City not be relegated to a secondary status by destroying a portion of its historic walls and reconfiguring it to accommodate a public restroom accessible to Pleasanton City Council 6 03/01/05 Minutes