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There were no other speakers. There was a break at 8:25 p.m. The workshop reconvened at 8:30 p.m. Mayor Hosterman invited comments from the Council and Commissioners. She asked them to refer to page 6 of the staff report to work through the recommendations. Mr. Kummer referred to the design competition and believed the idea was to have one overall plan for the property instead of listening to competing groups asking for their piece of the pie. There was an extensive competition with entries from all over the world with a winner chosen. He did not want to change that design very much. He was not in favor of moving the civic arts center north along Bemal, when the design competition winner had it on Valley Avenue. The City has already gone out to bid for Phase I, the sports fields and streets, etc. He did not see how that could be changed at this time. He would like to leave the ACE train station where it was. He did not hear people speaking in favor of putting it on the Bernal property. He noted the stage portion of the civic arts building would be seven stories and he could not see that on Bernal Avenue. He did not think people would walk that distance from downtown. That is not occurring with the Amador Theater, which is a shorter distance. He would like to keep the civic arts building in the southern part of the property. Mr. Fotheringham said engineering studies could be done to keep the noise down. It is easier to mitigate noise closer to the freeway than it is farther away. Pursuant to the staff report, the Youth Commission, Parks, Planning, and Civic Arts Commissions recommended that the cultural arts center be on Valley Avenue. The Planning Commission was divided 50/50, but every other commission said that is where it should be and the parks design should adhere to Mr. Fothedngham's design. He referred to the design competition guidelines and there was no limit on where to place the cultural arts center, so he felt the center was placed on Valley for a reason. He supported Plan D because he liked the big open space. I felt that should be a quiet, contemplative, natural setting used for strolling, kite flying, riding bikes, etc. When the Block Party was held, there were many people marveling at the views of the beautiful Pleasanton Ridge and Mt. Diablo. He wanted as much open space as possible as set forth in Plan D. Mr. Sullivan asked how high the cultural arts center would be? Mr. Rasmussen said there is no actual vision for the center. The plans presented or just examples of how large the facility might be. In order to accommodate a theater for 800 seats, he believed the highest part of the building would be about 90 feet, or about seven stories. That is necessary for props behind the stage and curtains. Ms. Narum asked how tall was the Amador Theater building? Mr. Rasmussen believed it was about 40 feet. Other comments were made about the Lesher Theater and the theater at Diablo Valley College. Joint Workshop City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission 7 05/12/05