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Mr. Brozosky asked how the density proposal would effect the land use of the General Plan? Mr. Iserson said the Downtown Specific Plan could accommodate the density proposal as there are fairly significant portions of the residential area in the Downtown that are already zoned and general planned for high density residential. Second units are encouraged in the Downtown and do not count as residential units. Furthermore, the Specific Plan encourages mixed-use development. Mr. Brozosky asked what the disconnect was between what the Downtown Specific Plan says to what business owners and residents are trying to do. Mr. Iserson did not believe there was a disconnect. The disconnect might be that staff has not implemented some of the policies of the Specific Plan that identify some issues that staff was aware of during the Specific Plan process. He noted there have been some constraints for homeowners on Second Street where people wanting to move in want some type of accommodation to meet their new needs. The Specific Plan encourages staff to look at these standards to encourage homeowners to continue the process of moving into these homes and fixing them up to continue their uses as family neighborhoods. Mr. Brozosky asked if it was an appropriate time for staff to work on the density proposal, particularly with everything that is involved in the General Plan update. Mr. Fialho said the General Plan is clearly a priority and he would prefer to complete this process first. At Council's recent goal setting session, it discussed some of the priority projects in the Downtown but there was no mention of the Downtown Specific Plan. Unlike other Specific Plans where it relies on development to facilitate what is contemplated in a specific plan, the City drives some of the items that are identified in the Downtown Specific Plan, whether it is restrooms or improvements to Lions Wayside Park or the Firehouse Arts Theater. To get at this issue and many other issues identified in the Downtown Specific Plan, he suggested Council support a general policy statement that states, "Council supports the implementation of the Downtown Specific Plan in order to allow Council the opportunity to endorse the plan and see it proceed forward to reality." Mayor Hosterman agreed with Mr. Fialho's suggestion with the addition of promoting the idea of a new library to the community instead of a new civic center. The new library could possibly be located where City offices are currently located which is in keeping with the Downtown entry enhancement, which would allow the community the opportunity to have a library that would not be a solo destination. It would also be an opportunity to have a beautiful potential entry to the Downtown at that end of town and allow for more pedestrian use at that part of the Downtown. In addition, this might connect with the new Cultural Arts facility on the Bernal property and may present an opportunity to utilize the existing library site by City employees. Mr. Fialho pointed out these are two separate projects. The Downtown Specific Plan currently specifies for the civic center to be in its current location and not at the library site. He believed the library issue would be addressed as one of Council's priorities that it currently has listed. The guiding document for a comprehensive approach to the Downtown and the basis for proceeding forward should be the Downtown Specific Plan as there many things contemplated in this Plan that the Council, staff and the community has collectively lost site of. City Council Priorities Workshop 14 08123/05 Minutes