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<br />Martha Strain, a Pleasanton resident, supported the approval of the use permit for the <br />large family daycare center. <br />Aimee LaCivita, a Pleasanton resident and client, supported the approval of the use <br />permit for the large family daycare center. She chose Patricia's Daycare because of the level of <br />care and the positive manner in which the daycare center was operated. She noted that Ms. <br />Sutton kept her clients apprised of any neighborhood complaints, particularly related to traffic <br />and parking on the wrong side of the street. <br />Rod Kerr, a Paseo Navarro resident, spoke in favor of the appeal and in opposition to <br />the approval of the use permit for the large family daycare center. He wondered why Council <br />and the State would permit a daycare where there is an in ground pool, which is a natural <br />attraction for children. It was his understanding that the majority Mrs. Sutton's clients were <br />nonresidents. <br />Fernando Gutierrez, a Pleasanton resident, opposed the appeal and supported the <br />application to expand the small family daycare into a large family daycare. <br />Mr. Sutton, applicant, provided closing comments in response to several comments <br />made in reference to his misleading letter. He read the letter to Council, which not only <br />disclosed the impetus for the expansion which was to accommodate two of Ms. Sutton's existing <br />clients that are pregnant but also disclosed that she had a license for a small daycare <br />(maximum of eight children) and in order to accommodate this request, it would require a <br />license for a large daycare (maximum 14 children). In consideration of his application, the letter <br />mentioned that the Planning Department would conduct a study to determine if there would be <br />any negative impacts in the neighborhood with respect to parking and traffic and solicit the <br />neighborhoods opinions as to whether it considered the Suttons' Daycare to have any negative <br />impacts on the neighborhood. The letter further mentioned that the neighborhood would see no <br />significant changes from this action, and invited the neighborhoods questions, comments and <br />concerns. In today's economy, he noted that it is not unusual to see both parents working to <br />make ends meet. Daycare is a part of the fundamental fabric that makes the socioeconomic <br />system work and Pleasanton's daycare demand is substantially exceeded by its supply. <br />Licensed childcare is only available for 34 percent of children with parents in the labor force. <br />Adequate daycare is needed and should be supported by all. The California Legislature clearly <br />states that daycare is not fundamentally all for the neighborhood and further directs that a city <br />shall not prohibit large family daycare homes but shall do one of the following and from option A, <br />Band C, the City has chosen Option C. Option C states, "a use permit shall be granted if the <br />large family daycare complies with local ordinances." To date, there have been two significant <br />and substantial investigations to ascertain whether this daycare complies with the set <br />ordinances. The results of these investigations are unanimous in their unequivocal approval. <br />Patricia Sutton, applicant, submitted pictures to Council, which depicted various Paseo <br />Navarro neighbors parking or driving their vehicles. <br />Beverly McWilliams, appellant, said this issue has been difficult. She questioned the <br />rights the neighborhood had in this situation, as this is a business that is being established in <br />her neighborhood. She asked Council to keep the Paseo Navarro neighborhood as safe as <br />possible. She noted a neighbor's vehicle had been hit twice by clients from the other daycare <br />as well as a major accident in that area of the streel. The traffic is entering on one side and <br />exiting on the other side and it is the exit to Paseo Navarro that has had these three accidents. <br />Pleasanton City Council 9 10/04/05 <br />Minutes <br />