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same staff reports and information to City Council and believed it was a waste of the public’s and staff’s time. Commissioner Narum suggested charging a higher appeal fee which would be refunded if the appeal was successful. Ms. Decker noted that currently, the appeal fee ranged from $3.25 to $25. She noted that the appeal process was also being examined by the Development Services Committee. Commissioner Pearce did not believe it made sense to hear these items de novo. She believed that if the Planning Commission was intended to be quasi-judicial, it should act in that manner. She believed it devalued the Planning Commission in the eyes of the public and of the City Council and devalued the Commissioners’ time to have the decision heard de novo by the City Council. She noted that City Council could decide whether to hear it and noted that Piedmont had made this change successfully by establishing ten criteria for review of Planning Commission decisions by the City Council. Commissioner O’Connor did not like having a financial criterion because the developers would have the money to pay the fee. Commissioner Blank noted that the Heritage Tree Board had a more difficult appeal process. Downtown Vitality Committee of the Pleasanton Downtown Association Commissioner Olson drew the Commission’s attention to an email received from Christine Salidivar of the Pleasanton Downtown Association (PDA) expressing concern about the Pleasanton Downtown area and requesting the Commissioners to attend its monthly Downtown Vitality Committee meetings. He noted that he would start to attend those meetings. Commissioner Olson believed the Association had wanted a liaison from the Planning Commission to attend the monthly meetings. Chairperson Fox inquired whether noticing would be required to comply with the Brown Act if three or more Planning Commissioners attended that meeting. Ms. Harryman suggested that it would be best if the Commissioners did not sit together or talk to one another. If a Commissioner wanted to speak, she advised them not to voice opinions on policies or applications that might come before the Planning Commission at a later time. She suggested that the Commissioners who planned to attend the meeting listen at that meeting. Commissioner Pearce requested that it be agendized. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES May 23, 2007 Page 19 of 20