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Councilmember Sullivan said he was supportive of all 8 new items. He is on a subcommittee of <br />the Economic Vitality Committee and one priority is revamping the Zoning Code with the idea of <br />using form-based codes. Planning Director Iserson said staff has considered this, but they are <br />more focused on revamping and streamlining the commercial and industrial sections of the <br />code. The form-based codes can be useful in newer communities with vacant land, but they are <br />somewhat pre-empted in Pleasanton because it has a lot of PUD's, specific plans and design <br />guidelines. Councilmember Sullivan felt there may be a way to have a morphing of form-based <br />codes into design guidelines and Mr. Iserson agreed for staff to determine if these can be <br />integrated into the Code. <br />Councilmember Sullivan referred to page 5 under Traffic and asked for a new priority to address <br />alternative transit options or accelerating some of the policies in the Circulation Element. He <br />asked that a committee be formed of two Councilmembers, members of the community, <br />business community and staff to review policies in place and brainstorm ideas and expedite <br />them. <br />Mayor Hosterman agreed but suggested that the appointed members of the new Bicycle Master <br />Plan first work on it as she believed there would be a natural outgrow from that process. <br />Councilmember Sullivan said his suggestion was broader, noted there is a committee in place <br />called Commendable Commutes, which is a transportatign demand management program for <br />the Hacienda Business Park which needs to be revitalized and he believed that a Council <br />committee could assist in this effort. <br />Councilmember Cook-Kallio confirmed with City Manager Fialho that staff presents a <br />comprehensive update every two years which will be done next January, and this session <br />serves as a mid-term update. She voiced interest in having the General Plan update completed <br />before adding another priority and suggested adding the requested additional priority in <br />January. Councilmember Sullivan agreed the Committee could go to work once the General <br />Plan is adopted. <br />Councilmember Sullivan said it has become apparent that many small businesses have <br />challenges ahead of them in competing against big corporate business and questioned whether <br />the City wants to provide help in order to maintain its small and large business diversity, similar <br />to programs in place that helps the downtown. He recommended a priority be considered for a <br />small business assistance program and based on feedback received, the City may need to <br />develop some program and policy changes. <br />Councilmember Sullivan referred to the Library Master Plan and confirmed the Council would <br />soon receive an expansion proposal from the Commission. He questioned how the Civic Center, <br />San Francisco land and the ACE Station land would tie in together. City Manager Fialho said it <br />is all connected; the Library Master Plan is completed and awaiting Council review and staff will <br />bring forward the Civic Center Master Plan, as well. <br />Councilmember Sullivan referred to the Iron Horse Trail connection from Valley to Stanley and <br />he questioned challenges to making the true connection. City Manager Fialho said the <br />challenge is cost and timing, and said there are two ways of connection; 1) through the under- <br />crossing at Valley and Bernal and Stanley; or 2) through the Busch/Kiewitt properties on the <br />east side. Regarding cost, the future developer could be conditioned to connect the trail from <br />where it currently terminates at Busch. <br />City Council Minutes 6 February 19, 2008 <br />