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15. Public Comment <br />Karla Brown announced that this morning over 5,000 signatures were turned into the City to put <br />an Initiative to Save Pleasanton Hills for the November ballot. She said more than 50 residents <br />spent many hours at various locations collecting signatures and discussed the ridges, their <br />beauty, and need for their preservation. In 1996 voters approved a 29,000 unit housing cap, and <br />she asked the Council to close the loophole for not including second units in the total definition <br />of a housing unit. <br />Kay Ayala said the Initiative will fulfill the policy of the 1996 General Plan, she hoped it will be on <br />the November ballot, said they have appealed the decision of the Judge and have asked the <br />City to join them. She requested the City Attorney provide an update on the timing that the <br />Council would need to join in the appeal, previous actions, meetings, discussions or votes on <br />the matter and what would occur in the next few weeks. <br />City Attorney Roush said there is a 60-day time limit that runs from the time the judgment is <br />entered, and the Council will have until the end of May/first of June to make a decision as to <br />whether or not to file an appeal. He said the Council has had no substantive discussions <br />regarding that matter in Closed Session. <br />Councilmember Sullivan said the Council is tentatively meeting on April 29, 2008 to hold that <br />discussion and Mayor Hosterman said the Council would hear the issue and vote on it in May. <br />City Manager Fialho clarified that on May 20th, staff is bringing back options on how to construct <br />a hillside preservation ordinance and will discuss the pro's and con's of those options. Out of <br />that discussion, the Council will give staff direction and then staff would formulate an ordinance. <br />Kathy Narum, President of the Board of Directors for the Pleasanton Sea Hawks Swim Team, <br />said the team hosted the 2008 Far Western Short Course Swimming Championships, they had <br />1,200 swimmers from 160 teams, 12 states and Canada come to the Aquatics Center fora 4- <br />day Meet. There were 36 Seahawks swimming in the Meet, 2 set 3 records, she discussed the <br />Meet providing a significant local economic benefit to the team and to the City, and thanked the <br />City for their cooperation and coordination of the event. <br />Kathy Dowding said 205 soldiers have lost their lives over the last six months, General Petraeus <br />has told the Senate it would be fall before he could say whether or when to draw down troops <br />below the pre-surge levels, and she read the names of those who have lost their lives since the <br />last Council meeting. <br />Fred Norman reminded the Council of the horrible war, does not feel proud that 25 Americans <br />have been killed since the last City Council meeting and that the Council has done nothing to <br />object. He questioned whose responsibility it is for the war and asked the Council to help end <br />the killing. <br />Latricia Airo Outreach Compliance Coordinator for Echo Housing, thanked the City for their <br />proclamation recognizing April as Fair Housing Month, for partnering with them in furthering <br />housing, announced that it was also the 40th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act and discussed <br />their counseling programs and assistance and office locations. <br />Ted Crowton concurred with Mr. Norman's comments, voiced concerns with Comcast replacing <br />programs and the amount of time spent on programs he does not want or pay for, and feels <br />City Council Minutes 4 April 15, 2008 <br />