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into the safeguards of the referenda process by providing guidelines that will more fully protect <br />those signers from false misleading statements. Political commentary and personal opinion are <br />expected and they are also protected, but false and misleading statements are not. <br />Further, she is hoping to motivate representatives to look into providing more teeth to the <br />California FPPC in allowing for fines for those who do not follow campaign regulations. <br />According to the California Government Code Section 81002(a); "Receipts and expenditures in <br />election campaigns should be fully and truthfully disclosed in order that the voters may be fully <br />informed and improper practices may be inhibited." This applies to the disclosure of campaign <br />contributions and expenditures in connection with ballot measure elections including campaign <br />committees which means that individuals and organizations that receive contributions to qualify <br />support or oppose local ballot measures, such as this one, including the initiative process and <br />referendum measures. Therefore, she is hoping to ask their state legislators to look into whether <br />or not that is adequately supported with fines necessary to keep people in order so that the <br />public has the opportunity to know what's going on. <br />Not one citizen in the City of Pleasanton has been given the opportunity to follow the money as <br />to this campaign to set aside the Council's 4-1 vote to support the Oak Grove development <br />agreement, and it is because of the unlawful nature of this particular signature-gathering <br />process that makes this referendum of the Oak Grove development agreement different from <br />any other. She believes this is an anomaly and believes that this is unlike anything we've ever <br />seen in the past in this town. She believes the initiative and referendum process is alive and <br />well as well it should be. Unlike Councilmember Sullivan, I disagree with his contentions that the <br />referendum process is in danger. She said she's been involved in this process in the past, and <br />with some clarity by our state legislators there is absolutely no reason why this community <br />should be precluded from being able to referend a decision which the community at large feels <br />is a bad decision made by the City Council. <br />As to hiring outside counsel because of thoughts she's already shared, she has no intention of <br />asking the Council to support asking for additional legal advice and she has no intention of <br />asking the Council to join the appeals process. Many people signed the referendum but far <br />more registered voters did not, and she cannot, in good faith, use taxpayer's money to fund an <br />expensive appeal, the dollar amount of which remains unknown today of a decision that this <br />Council supported 4-1. She cannot turn her back on all of those citizens of Pleasanton who <br />have not had the opportunity to voice whether they support or there is lack of support for an <br />appeal because to do so flies in the face of sound public policy and it is fiscally irresponsible. <br />She said the Council needs to act for the greater good of the community and take into <br />consideration the support or lack of support of all the Pleasanton residents and all Pleasanton <br />registered voters. The City Attorney's office has rendered it such a decision and she has had a <br />great deal of discussion with him and she simply comes up with a different conclusion. <br />Regarding the public process, this Council voted to support the Oak Grove development <br />agreement, at no time has the Council spoke on the issue until now, and to speak publicly to <br />this issue prior to tonight's meeting would insult the public process and do a disservice to the <br />people of Pleasanton. She applauded and commended her fellow Councilmembers for steering <br />clear of this trap, even in light of being somewhat beaten up week after week by a minority of <br />individuals who simply either have not understood fully the public process and for some who <br />have just flat out chosen to ignore it. She said Councilmembers disagree on many issues facing <br />the City but we each approach every issue that come before us with the same sense of <br />deference and respect for the process itself and also for the people of Pleasanton. She thanked <br />City Council Minutes 9 April 29, 2008 <br />