01 - Laserfiche WebLink

Richard Pugh thanked Dan Faustina and his community group and Mr. Wolfe for their open and transparent work, endorsed building on the success of the public process, supported the Sharks ice facility and requested the issue of the value proposition of the leasing of public land to a commercial enterprise be addressed and discussed with the community. Vic Malatesta recommended and urged the Council to accept the master plan and Sharks ice facility. Jon Krueger spoke in support of a dog park in the plan and said research shows more humans congregate inside dog parks than in anywhere else in a park. He said he is disappointed the dog park is squeezed at the edge of the park, is thin, and will not be a quality dog park. Becky Dennis supported the master plan, thinks the ice facility is viewed as a community recreational facility as compared to others, it has a great location with good parking, noted visitors throughout the region come to Pleasanton, there is pent up demand for ice facilities, asked for staff to negotiate carefully and aggressively in the City's interest. She also asked that the detention basin area be made a natural park for vernal vegetation and wildlife. Ken McDonald, Assistant Athletic Director at San Jose State University, spoke of the neighborliness of Pleasanton residents and the reputation of the Sharks organization, their work with disadvantaged youth and he asked for the Council's immediate attention to the item. John Carroll opposed the design of the park, said while he agrees the plan for an ice facility is fantastic for hockey players; it has detracted from the park plan. He cited problems of open space, hiding a massive building and thinks that the City should propose two dog parks; one for large and one for small dogs. He referred to public/private partnership and disclosure, he was not sure how a $30 million facility could be built and given over to the City, and feels there should be more information as to why it would be a good deal. He said cars would have to drive all the way from the west side of the park to the other side and he suggested they be on the outside periphery, and he asked that the park be re-designed. Janice Phalen thanked the Council and staff for their work, supported the master plan, ice facility and progress to date, said the regional biking trails between Livermore and Walnut Creek is great, said she is a skier and biker and the ice facility will allow her to improve her ski edging skills. She believes the public involvement has been fantastic and urged the Council to move forward. BREAK: Mayor Hosterman called for a brief break at 8:30 p.m. and reconvened the special meeting at 8:35 p.m. Councilmember Sullivan thanked staff, consultants and the community for the master planning process, the Friends of Pleasanton and Pleasanton First for initiating the engagement of the community, is happy with the plan and amenities which surfaced, said there is a lot of support for the Sharks as well as concern, thinks there are many people who do not want to see a Sharks facility and believes there may be a compromise the Council could discuss by refining the plan further by re-orienting the Sharks regarding commercial use on the eastern side of the plan. He said that both are commercial uses, require a lot of parking and space and there could be some efficiencies and reorientation of buildings to minimize the overall footprint and amount of land taken from the park for a large building. He said he discussed this with some representatives of the Sharks and Fremont Land who were amenable to this. He believed it Special Meeting Minutes 6 June 10, 2008