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