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Ms. Giffin clarified that the Draft EIR states that the pollutant that the health assessment will be <br />looking at with respect to the Senior Care Facility is just diesel particulate matter not other <br />pollutants. <br />Chair Blank thanked staff and the consultant for their excellent presentations. He complimented <br />the consultants for a great document and indicated his appreciation for the excellent visuals. <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED. <br />Ralph Kanz, Conservation Director of the Alameda Creek Alliance, expressed several concerns <br />about the biological resources on the site and requested that they be properly and fully mitigated <br />through the course of the project. He noted that the Draft EIR disregarded the steelhead trout, <br />claiming that they have a low probability of occurring. He stated that there is potential for them <br />to occur once a passage is provided for those fish, which may occur within two years and which <br />will allow fish to come all the way up toward the Arroyo Mocho. He requested that the EIR <br />address this issue. <br />Mr. Kanz then expressed concern that the San Joaquin spearscale was not addressed, noting that <br />the Draft EIR stated that mitigation work done on the species by a previous prof ect provides <br />mitigation for this prof ect as well. He indicated that he did not believe that was appropriate and <br />that this project needs to mitigate for the loss of habitat for that plant rather than for the loss of <br />the number of plants. He suggested that there be some off-site mitigation done for the loss of <br />that habitat. <br />Mr. Kanz inquired if tiger salamanders were found on the site. He noted that surveys were done <br />in 2007 and 2008 regarding the California tiger salamander and inquired if a document detailing <br />the results has been produced. Ms. Giffin replied that tiger salamanders were not found on the <br />site and that the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service would have to concur with that finding. <br />Mr. Kanz then stated that the EIR should look at the Santa Rosa Plain Conservation Strategy and <br />examine the mitigation ratios that came out of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's biological <br />opinion for the Santa Rosa Plain. He stated that those mitigation ratios should be applied to this <br />prof ect for the California tiger salamander species. He noted that the California red-legged frog <br />needs to have similar mitigation ratios as the prof ect is in the habitat for those species. He stated <br />that mitigation for the red-legged frog needs to be done on a habitat basis rather than on an <br />individual basis as well. <br />Mr. Kanz concluded that the Open Space Alternative is the environmentally superior alternative <br />for the project. He indicated that he would also like to see further analysis on other ways of <br />approaching the areas along the creek in order to provide superior wildlife habitat as this is a <br />good riparian source for birds and fish and to create a buffer that would help along that area. He <br />stated that the Alliance will be sending in its written comments on the Draft EIR. <br />Richard Pugh disclosed that he is affiliated with the Friends of Pleasanton Committee <br />organization and that he was married to a Planning Commissioner. He thanked staff for a <br />detailed document and noted that he would focus on one section. He indicated that he did not <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, May 14, 2008 Page 9 of 14 <br />