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if he expanded his business. He believed the use at this location would be a positive asset to the community. He noted that the academy taught self-defense, discipline, respect, and better citizenship for mutual benefit and welfare of all. He urged the Planning Commission to approve this application so the applicant may resume operation of his business. Shaibal Dutta spoke in support of this project and noted that his five-year-old son attended the Academy, which had been a very positive experience for him and his family. He indicated his family moved to Pleasanton in August 2007, that his son attended Lydiksen Elementary School, and that they were looking for after-school childcare. He found out about the A+ Academy program. He complimented the applicant on his approach to teaching and in instilling values such as discipline and physical strength in the students. Instead of sending his son to a traditional daycare program after school, he decided to select this program instead. He also indicated that the applicant built activities around themes such as confidence, honesty, and focus in the children through teaching martial arts. He also paired the older students with the younger students to allow the older students to act as responsible mentors and so the younger children could relate to mentors closer to their age. He added that Mr. Pfund had a very good relationship and communication with the parents. He had noticed an increased level of confidence in his own son and that as a result of the program at the Academy, his son raises his hand in school. He noted that he would never send his son to any facility where he had any concern for his safety and added that he was confident in Mr. Pfund's ability to ensure the children's safety. Jane Carr spoke in support of this project and added that she had known Mr. Pfund for approximately 30 years and has been his personal instructor for 15 years. She attested to his abilities to safely teach children. She added that he was able to teach the children self-defense as well as the three C's, the three H's, three R's, and four S's: the qualities of courtesy, confidence, and consideration; honesty, humbleness and honor; readiness, respect, and responsibility; safety, service, science, and sportsmanship. She noted that they used the tools of martial arts to achieve those particular characteristics and that they wanted the children to become good citizens and leaders in the community. She noted that she had 48 years of martial arts experience and believed that Mr. Pfund was a credit to any youngster who would take lessons in his academy. She noted that Mr. Pfund would teach the children using the sciences of the physical part that go along with the mental and the spiritual. She was confident that he was an asset to the community. Dan Monaghan spoke in support of this project and noted that his child was enrolled in the applicant's program. He noted that parking was not an issue and that there was sufficient parking space on the street. He indicated that he has two older children who attend Foothill High School who have previously taken martial arts at a regular martial arts studio for two to three hours a week, but that it had marginal benefit at best. He indicated that the challenge is that it was not for an extended time, being only two to three hours a week, and traditional with parent drop-off and pick-up. He noted that he felt that long, extended times per week of martial arts could possibly be more beneficial and have an effect. He noted that his ten-year-old child had already tried daycare, had PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, February 13, 2008 Page 28 of 42