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~/~/eP ,~ ~ ~ CITY OF PLEASAI~ ,N Attachment 5 JUN 2 7 2008 v~nCli ~ d/F CITY MANAGER ~ ~~/~~ I am speaking tonight on behalf of all three signers of the Save Pleasanton's Hills and Housing Cap initiative that was signed by over 5,000 citizens of Pleasanton. At times in the newspapers it has been referred to as "Kay Ayala's Initiative" and she has asked me to state this is not the case. It is not her initiative alone. It is the initiative of the thoughtful people of our community whose aim is to preserve and protect the fine quality of life that we presently enjoy. The election in November will determine whether our voice has been heard and will be heard. There appears to be some confusion, so I would like to clarify the intent of the initiative. It is stated best in the summary of the chief purpose and points of the initiative written by our City Attorney and carried by each signature gatherer: "The intent of the Initiative is to protect scenic hills from development, to direct development away from lands with environmentally sensitive features or with primary open space values, and to make the Pleasanton General Plan definition of a housing unit consistent with federal and state definitions." We agree with the staff report executive summary and I quote (pg. 1) " ... in its simplest terms, the initiative would: (a) prohibit (subject to certain exemptions) the placement of housing units and structures, as well as grading to construct residential and commercial structures, on properties with slopes greater than 25% or within 100 vertical feet of a ridgeline; and (b) define a housing unit to include any residence that has a kitchen and a bathroom." We believe this is straight forward language. We agree with the staff report and I quote (pg. 13) "... that the 10-unit exemption be fair to ensure that some development potential would remain on all properties. A 10-unit exemption could be fairer, would retain City control of such development proposals through the PUD process, and could result in a more sound position for the City by not eliminating all development potential on those properties impacted by the Initiative."