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ATTACHMENT 1 December , 2008 Via Facsimile and U.S. Mail (518) 587-3183 Land Trust Accreditation Commission Attn: Public Comments 112 Spring Street, Suite 204 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 12E: Accreditation Application of the Tri-Valley Conservancy, Livermore, California Dear Commissioners: On behalf of the City Council of the City of Pleasanton, which authorized this comment letter at its public meeting of December 16, 2008, I am pleased to have the opportunity to submit these comments for your consideration as your Accreditation Commission undertakes a vigorous review of the application of the Tri-Valley Conservancy. Fifteen Years of Experience with the Tri-Vallev Conservancv. The City of Pleasanton, a Califomia city with approximately 66,000 residents, has worked collaboratively with the Tri- Valley Conservancy for nearly fifteen (15) years. When the Tri-Valley Conservancy was first formed in 1994' as anon-profit corporation, the City of Pleasanton took an active interest in the Tri-Valley Conservancy and the defining South Livermore Area Land Plan, as the City of Livermore and those portions of Alameda County governed by that plan aze directly adjacent to the City of Pleasanton's eastern border. And, the City of Pleasanton's eastern azeas share many of the same physical characteristics and concerns about preserving viticulture and open space, while carefully allowing only limited development. Governance of the Tri-Vallev Conservancv. When the Tri-Valley Conservancy was formed, its articles of incorporation provided for a seven member board of directors, five of whom were to be appointed by local government agencies. Pursuant to this authority, the City of Pleasanton was, and is still, able to appoint one member. The City regularly publicly advertises these types of positions, and as Mayor, I review applications and recommend an appointment, which must then be approved by the City Council. Appointments have ranged from members of the public interested in viticulture (whether actively pursuing it themselves, as is the cunent 1 As originally formed in 1994, the Tri-Valley Conservancy was then the South Livermore Valley Agricultural Land Trust. This changed in 2003 to the Tri-Valley Conservancy, to reflect its expanded regional scope, so this letter will simply refer to the Tri-Valley Conservancy throughout.