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Carole Cloud said that she considers the Stoneridge Drive extension to be a disastrous suggestion and questioned the motivations of developers and Supervisor Haggerty. Heidi Massie noted that the cost to complete the Stoneridge Drive extension will only increase in the future and failure to do so now would risk the annexation of Staples Ranch to Pleasanton. She urged the Council to make the necessary revisions to the Specific Plan to include the completion of Stoneridge Drive, accept Supervisor Haggerty's offer, and save Pleasanton millions of dollars. Dave Walden said that the Stoneridge Drive extension would be a benefit to Pleasanton's residents and workers and expressed frustration that it has not already been completed. Yvan Albert, former Chairman of Pleasanton's Housing Authority, urged approval of the Staples Ranch Project which includes the Continuing Life Communities facility as he is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to join. David Stark urged the Council to ensure the fiscal viability of the commercial aspects of the Staples Ranch Plan by accepting Alameda County's offer to finance the Stoneridge Drive extension and to include the extension as an option in the Staples Ranch EIR. Judith Geiselman said that she appreciates the Council's stance on the completion of Stoneridge Drive but cautioned against doing so until the circulation elements included in the 2025 General Plan have been implemented. She said that the Stoneridge Drive completion and inevitable widening would result in air quality deterioration and increased noise levels and she doubted assurances that it would not cause the loss of existing sidewalks, paths, landscapes buffers and medians or preclude eminent domain. She noted that the concrete wall extending along Stoneridge Drive now is not a real sound attenuating wall and recommended that the City and County partially mitigate the noise impacts by bearing the full cost of installing appropriate sound walls meeting the same criteria and specifications as those along I-580. Mona Palacios, Executive Officer for Alameda LAFCO, reviewed the agency's role in and stance on the annexation of the Staples Ranch property to Pleasanton. She explained LAFCO's concerns over the lack of any proposed mitigation for the loss of 74 acres of prime agricultural land and questioned the adequacy of the analysis of regional transportation impacts due to the lack of the Stoneridge Drive extension as a project alternative. Ms. Palacios cautioned that LAFCO cannot act on the annexation until adequate environmental documentation is available and may choose to delay annexation until that information is provided. Troy Bourne, Vice President of Continuing Life Communities (CLC), said that CLC has been involved with this project throughout the planning process, assisted staff with the development of these documents, and fully supports them. He shared his belief that this is the very best possible project for the community and noted that a large number of Pleasanton residents are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to enjoy what CLC offers. He urged the Council to move the project forward without delay. Vic Malatesta expressed support for the timely completion of this project. Dan Faustina, Co-Chair of Pleasanton First, read a joint statement by Pleasanton First and Friends of Pleasanton that stressed the value of the Staples Ranch project. He commended the City's efforts to ensure public involvement, urged the Council to expedite this process. City Council Minutes Page 9 of 15 February 3, 2009