01 022409SP2 - Laserfiche WebLink

David Osterman supports the Stoneridge extension and has since Staples Ranch has been discussed. Many people felt the extension should not be discussed when Staples Ranch was proposed because they felt it would kill the effort. He appreciates those who are just totally against the road ever going through and questioned those who say if regional mitigations are done, then they could be supportive, as they simply do not want that traffic in their neighborhood. Kay Ayala asked the Council not to put Stoneridge extension through at this time, as she does believe once SR 84 is improved, it will take traffic from I-680 to I-580. In the future, she would be willing to agree it is possible, but not until mitigations are fixed. She felt the Council should address the adequacy of the EIR, the MOU states the road will not go through and $6 million will be available, there are many citizens against the project and some have suggested a Referendum. She spoke about the previous Referendum thinking constitutional law may be changed, and for the City to push the extension forward was asking for a lawsuit. She asked the Council to honor the MOU and she felt it would allow the project in the end to move forward. Sharrell Michellotti said there is no Circulation Element in the City because we took out some of the major infrastructure. The 1996 General Plan had Stoneridge Drive on it for the people of Pleasanton, it was to be a 4 lane arterial cut down from 6 lanes, she acknowledged the controversy about having it go through; however, partly due to political reasons, SR 84 dropped off the list three years ago. She said the City has made a major arterial out of Santa Rita and Valley which was not designed as such, and she implored the Council to look at why this should be done, as she did not want to risk losing the entire site and she said if timed correctly, people will not take Stoneridge Drive and will stay on the freeway. Mayor Hosterman closed the Public Hearing and called for a break. The Council reconvened the Special Meeting at 10:42 p.m. Vice Mayor Cook-Kallio thanked everybody for their comments, said every difficult decision is supported as well as opposed, she appreciates civil discussion and the various opinions, to mention that Staples Ranch and Stoneridge are not intricately linked is disingenuous, and every conversation about Staples has included Stoneridge. She felt there was intention last week to ask for more information, she cited the need for balance, and said she must do what is best for the City. She felt one neighborhood should not be chosen over the other, agrees with the need to ask ourselves whether the work has been genuinely done and to continue to study it is disingenuous. She felt that over the last four years previous Councils have struggled with it, she felt we just need to move ahead, understanding that we all are not going to agree on it. Vice Mayor Cook-Kallio made a motion to approve Option 3. Councilmember Thorne seconded the motion. Councilmember McGovern said she was disheartened that Stoneridge Drive has taken the position it has. She looked at the draft mitigations and tried to make this a better project by talking about specific conditions. She still has those concerns and was not sure if they would be incorporated or not, such as taking 10 feet off rooftops for light poles because they have said there will be no lights on top of the auto mall. City Manager Fialho said some items could be done without causing any impacts to the CEQA document. There were suggestions raised by Councilmember McGovern, but no other discussion by other Councilmembers. Councilmember McGovern said the project should have quality and conditions to ensure this. She said she did not have the Draft EIR during the process. When she received it, it made changes to the situation and she was trying to decide if there is any way to make additional changes. She referred to the ice center next to the Arroyo, and if it were closer to the retail center, a contiguous City Council Minutes Page 13 of 17 February 24, 2009