Hosterman asks to revisit Bernal design competition Hosterman asks to revisit Bernal design competition (January 09, 2004)

Council hears from sports and arts fans but keeps contest plans
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

Councilwoman Jennifer Hosterman asked Tuesday night that council members revisit holding a design competition for the Bernal property but only Councilman Matt Campbell supported the motion. Several dozen sports and arts supporters attended the meeting in anticipation of the move.

"I have a number of questions about the process and questions for staff and would like an opportunity to do that," said Hosterman. She had a family emergency at the time of the meeting Dec. 2 when the council voted 3-1, with Campbell dissenting, to hold a design competition with the condition that it include two of the baseball fields that have been designed already.

City Manager Deborah McKeehan said city staff had done a request for proposals for a consultant for the design competition process and the council would again address the issue, probably the meeting after next, when it moves on staff's recommendation.

"There will be an opportunity then to bring up questions," said Mayor Tom Pico. "I want to say I wasn't 100 percent happy with the outcome at the last meeting but I believe it is something we can go forward with. It allows us to move forward with the fields and allows us to have a design competition."

The plan will eventually go to a vote and, Pico warned, if the sports community is against the plan, "it's doomed to failure."

Several members of the sports community had asked the council earlier in the meeting to go ahead with the sports park according to the plans of the Bernal Community Park Task Force, which designed the 50 acres at the northeast corner of the site for sports fields.

"I hate to see the 120 grand we put out, as a gift for the consultants," said Rob Adamson of Union Drive, asking that the council reconsider the design competition. He noted that a sports park is more than just the games being played on the fields; it's a place for parents to meet other parents and make friends.

Dave Wright, president of Pleasanton Cultural Arts Council, told council members that he likes taking a holistic approach to the property. "Our big project is the firehouse theater, and we certainly would not think of doing that piecemeal," he said. "We consider this a design issue and we are very concerned about everyone having input."

Councilwoman Kay Ayala noted that she and Councilman Steve Brozosky have been spending a lot of time with the group planning the Bernal Block Party for April 17.

"If we derail it at this time we're taking a great deal of enthusiasm away," she said. "There is plenty of room to integrate fields with a vision, but there is no vision at this time. I think everybody's needs can be met."

The council voted 3-2 not to reconsider holding the design competition.

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