Elections, General Plan dominate 2006 politics Elections, General Plan dominate 2006 politics (December 30, 2005)

Mayor Hosterman seeks re-election to tackle heavy workload
by Jeb Bing

Elections and the city's General Plan and its Bernal public lands development plans will likely dominate Pleasanton's political scene in the year ahead.

Pleasanton voters will go to the polls in the state primary June 6 and then again in the General Election Nov. 8. Besides national, state and City Council choices, voters will also cast ballots for candidates seeking to fill two school board seats. The school district moved its traditional off-year elections to even years early this year, with the 2006 race replacing the one originally scheduled for last month.

For Pleasanton voters, most of the contests so far are among Democrats, who will be seeking their party's nomination on June 6 for the 11th Congressional District, now represented by Congressman Richard Pombo, a Republican from Tracy, and the 10th State Senate seat and 18th State Assembly seat, now held by Senator Liz Figueroa and Assemblyman Johan Klehs, who are both termed out.

No candidates have announced for the two City Council seats that will be filled in the Nov. 8 election and are now held by Councilmen Steve Brozosky and Jerry Thorne. Nor has anyone announced for the Nov. 8 school board election, where seats held by incumbent trustees Gloria Fredette and Patrick Kernan will also be filled. All four are eligible to seek re-election.

Mayor Jennifer Hosterman, elected last year, said she plans to seek re-election to that post in the Nov. 8 General Election.

"I have so many unfinished projects which I would like an opportunity to complete for the people of Pleasanton, so I intend to run for a second term for Mayor," Hosterman said.

"I think that 2006 will be an exciting year for our city," she added. "According to the State Board of Equalization, Pleasanton ranks third among the 16 East Bay cities in taxable sales, behind Oakland and Concord."

Taxable sales are made up of all retail and other purchases that are subject to sales tax, and are indicators of trade and economic activity.

" Because of our very strong economy," she continued, "I am able to focus on providing amenities from Pleasanton's 'wish list', such as working with the Cultural Arts Commission and foundation to get our new downtown Firehouse Theater built, instead of the 'needs' list, such as keeping fire stations open, an issue we simply don't have here in Pleasanton."

Hosterman and others on the City Council said continued work on the General Plan update will require even more intense focus by the council and city commissions in 2006, with a goal of wrapping it up in December or early in 2007. Already, council and Planning Commission members, city staff and outside paid consultants have spent hundreds of hours preparing and analyzing data on issues ranging from traffic statistics to rezoning considerations that would reduce the number of higher-priced homes now being planned and allow for more lower-cost housing in such areas as Hacienda Business Park.

"For those of us who have been participating in this process and have spent many hours, and even days, discussing what our city will look like at build out, we'll have even more meetings and discussions in the year ahead," said Councilman Jerry Thorne. "We've made major progress on our General Plan update and we'll have an even greater thrust in 2006 to wrap it up. It takes a lot of time but it's time well spent.

Added Councilwoman Cindy McGovern: "The council is working with the voter-approved (29,000-unit) housing cap and is considering banking up to 500 residential units to be considered as part of the next General Plan update that is required between 2011 and 2016. Also, decisions on traffic circulation and the Staples Ranch property between Stoneridge Drive and the I-580 freeway will determine whether Stoneridge Drive will connect to El Charro Road and the I-580 freeway interchange there."

Council members also talked about the Bernal land, a 318-acre undeveloped parcel that was given free of charge to the city for public uses in 2000.

"Clearly the General Plan and Bernal will be two major local issues for 2006," said Councilman Matt Sullivan. "As far as the General plans goes, we have two to three more land use workshops to go through, and then we'll take what we've reviewed there and go back for another look at traffic issues. Once we decide on a plan, we'll initiate an Environmental Impact Review, that is required, and then try to wrap it up."

Other considerations, Sullivan said, will be energy, conservation, health and safety and housing elements, which are part of the state's requirements for General Plans, which are land use planning documents required of all municipalities.

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