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This Council Member would like to have a Community Benefits discussion but right now <br /> he does not feel he has an opportunity to discuss or negotiate with developers and so <br /> he welcomes that opportunity. Dr. Bell said that this discussion is coming to Council <br /> and some of those other items are discussed under Closed Session. Mayor Gee • <br /> explained the two different processes that are being discussed and clarified the two <br /> tracks. Another Council Member spoke about the importance of the tops of the buildings <br /> and having a process in place to address these issues. This Council Member asked <br /> about the Historic Resources Advisory Committee and Mr. Aknin said they are called in <br /> when the project is adjacent to a historic resource. One Council Member wanted to <br /> make sure that what triggers HRAC (Historic Advisory Committee) is proximity to <br /> historic resources and Mr. Aknin said that a number of projects do fall within but there <br /> are some that do not. This Council Member would like to review the process to see if <br /> this can be improved. Dr. Bell inquired if any of the big projects downtown did not go <br /> through the AAC (Architectural Advisory Committee) or HRAC and Mr. Aknin did not <br /> have that information. He added that modern look is permitted downtown and this <br /> Council Member said that all she can do is plea to the architects to consider the context. <br /> One Council Member wanted confirmation that what triggers something going to HRAC <br /> is its proximity to a historical resource and staff confirmed. Vice Mayor Foust inquired <br /> what would have happened if there was no Downtown Precise Plan and how it would <br /> have been developed. This Council Member spoke about specific sites that have been <br /> developed but were complex negotiations and sites to work through. Another Council <br /> Member said that had the Council not done the Downtown Precise Plan the density <br /> would have been significantly higher. He added that more cohesive development is <br /> important and that the Downtown Precise Plan is addressing this, and given that pre- <br /> Downtown Precise Plan, the development was more fragmented and less integrated. <br /> Mayor Gee referred to the height chart and he remembers that the yellow around the <br /> courthouse square was not an accident. Mayor Gee believes we are at the limit of the <br /> Downtown Precise Plan and whoever is outside will go through another process and the <br /> community will have an opportunity to weigh in. Mr. Aknin commented on creative ways <br /> Box is using to get their employees in and out of their Los Altos campus — he spoke <br /> about Lift Line and Uberpool as ride sharing options. Mayor Gee said that we are <br /> introducing a new vocabulary regarding how people move around. He said that it is <br /> important to be inclusive and respectful of prior, current, and future generations' tastes <br /> and preferences. He believes it is important to find the right balance. <br /> 10. MATTERS OF COUNCIL INTEREST <br /> A. City Council Member Report of Conferences Attended <br /> Council Member Howard attended the Policy Dumbarton Retail Committee on Feb. 27, <br /> 2015 and she will be sharing that information with the Council and she would like to <br /> have a conversation and get up to date on the matter of transportation at regional and <br /> local levels. Mayor Gee offered to work with the Vice Mayor and the City Manager on <br /> this matter and finding the right way to scale that large topic. One Council Member <br /> added that she would prefer to stay focused on projects that are local and buildable. <br /> JOINT CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY BOARD/ March 9, 2015 <br /> PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY MEETING MINUTES PAGE 5 <br /> MINUTE BOOK NO. 65 <br /> Page No. 345 <br />