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designs and markets medical devices used for the surgical closure of blood <br />vessels. Perclose is now renamed Abbott Vascular Devices and currently <br />employees about 500 people, with approximately 100 of those residents of <br />Redwood City. Abbott Vascular is expected to grow and it is the desire to add a <br />significant research and development facility to the current operations in an effort <br />to establish a West Coast Research Center in Redwood City. <br />John Thiel, Abbott's architect, gave a brief presentation on the project highlighting <br />the outdoor spaces that consists of two main spaces, the center quad and the <br />shoreline park. <br />Sandy Sloan, Abbott attorney, spoke on behalf of the project manager who was <br />unavailable. She thanked Jill Ekas for her work and expert guidance with the <br />project, stating the excitement shared by the Abbott team of greatly improving the <br />site, providing a permanent home for the existing Abbott Vascular employees and <br />allowing growth for Abbott Vascular. The project will also provide a research <br />center for a stable recession proof pharmaceutical and medical device company, <br />increase the annual property and sales taxes to the city and provide a significant <br />amount of funding for the city's planned recycled water facilities, public access <br />along the described waterfront path and preserve MSI and give this educational <br />facility a new permanent home. She further provided justification for the proposed <br />zoning and FAR on the site. <br />Council asked various questions about the outdoor area plan. <br />Mayor Ira opened the public hearing. <br />Public Comment: <br />William Nack, representing Building and Construction Trades Council of San <br />Mateo County, stated that the "Council" is in support of the proposed Abbott <br />Laboratories West Coast Research Center. Abbott Labs has committed to the <br />"Council" that their highly skilled, decently paid construction workers receiving <br />quality healthcare and pension benefits will be employed to build this project. <br />This project represents hundreds of jobs for members living in Redwood City <br />and San Mateo County. In addition to the construction jobs, this project will <br />bring approximately 500 permanent jobs to the residents of Redwood City. He <br />urged approval of the zoning map and zoning text amendments allowing the <br />project to move forward. <br />JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND <br />REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY <br />MEETING MINUTES <br />APRIL 26, 2004 <br />PAGE 9 <br />MINUTES Book No. 60 <br />Page No. 194 <br />