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<br /> . . I . - <br /> larger) Council packet that I was handed Thursday night that I read very thoroughly. I <br /> find that first of all, morally I have a problem with this. The plaintiffs in the case, the <br /> - Pilots Association and Redwood Shores Homeowners Association made no indications <br /> during the long deliberations of the Planning Commission meetings or at Council <br /> meetings that they were willing to compromise with any of the issues. That really <br /> disturbs me. If they had been willing to compromise I think the City Council en <br /> masse, I will not speak for my colleagues, but I think we would have had a much <br /> different approach to this situation. I said from the very beginning that if the FAA did <br /> not consider the 150' height limit a problem then I would not, but if they did, then I <br /> would. And I think the President of the Pilots Association as the Mayor pointed out <br /> agreed with that statement. The FAA decided that the 150' height limit was not a <br /> problem. Mr. White and his associates represent less than one one hundredth of a <br /> percent of the population of Redwood City, and they have forced by smoking gun, <br /> called a lawsuit, something that I find very distasteful. I call it blackmail. And there is <br /> a point that I will no longer vote for compromise. I have reached that point...." <br /> Mayor Hartnett said "I am going to support the motions and resolution, ordinance <br /> and changes. I think that Councilman Claire is correct with respect to the issue of the <br /> expressed inability of the opponents of the project to compromise before the City <br /> Council took action. I see the Agreement, however, as in a sense, ratification of the <br /> Council's determination of approval on this. I see it also as ultimately a business <br /> decision on the part of the project proponent to create an aura of certainty so that the <br /> project can proceed apace, and business objectives can be attained within the limits of <br /> - public policy as established by the City of Redwood City.... The Agreement <br /> voluntarily entered into does result in no building in the project being more than 130' <br /> in height. There will be multiple buildings that are in height in excess of 100'. This is <br /> a compromise that has been agreed to by the Pilots Association and the Homeowners <br /> Association, the same people who told us that any building in excess of 100' was a <br /> threat to safety. We took independent professional advice. We considered the matter <br /> very carefully. We obtained the determination of the FAA that a height of 150' was <br /> not a hazard, not a safety issue. We made our determination based on that. In fact I <br /> see that the compromise that has been agreed to by' the Pilots Association and <br /> Homeowners Association is in fact a ratification of the Council's view with respect to <br /> the issue of safety. The fact that the project proponents, Electronic Arts, has agreed to <br /> reduce the building height from ISO' to 130' simply is a business decision that from <br /> their perspective keeps the project's integrity in tact, and allows them to go forward in <br /> the building of their project to accomplish their business objectives. Their business <br /> objectives coincide with the public policy of the City of Redwood City. So I think we <br /> certainly can approve the revisions as suggested in that regard. Secondly, the project <br /> opponents did make much comment with the respect to the issue of the Environmental <br /> Impact Report not fully considering traffic and other impacts, and I think it is quite <br /> notable that the settlement of the law suit as a result of the Agreement entered into by <br /> the parties, makes no changes in that regard, makes no suggested revisions to the <br /> - Development Agreement that would require any additional traffic mitigation engaged <br /> in by the project proponent or by the City. And I see that too as a ratification of the <br /> REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 54 AUGUST 26,1996 <br /> MINUTES paqe No. 454 PAGEl? <br />