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and believed the expansion and beautification would benefit the downtown and the Farmers Market. Joe Staudt, Broadway merchant, advised he had also participated in all the meetings; strongly supported the entry features program; described what neighboring cities were doing with their entry feature programs; and asked the Council to go forward with the improvements that will identify and direct people to the downtown shops. Mayor Gasparini asked if anyone else wished to speak. No one else came forward. Councilman Sanfilipo expressed his hope that the planned improvements would help the Farmers Market expand and prosper, and stated that the cost of replanting trees is prohibitive, but if the Green Party would be willing to finance it, the City would be willing to consider it. Councilwoman Steinfeld again voiced her opposition to the proposed improvements; noting the lack of notification and the need to provide good customer service by reopening the review process; and the inappropriateness of expenditure of City funds on monuments. Councilwoman Howard advised that the many people with whom she has discussed these improvements have been very supportive, and the feel of the community is that we love our City, and please help our downtown by opening it up and directing people to the downtown area. Councilwoman Howard added that City does have civic pride and she believed the planned improvements show off the City with dignity and class. Vice Mayor Hartnett stated he was impressed by the articulate merchant support for the entry features, and by those who genuinely were concerned about trees; just as he had not been impressed by those who made arguments that were aimed at distracting from the real issues of substance before the Council. Vice Mayor Hartnett stated that the public process was remarkable, with maximum community input in a series of public workshops; the program was reviewed and recommended by the Architectural Advisory committee, a committee of citizens of the community, and reviewed and recommended by the Planning Commission, also a committee of citizens of the community, whose dedication to the good of Redwood City is without question. The people who recommended the program have demonstrated their commitment to the good and betterment of the community. The staff was very thorough with this program over a significant period of time, and it was brought to a prior Council and this Council for review and approval. Vice Mayor Hartnett said that the entry feature program had been studied to death, and the comments regarding the alleged deficiencies in the program had been aired previously, there had been a fair and full opportunity for those comments to be heard, and they had been soundly rejected by people who had objectively reviewed the program. It was time to approve the project and move on. Councilwoman Buchan stated she had the utmost respect for the honest differences of opinion expressed about this program, and the utmost contempt for the misinformation Regular Meeting Minutes MINUTE BOOK NO. 53 March 13, 1995 Page No. 097 Page 6 -- . _.