CC MIN 2015-04-20 Special Town Hall

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who has a Smart meter can sign up for, and she said she appreciates being able to track and manage her water use and conservation. She encourages others to use these applications and would like to have them more advertised so people know about it. She also opined that she does not like the design of the Crossing 900, feeling it makes things boxed in, and impacts the view. She asked that when there is a future revision to the Downtown Precise Plan, to please look at having a moratorium on building. Karen Keefer, commended Council and staff on the Precise Plan, Redwood City e-news and the great things that make our city wonderful. She expressed appreciation in not moving forward with the DMB Associates housing development and opined that it is unsafe to build in the ponds. She spoke in favor of having more affordable housing here, noting that this does not mean half of the median income but it is much less than that. She said that she has worked for FEMA and disaster relief as a career and she opined that there is a need for more water and she does not understand why there we are building without more water coming in. She also congratulated everyone for doing well with their water conservation. Kris Johnson thanked Council for its service, said he has lived in the Mount Carmel area for 12 years. He stated that he believes Council should take immediate action to adjust and lower building heights in the Downtown Precise Plan and expressed concern with the size and height of many of the new construction projects in the pipeline or near completion and their scale to the smaller, charming and historic buildings. He opined that as a resident he wants sunny sidewalks and cafes versus high rises, shading communal gathering spots that create a cold, windy tunnel effect. He questioned why this city has the highest building height maximums on the Peninsula outside of San Jose and San Francisco which is at 136 feet high. He stated that he has looked back to 2007 and could not find one instance where a resident expressed support for 12-story buildings and opined that this has always been controversial and questioned why Council voted to support it. He asked Council to direct staff to bring a staff report to recommend bringing building heights down. Jimmy Hedges said he knows we have recycle water and that residents may get water from the corporation yard. He spoke in favor of using tanker trucks and bringing the water to people so that they may use it to water trees. Laura Marquez spoke in favor of rent control in the Redwood City. She said she understands there are many buildings coming up, but asked if there is awareness of the price being asked for some residences. She asked what you would do if you are faced with situation with a rent at $2,500 but you are earning the $8 or $8.50 per hour. She expressed hope that what she had to say for herself and other working people in Redwood City will be considered. Guadalupe Ortiz representing Comite de Inquilinos (Renters Committee) said they have a newly formed rent control group here. She said this affects her family specifically because their rent has been raised two times. She opined that the person managing their apartment building had been taking in new people and it seems they are being pushed to move out. She asked if they are being counted or are they disposable because that is how they feel they are being treated. She would like the City to take SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL/STUDY SESSION/TOWN HALL April 20, 2015 MEETING MINUTES MINUTE BOOK NO. 65 PAGE 3 Page No. 375