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Mike Vassallo, 418 Winding Way, San Carlos, stated that he wished to start by addressing some direct comments during the previous testimony. He had been advised by an attorney not to discuss the City regulations, however, he did wish to comment on one cited earlier. Mr. Vassallo said that the quoted comments were actually derived from the California Constitution Article I, Declaration of Rights, Section IV. Mr. Vassallo stated that when he had mentioned prejudice in the letter Mr. Saisi quoted he was not referring to religious prejudice, and he wished to clarify that. Mr. Vassallo stated that Section IV of the Declaration of Rights guarantees a free exercise and employment of religion without discrimination or preference, and that the state shall make no laws respecting the establishment of religion. Mr. Vassallo stated that this liberty of conscience does not excuse acts that are licentious nor inconsistent with the peace or safety of the state. He added that standards of safety of buildings are set by the building department, and the City Zoning Administrator had approved the permit. In reference to the culvert, the Congregations did not originally plan to build the culvert, but the Planning Department stated that any construction would have to be for the betterment of the City, and the culvert would be best for the City. Mr. Vasallo stated that the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Committee stated that there should not be a dispute in the first place, as the City had never rejected such a permit for a residential, public or private corporate use. In addition, the City put restrictions on the permit that had not been on previously issued permits. Originally, the plan was to completely demolish the building on the second lot and use the entire area for parking, but in response to the neighborhood the building was maintained and the parking reduced to 29 slots which would be filled. The original property on which the Kingdom Hall sits was purchased as a vacant lot. There have been problems with parking and neighbors complained about the parking on the street.. Accurate numbers are kept and sent to world headquarters in New York, and we know that the Congregations have not grown. The 300 individuals mentioned in Mr. Vassallo's letter referred to persons in support of the permit not the number of congregation members. The Kingdom Hall would not have purchased the adjoining lot had the City not told them that there were no legal reasons they could not build a parking lot on the property. The property was purchased twenty-seven months ago and the Kingdom Hall is ready to go ahead with building the lot. Meeting times had been changed to hold earlier meetings in response to neighbors requests. Mr. Vasallo stated there had been unfair discrimination, as no other churches had the restrictions attached to their permits as had been attached to this one, such as set backs and number of trees required. In regard to neighbor's complaints regarding lighting, the plan was for adequate but low lighting so as not to be intrusive. He stated that the cumulative total of length of residency of the neighbors was less than the cumulative total of length of time of ownership for the two church properties. The church now owns the two biggest pieces of property in the neighborhood. Mr. Vasallo stated that the culvert is actually a storm drain governed by City decisions and not a federal permit. He also stated that the proposal would not adversely hinder activity in the neighborhood and would in fact reduce traffic on surrounding streets. MINUTE BOOK NO. 53 Page No. 400 Adjourned Regular Meeting Minutes October 30, 1995 Page 13