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Councilmembers discussed Councilman Sanfilipo's concerns, as well as the other side of the economic argument which asserts that prospective buyers look favorably upon property in a Survey Area knowing that redevelopment projects offer many incentives to developers. Councilmembers Sanfilipo and Claire debated this issue based on their experiences in the private sector and Sequoia Station. In response to Council questions, Housing and Redevelopment Director Church advised that the Council had total discretion where to draw the boundaries for any Survey Area; if the Council designated a Survey Area, the Planning Commission would then study the Area, and make recommendations to the Council; and it would at that time be up to the Council to designate the whole area, or any part of it, or none of it, as a Redevelopment Project Area. Director Church reminded Councilmembers that they could stop the process at any time. Also, Director Church discussed the role the City and the Redevelopment Agency could play in economic development in the City. Councilwoman La Berge, candidate for re-election, spoke in favor of the flexibility a Survey Area gave to the Council that could eventually provide incentives to developers to create job producing and revenue raising projects in unproductive or blighted areas. Councilwoman Steinfeld stated the proposed area included significant non blighted properties; the proposed action was not consistent with original Redevelopment Agency Law intentions; and, spoke in opposition to a Survey Area that caused businesses to become nervous about their futures. Councilwoman Gasparini expressed concerns for the businesses in the proposed site and described some abandoned business sites; but stated the Redevelopment Project Areas had been in existence since 1982, and there had been lots of commercial and business activity in Redevelopment areas with few complaints. Councilman Greenalch reminded everyone that the impetus for this Survey Area was to designate an area for an auto mall or auto cluster, and the message in support of the established Survey Area would be that the City was still aggressively pursuing that concept. Councilman Greenalch added that this was not the time to discuss details of proposed projects, but to agree on the concepts of Redevelopment activity in support of economic development in Redwood City, and if the Council did not support that effort, the Council should get out of the Redevelopment business or put it on hold. Councilman Greenalch recommended the Council schedule a discussion of redevelopment in Redwood City after the November 8, 1994 election. In answer to Council questions, Director Church advised that the Ampex site was not considered the highest priority site for an auto mall. MINUTE BOOK NO. 52 Page No. 374 Regular Meeting Minutes August 29, 1994 Page 8