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Improvements. This does not mean that I consider them a waste. ...In a democracy disagreement is to be encouraged but when the vote is taken the majority prevail. The votes on the Parking Structure and the Police Facility were unanimous...(and) all of the votes on the issuance of the 1986 and 1991 bonds were also unanimous. I would ask that you seriously question any individual who thinks that his opinion is the only reasonable or legitimate one." In response to the assertion that "the decisions to issue bonds and to build a new police facility have somehow compromised the safety of the citizens of Redwood City" Councilman Greenalch stated the Council "has a task force that has been working on the best way to respond to the Chiefs report (which Councilman Greenalch had requested) and I am confident that the matter will be addressed after the new chief is hired and the new council has been seated". Councilman Greenalch stated "Not one penny of the bond money that went into the building of the police facility could have been diverted into the general fund...Not one penny of the money which is being used to pay the interest and principal on the 1991 Series A bonds can be used to hire more police officers, if a pledge to the people is to be honored. ...1, for one, would like to see more police officers but that is not because I fear for my safety or that of the other citizens of Redwood City. I would like to see more police officers because I would like to see our police department staffed at a level that every call for non emergency or non life threatening service could be met with the same level of response we now give to true emergency and life threatening situations." Councilmembers thanked Councilman Greenalch for his report and Mayor Buchan asked if anyone in the audience wished to speak. Michael Dean Hitchcock, candidate for Council, addressed the issue of redevelopment in Redwood City and stated that commercial development does not increase revenues, housing does. Mr. Hitchcock stated that the addition of new stores does not necessarily increase City sales tax revenues as they may merely draw customers away from other stores in the City; but increased housing adds new customers. Mr. Hitchcock stated that sales taxes are taxes on consumers not on stores. Vice Mayor Claire and Michael Dean Hitchcock debated the relative benefits of redevelopment activity, incremental funding, and Proposition 13 impacts. Councilwoman Gasparini described the many housing projects in the redevelopment area and the partnership with Sequoia High School. Councilwoman La Berge, candidate for Council, advised that commercial development was very important to Redwood City, and the latest figures, from the 3rd quarter of 1993, showed Redwood City had the highest sales tax revenues in San Mateo County. MINUTE BOOK NO. 52 Regular Meeting Minutes Page No. 387 September 12, 1994 Page 9 .'. .-- - ... . "--<'h_..,'h< .<.--.------...<.------..,.---------.----