AgdaPkt 2004-09-13 - Laserfiche WebLink

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�• � { II � . THE NWRS BEST ALTERNATIVE FOR BAIR ISLAND When evaluating the plan put forward by the NWRS, we should employ a caveat to our future comments. It is always bold business to put forth a plan for consideration by others. Any individual's understanding of the various preferences of the agencies of the federal government and the comments of the general public is by definition a distillation of sometimes conflicting goals and needs. In evaluating the plan put forth by the NWRS we want to take particular pains to ensure that our comments are not interpreted as a criticism of the good work that has been done by the NWRS in presenting a plan for the rehabilitation of the Bair Island Complex. Redwood City's comments on the altemative presumptively selected by the NWRS are directed and based entirely on the rehabilitation plan for Inner Bair Island. Middle and Outer Ba.ir rehabilitation is not addressed by these comments. Other than protecting the public by implementation of City goals, interests and standards, Redwood City can generate no comment on those plans until further review of the draft EIS published in the Federal Register. Facts here are interpreted through a lens of community goals and principles. The preservauon of the endangered species within the boundaries of Redwood City and the rehabilitation of their habitat is the most important goal of this plan. It is also ethically our most important principle. The current Redwood City Mayor and Council, and the management of the City, have shown extraordinary concern with protecting endangered species on Bair and Bird Islands while at the same time striking a reasonable balance between those needs and the continuing interests of their citizens. The observations and preferences embodied in the instant report have also had the benefit of input from various City agencies and community advocates. The City also must balance its comments between over-restriction of public use and the great sensitivity to long-held regional governance concerns, such as Bay Trails. We should begin to interpret the plan put forward by the NWRS in Alternative A where all activity begins for the refuge: in the Bair Island parking lot as identified in Alternative A. The Bair Island parking lot was built by the NWRS for access to Bair Island. The intent was to divert citizen parking from the Whipple Street access. The NWRS lot, ma.intained by Redwood City, has approximately 20 parking spaces. The City believes that the number of parking spaces reserved by the NWRS for the Bair Island refuge should be increased, especially for weekend use. A San Francisco Bay Trail I-Y/ildlife and PublicAcce.r.r Study shows a predictable increase for trail users on weekend days. It is unportant to emphasize that visitor use of trails in 1G i