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Laura Thompson, representing San Francisco Bay Trail, a regional project administered by the Association of Bay Ar�a Governments (ABAG), explained the project as a vision of a 500 mile continuous path encircling San Francisco Bay linking the shorelines of 47 cities and 9 counties. The goals are to provide shoreline access to multiple users around the bay and connect to parks, wildlife refuges, recreation facilities and other destination points along the shorelines. The bayshore plan was adopted for the regional system in 1989 and as part of that plan, the alignment crosses inner Bair Island with connections at both ends. The bayshore project supports continuous public access for bicyclists and pedestrians planned in a way that avoids impacts to sensitive areas. The restoration of Bair Island is strongly supported to provide opportunities for new and continued wildlife education programs along the trail system. She thanked the Council for the support of public access and stated the organization looks forward to participating in the upcoming hearings on the Bair Island restoration and management plan and implementation of the plan. Wim deWitt, 44 year Redwood City resident, expressed� his pleasure with the plan stating that although some improvements might be in order, his hope is that the two plans will dovetail together. One topic missing is on the east bay of the Dumbarton Bridge and Alviso there are nature centers and rather than having an open area for schools to come, he expressed that urging the NFWS to obtain funding for a nature center. Ralph Nobles, involved in Bair Island for the last 22 years, stated his pleasure in the possible cooperation between the City and the NFWS that will serve to hasten the restoration of Bair Island. He stated he supports the City's plan in concept but that it is conditional on the support by the science of the NFWS. He stated that this was the first urban wildlife refuge in the United States. He further acknowledged the City's recognition that Bair Island is an asset for the wildlife and the people in the area. He stated that he likes the idea of easy access but that he does have a concern regarding the 3 to 1 slope necessary for the mounds. He also stated that he agrees that dogs should be allowed provided they are carefully controlled by leash. Robin Smith, Chairperson of Sequoia Audubon Society, thanked Council for getting so involved in Bair Island. She shared some various statistics found when Sequoia did work out in Bair Island early on over the course of 16 months and 5,089 observations (copy on file): People activities: 5% boated, 7% bicycled, 27% jogged, 61 % hiked or walked. With those people, 35% had one or more dogs along, 58% were without dogs and over time, pet owners learned that pets should not go into the water areas. She stated that the areas proposed for the finro bridges are areas that at low tide have the largest bird activity underneath them and the biggest mudflat exposed area. This interjects a disturbance in an area where there is not one now. CITY COUNCIL AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SEPTEMBER 13, 2004 JOINT MEETING MINUTES PAGE 9 _ _ __ ...