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Public Comment: Lynne Trulio stated her experience and expressed support in the Council's interest in supporting the Bair Island restoration and the desire to form a cooperative, productive collaboration with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. She stated that a number of the items outlined in the plan appear to be positive for both the City and the Service. She further stated that in the goals section the City might mention coordinating with FWS on dredging to meet the City and Port economic needs wherever mutually agreeable, the trial dog walking policy may work but should be monitored, the features mentioned are not guaranteed to be compatible and so working directly with the FWS would ensure a mutually compatible plan that could then be adopted. Felicia Borrego, Political Director of Save the Bay, the oldest and largest organization that works exclusively to celebrate, protect and restore San Francisco Bay stated that she represents 10,000 members who support the Refuge Plan to restore Bair Island. She stated that the organization has not yet had the opportunity to comment before tonight. The organization is pleased to see that the City plan advocates citizen involvement and education as an active component. Save the Bay is currently working with the Refuge to involve the public in the Bair Island restoration. In addition to education programs, Save the Bay works to ensure public access to the bay shoreline. To provide a safer route and greater accessibility for the students and community volunteers, Save the Bay encourages the Refuge to consider constructing a bridge from the Refuge parking lot to Inner Bair Island as suggested in the City plan. At this time, based on their experience, they think that the bridge from the San Carlos Airport is probably unnecessary. Laura Thompson, representing San Francisco Bay Trail, a regional project administered by the Association of Bay Area 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. CITY COUNCIL AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SEPTEMBER 13, 2004 JOINT MEETING MINUTES PAGE 9 MINUTES Book No. 60 Page No. 313