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August 19, 2002 <br /> <br />The Honorable Quentin Kopp <br />Judge of the Superior Court <br />Hall of Justice <br />400 County Center, 2nd Floor <br />Redwood City, CA 94063-1655 <br /> <br />Subject: Response to San Mateo County Grand Jury May 2002 Review of <br /> Operations of the Port of Redwood City and its Relationship with the City <br /> of Redwood City <br /> <br />Dear Judge Kopp: <br /> <br />Redwood City has received the May, 2002 report of the San Mateo County Grand Jury <br />('Report'), including its review of the relationship between the City and the Port of Redwood <br />City. Below is the City's response to the Grand Jury's recommendations. <br /> <br />Grand Jury Recommendation #1: The City Council should begin active oversight and review of <br />the Port of Redwood City. <br /> <br />City Response to Recommendation #1: The Redwood City Charter Amendment giving the Port <br />its authority, as passed in 1936 by the voters and ratified in 1937 by the State Legislature, vests <br />"...exclusive control and management of the Port Department" in the Board of Port <br />Commissioners. The primary role of the City Council in this respect is, therefore, making <br />appointments to and removals from the Board of Port Commissioners. Without a specific vote <br />by the citizens of Redwood City to change the City Charter, the Council's oversight and <br />authority are limited to that which is provided for in the Charter. At this time, even though I <br />disagree, I find no support among the majority of my fellow Council members to go to the voters <br />and ask for a change in the City Charter that would allow the City Council to exert more <br />oversight of the Pod's business operations. <br /> <br />Grand Jury Recommendation ,#2: The City Council should expand the City's General Plan to <br />include a comprehensive review of the Port's role and alternative uses of Port land that would <br />best serve the City and its residents. <br /> <br />City Response to Recommendation #2: The City Charter gives the Port land use authority over <br />Port lands. While we can address Port uses in our General Plan, the implementation of General <br />Plan elements related to the Port is precluded because of the Charter provision. In addition, the <br />Bay Conservation & Development Commission (BCDC) has clearly indicated that it would only <br />approve "port priority" uses for the Port lands. <br /> <br /> <br />