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Although the funding will come slowly, the regional ferry system could come into play in disaster recovery planning in both the State and Federal levels and the Port would like to be in a ready position. Greg Greenway, representing the Redwood City /San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce as Chair of the Economic Development Department, stated that he is responsible for work related to the Transportation and Housing Committee. This year the Chamber has made it the top priority within that scope of work to help the City improvements to the Woodside Road and U.S. 101 interchange and the related Highway 84 segments at Woodside Road and Bayfront Expressway. He urged Council support for improvements to transportation infrastructure in general as a high priority, and particularly, from the Chamber point of view, the work on the Woodside Road interchange. It is an economic issue to move commuters and goods, it is a safety issue, a quality of life issue and issue that receives a lot of support from the organized business community in obtaining transportation dollars on the table and projects built. The only way that additional dollars can come into the community to get the long term expensive projects done is to work diligently over time and for the City to take the lead in these projects in obtaining State and Federal money. Greg Greenway, speaking in his role on the Child Care Coordinating Council of San Mateo County, urged consideration of placing child care as a high priority over the next year or so. He stated that families need child care and quality child care is an economic issue to the extent that it is the beginning of education for children, preparing them for school and improves readiness for later education. It is also a transportation issue in that one of the critical services available should be child care. Vice Mayor Foust explained that after February 6 it was clear that Council had a broad look at priorities and staff had not received clear direction in light of a flat budget. The list of themes was developed and all comments, priorities from last year and this year fit under the five themes. Council will be asked to look at the themes and subcategories under them with three areas in mind, current and short term, ongoing, and big picture long term. The dots will be used to drill the process down. City Manager Everett referred to staff report pages14 -17 stating that the items that could be costed have been and is the best estimate at this time. Once priorities are developed, staff would bring budget amendments on each item listed as a priority. It is expected that in June there will be a clearer idea of cost and whether to proceed or not. The setting of priorities will occur with the understanding that the real decision occurs in June when the packages come forward for consideration. JOINT CITY COUNCIUREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MARCH 13, 2006 MEETING MINUTES PAGE 8 MINUTE BOOK NO. 61 Page No. 128