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4/25/2005 Downtown Redwood City has a need for, yet currently lacks, a central open space area for large community events. Significant public benefits can be achieved with this Project, including the creation of a central public gathering place ideally positioned between the restored Courthouse and the "New Sequoia -Fox Theater' (the "Theater"), also a historic landmark listed on the National Register. This condition is considered highly desirable because this specific design represents a rare opportunity to restore a historically accurate relationship between both the original Courthouse and the Theater during their most historically desirable "Period of Significance" (1910- 1938), which was identified in the EIR. iii) Catalyst for the Economic Development of the Downtown: The development of the anticipated Project will result in "Courthouse Plaza ", a high quality urban gathering space located between two culturally significant buildings, the Theater /"Little Fox' and the Courthouse which contains the County Historical Museum. The development of Courthouse Plaza will leverage and complement the significant investments being made by Redwood City to rebuild and provide a focus to the downtown area. Over time this and other projects, such as a new parking garage and enhanced streetscapes, can act as a catalyst for private investment. The design of the Courthouse Plaza is already generating interest from both residential and commercial investors as well as property owners interested in capitalizing on the benefits that will accrue from this planned urban amenity. 4. Mitigation, monitoring and reporting efforts for the Project are included in the attached Exhibit A. These efforts identify impacts of the Project, corresponding mitigation, designation of responsibility for mitigation implementation and the agency responsible for the monitoring action. 5. This Council hereby finds and recognizes that the FEIR contains additions, clarifications, modifications and other information in its responses to comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Project ( "DEIR "). This Council hereby finds and determines that such changes and additional information are not significant new information as that term is defined under the provisions of CEQA, because such changes and additional information do not indicate that any new significant environmental impacts not already evaluated would result from the Project and do not reflect any substantial increase in the severity of any environmental impact; and that no feasible alternatives considerably different from those analyzed in the DEIR have been proposed that would lessen significant environmental impacts of the Project. Accordingly, this Council hereby finds and determines that recirculation of the FEIR for further public review and comment is not warranted; and 6. This Council does hereby designate the Planning Manager of the City, at his office at 1017 Middlefield Road, P.O. Box 391, Redwood City, California 94064 -0391 as the custodian of documents and record of proceedings on which the decision is based; and Atty /Reso /Reso.1530 14639 042005 4 Muff # 301