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City and in determining whether open spaces should be developed. In particular, 1. Redwood City residents have acted consistently in the past decades to protect Open Space Lands from development. 2. In 1982, a major development threatened Bair Island, until Redwood City residents voted to protect Bail' Island as open space and preserve it forever. Bair Island is now being restored to tidal action as part of a federal wildlife preserve, including significant public access and recreation opportunities such as the Bay Trail. 3. In 2004, Redwood City voters rejected another major development that threatened Redwood City's bayfront. Under the California Constitution, the voters of Redwood City are endowed with the power to amend the Redwood City Charter. The residents of Redwood City are also particularly well qualified to evaluate whether to approve development of Open Space Lands, given the critical importance of such lands to the City's quality oflife, economy and character. This Charter Amendment would enhance the ability of Redwood City's residents to protect open space by requiring voter approval, by a two-thirds vote, before any Open Space Lands could be used for non-open space uses. The voters who have signed this proposed Charter Amendment believe that all City voters should have an opportunity to vote on it at the earliest possible election date, so that the City Council will be able to take into account the will of the voters regarding Open Space Lands prior to considering whether to allow use of those lands for non-open space purposes. F. Exhibits: Copies of the following two maps received from the City are attached to this Charter Amendment for reference purposes: (1) City of Redwood City General Plan Land Use Map, attached hereto as Exhibit 1; and (2) City of Redwood City Zoning Map, attached hereto as Exhibit 2. These exhibits are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not readopted or amended by this Charter Amendment. G. Compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act: Consistent with Friends of Sierra Madre v. City of Sierra Madre, 25 Cal. 4th 165 (2001), and to the fullest extent allowed by law, this Charter Amendment would require the City Council to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code section 21000, et seq., prior to placing any City measure on the ballot for approval by the voters pursuant to Section 2 of this Charter Amendment. Page 3