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7.A. - Page 3 of 16 Committee recommends a robust community engagement process to plan for active waterfront and public open space in the future. Should the City Council ultimately wish to proceed with a property exchange with the County, City staff would begin preparing agreements for City Council consideration in the near future. City Owned Property Ad Hoc Committee Over the past three and a half months, the City Council's City Owned Property Ad Hoc Committee (Committee) has been very active. The Committee has met several times with County representatives regarding potential property exchange options. Committee discussions addressed opportunities to support access to recreational, open space and waterfront uses in the Inner Harbor area, as well as ways to partner with the County on homeless services. The Committee took a holistic approach to balance competing policy priorities in the Inner Harbor area. The Committee recalled the work of the 2013-2016 Inner Harbor Task Force, which drafted a broad, ambitious plan for housing, office space and public park and open space in the extended Inner Harbor Area. The proposed plan was not adopted by the City Council, and since then, numerous circumstances have changed. Homelessness in San Mateo County and specifically in Redwood City, has become an even bigger challenge that can only be addressed through creative use of both public and private land. The County has committed to what it calls "functional zero," which means that all homeless residents seeking shelter will be offered shelter. Redwood City is conceptually aligned with this approach. The City is currently in discussions with the County on shared services on homelessness initiatives. The Committee has developed an approach that preserves a large area (9+ acres) for future public passive/active recreational and open space. This approach also supports access to the Bay, and a public boat launch that would be constructed in the next three years that would enable all residents to access it via the planned Blomquist extension, as well as through bike and pedestrian trails that would connect to existing and planned trails. This approach also anticipates a potential future private aquatic center that could be accommodated within the public space. Future planning for the public open space area would involve robust community engagement, and the City has engaged a consulting firm to begin to guide this work. During initial discussions, County representatives conveyed that they were interested in a permanent solution. As such, they said they would not be interested in a land lease for the City's 1402 Maple Street parcel because the County has fee simple ownership of the 1580 Maple Street parcel, where the County currently operates the Maple Street Homeless Shelter. Additionally, County officials conveyed their vision for a navigation center, transitional housing and permanent supportive affordable housing for residents with mental illness. The County currently plans to move forward with a temporary navigation center at the 1580 Maple parcel using pre -fabricated relocatable modular buildings, regardless of whether a land swap is approved. The City's Committee conveyed its interest in preserving more of the City's 1402 Maple Street parcel for recreational, open space and waterfront uses, building the Blomquist extension to create increased access to the waterfront and the Bair Island neighborhood, partnering with the County on homeless services. Page 3 of 13 City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org 143