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<br />7A <br />Page 1 <br /> <br />REPORT <br /> <br />To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />F.... r. om. ...... t.. h.. e Cit Mana er <br />. ., ~,' :~!::!!.~, : ~ ,", ~ ;" '. . , <br /> <br />June 30, 2008 <br /> <br />SUBJECT <br />Responses to City Council Questions (May 19, 2008) Regarding the Proposed Initiative <br />Measure Amending the Charter of the City of Redwood City - San Francisco Bay Front <br />and City Park Land <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />At its May 19, 2008 meeting, City Council discussed for the second time a proposed <br />Charter Amendment initiative that would require two-thirds voter approval for a change <br />in the uses of certain designated lands within the City. City Council took public <br />comment, discussed the proposal, and asked City staff numerous questions about the <br />possible effects of the proposed initiative. The purpose of this report, as prepared by <br />staff and Special Legal Counsel Tom Willis, Esq., is to respond to those questions. <br /> <br />The proposed initiative was conceived, written and submitted by certain members of the <br />public without prior review by City staff. Staff therefore makes no representations about <br />the validity of the initiative and the responses that follow are based solely on the <br />initiative's text. <br /> <br />SUMMARY OF INITIATIVE <br /> <br />The proposed initiative would amend the City Charter to require two-thirds voter <br />approval for a change in the uses of certain designated lands within the City. <br /> <br />The key in analyzing the possible effects of the initiative is to keep in mind that the two- <br />thirds voter approval requirement would only apply to certain land designations listed in <br />the initiative. If a parcel of land does not have one of those designations, any change in <br />the use of that land does not need voter approval, and the City Council, Planning <br />Commission and Planning Division can approve changes through existing procedures <br />such as amending the General Plan or Zoning Map or approving a use permit. <br /> <br />The land designations covered by the initiative are: <br /> <br />General Plan Desiqnations <br /> <br />1. Park; <br />2. Unimproved Areas (Land or Water) Devoted to Preservation of <br />Natural Resources, the Managed Production of Resources, <br />Outdoor Recreation, or Public Health and Safety; <br />3. Future Development Expanding Limits of Urbanization; <br />4. Controlled Waterway (Redwood Shores Area); or <br />5. San Francisco Bay Water. <br /> <br />1 <br />