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<br />Exhibit A-I <br /> <br />The People of the City of Redwood City hereby ordain and enact as follows: <br /> <br />Section 1: Title <br /> <br />This Charter Amendment shall be known as "The Voter Approval Requirement <br />Regarding Future Development of Cargill Lands" Charter Amendment. <br /> <br />Section 2: <br /> <br />Findings and Purpose <br /> <br />1. The Cargill Lands are the largest undeveloped, privately-owned area remaining in <br />Redwood City. The approximately 1,450-acre site is located east of Highway 101 <br />and south of Seaport Boulevard. <br /> <br />2. The Cargill Lands have historically been used to produce salt. Potentially this <br />land could be developed, used for open space, or variations thereof. How this <br />land is used in the future will affect all Redwood City residents. Any <br />development of such a large area raises issues concerning the general public <br />welfare, including change in traffic patterns and consumption of resources such as <br />water, electricity, wastewater treatment facilities, and the need for open space and <br />parks. Therefore, the voters of Redwood City should have the right to decide <br />whether and how this land is developed. <br /> <br />3. This Charter Amendment provides an alternative to a Charter Amendment <br />measure that was circulated and qualified for the ballot under the title "A City <br />Charter Amendment Requiring a Two-Thirds Vote of City Voters to Change the <br />General Plan Designation or Zoning Ordinance Uses for Certain Lands in the <br />City" (hereinafter the "Two Thirds Vote Amendment"). This provides for voter <br />approval of any development on Cargill Lands, other private lands, and some <br />Redwood City Parks, but has consequences that could adversely affect City <br />residents and homeowners: <br />a. It applies to private homeowners and could restrict development of private <br />lands that are not open spaces. It applies to single-family homes near Red <br />Morton Park and could apply to the hundreds of docks of private <br />homeowners in Redwood Shores. <br />b. It would be anti-democratic, by requiring a two-thirds supermajority vote <br />instead of a majority. A minority could override the will of a majority of <br />the People. <br />c. It could hinder the City's ability to rebuild or expand the Veterans <br />Memorial Senior Center in Red Morton Park, bring public ferry <br />transportation service to City residents, or expand wastewater treatment <br />facilities. <br />d. It could cost the City significant sums, by requiring numerous elections <br />and causing the potential for litigation. <br />This Charter Amendment provides voters with the right to decide the future of the <br />Cargill Lands without these consequences. <br /> <br />1 <br />