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Rita Fassett (ceded any extra time she had to Mark Fassett), one of the residents who lives on the residential land that is right now designated as park land, stated she signed the petition to get the Initiative on the ballot but is now sorry that she did so. She hoped for a resolution with regard to the proposed initiative. Jerry Pierce spoke to the goals of the Citizens to Protect Redwood City, and their continued informed involvement in issues related to the City. He invited others to join them in this commitment. He opined the initiative is bad for Redwood City in its language and approach. He spoke of what he believes to be the initiative's unintended consequences and what he believes to be the removal of the voting power from the citizens and putting a minority in charge of the City's future. He spoke to the financial ramifications as well, if the amendment passed. He encouraged Council and staff to continue working on the countermeasure and place it on the ballot. Mark Fassett thanked Council and all groups involved for their responses to this issue. He spoke to the mis-designated residental lands that are listed as park lands in the General Plan, and the needed revision of this. He stated the initiative was developed without the proper research on all impacted areas, and that in this way he finds the initiative is unacceptable. He listed other neighbors in attendance in that they are united and want to see something passed that will remove these residential lands from park land considerations and policy. Mr. Fassett asked the City Council and environmental groups to get together and find a working alternative. Claire Felong stated she is a reluctant supporter of the Charter Amendment Initiative and was interested in the counter proposal, but at this point does not like the countermeasure either. She urged that there be more discussion of the environmental impacts of what is being proposed and the counter proposed. Daniel Paley (with time ceded by Susan Swope) stated he had a full statement in Council's packet. He gave an overview of this Initiative as the two-thirds voting initiative and how in his opinion it was a rush to judgment. He stated taking more time (beyond the November ballot) and the need for further study of the issues including the environmental and financial impacts. Marsha Cohen stated she was one of the petition signature gatherers for the Open Space vote going on the November ballot. She opined that everyone who signed was thoughtful and knew what they were signing. She commented that the Initiative qualified and should be placed on the November ballot. James Jonas (with time conceded by Lynn Chou Jonas) spoke on Dock Town as being one of the areas that would suffer collateral damage if the initiative passed. He spoke about a recent derelict boat going down and the seepage of diesel in the water ways, and other concerns over aging docks and properties in this area. He stated the minutia of details of this area will be brought to the forefront, past and present, when it comes via this issue. He JOINT SPECIAL CITY COUNCILIREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD JULY 21, 2008 MEETING MINUTES PAGE 8 MINUTE BOOK NO. 62 Page No. 163