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Mayor Foust opened the public hearing and invited the appellants and the applicant to <br /> speak. <br /> The appellants Ms. Clifford and Ms. Ward addressed the Council with concerns around <br /> health, safety issues as well as enrollment numbers, which they believe have never been <br /> this high. Ms. Clifford addressed the Council on various topics related to traffic, noise and <br /> compliance or possible lack thereof. She shared concerns with the operations of the <br /> school and the lack of privacy. She opined that the city knew that the school had opened <br /> without a permit. <br /> Mr. Azzarelo the representative for the school also addressed Council providing details on <br /> the purchase of the property in March of 2007. He acknowledged that he was wrong to <br /> proceed without a permit and he offered a public apology. He said that his objective is not <br /> to be a renegade but to get the school operational. <br /> Public Comment <br /> Lisette Balliet expressed her pride in being an American because her family was from <br /> Nicaragua and that there is freedom here to have such schools. She noted that even <br /> though she is not a Baptist herself, she has been touched by people's generosity and <br /> hopes consideration will be given to the children. <br /> Amanda Rutland said she lives behind the school and is a first grade school teacher. She <br /> acknowledged probably having one of the noisiest classes with seven students. She said <br /> it is hard to balance being quiet while being outside. She has asked her neighbor and her <br /> mother to see if they hear noise while school is in session. One said she could not hear <br /> anything and the other said she could only hear children having fun at a distance. <br /> Rick Dalton, with additional time ceded to him by Alice West, said he is a fourteen-year <br /> member of the church and he asked Council to consider the students, and their parents, <br /> who have been attending the school for years and how disruptive it could be if they had to <br /> close. He said their objective has been to be good neighbors and noted that it has been a <br /> financial hardship for the church to subsidize the school. He said they need a certain <br /> number of students enrolled to remain financially viable, and even though they may not <br /> attain it, he respectfully asked City Council to set the enrollment level at 80. <br /> Mayor Foust commented that there are rules and regulations cities must follow to protect <br /> constituents and residents, and while it may be a financial hardship, it is the cost of doing <br /> business, and it is challenging when the application process has been less than complete. <br /> Janet West thanked City Council for the stop sign that was recently installed off of 280. <br /> She said she has been attending Redwood City Baptist Church for about twenty years and <br /> asked for support in providing alternatives to public schools, such as this one. <br /> K.C. Kinch said she has been a member of the church since 1975 and said the school is <br /> an important part of the church. She opined that it has never been their policy to go <br /> around the laws of the City or the County. She said generations of children have used the <br /> property on a regular basis when church has not been in session and she said that the <br /> JOINT CITY COUNCILREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD JULY 13, 2009 <br /> MEETING MINUTES PAGE 10 <br />