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Jim Bigelow, with the Redwood City San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce, supports the concept of the 50-50 balanced plan. He said that it is important for Council to go into the process with independent consultants to objectively look at all the various subjects, and then the community can provide comment. Steve Divney, resident of San Carlos and a member of the Redwood City San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce and a Redwood City business owner said he agrees with Jim Bigelow's comments. ' Connie Sadler said she cares about the environment, lives in a RV, and owns a home in Nevada. She supports this project and hopes it moves forward. She expressed concerns with the lack of affordable housing, space for walking paths, recreation needs, fears about flooding, and the need for a levy. Brat Garret, a resident since 1994 and a Redwood City business owner, opposes the development and questions Cargill's intentions in general and in regards to the Williamson Act. He asked the Council to find a way to support the 4H Club without supporting Cargill, such as planting farms on vacant lots. He asked the Council to request the complete unedited comments and transcripts from a recent telephone survey done by DMB on residents about the proposed plan. Jean Isaacs said she has been a resident since 1979, is proud of Redwood City and loves this community. She finds this issue divisive. She wants Council to consider the effects and repercussions on the broader region and sensitive wetland areas and expressed her surprise that the city would contemplate this project. Greg Gomes said he was born and raised in Redwood City and he has worked in construction for 30 years with the sheet metal workers. He supports the City Council in its decision to hopefully initiate the process and he also expressed his support for Council either way. Mark Bartholomew, a planner and a resident for 21 years, said that although he has always supported the purchase of land for wetland in the past, he finds this the most audacious plan he has ever seen in his career. He said that he has asked questions and nobody knew the answers. He believes the proposal will endanger people and create adverse impacts and controversy and that people's health, safety, and welfare should not be sacrificed for in lieu housing. David Amann said he is a long time resident and that he runs a business downtown. He believes that Redwood City has a reputation for being open and inclusive. He said there is a need for independent information gathering by impartial professionals so that there can be collaborative discussion and understanding of all the economic and environmental impacts. He asked Council to approve the study of the proposed DMB 50-50 plan. Mark Leach, representing the IBEW International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Labor Union #617, said he is a construction worker, and his goal is to build good things, and that they will never know if they are building good things unless they are studied. He asked Council to move forward with the study. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 10, 2009 PAGE 8