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Lou Covey, with Sustainable Redwood City, agrees with Friends of Redwood City, Save the Bay, the Sierra Club, and the Audubon Society and he spoke about the need for wetland restoration. He said this is the first and only plan he has seen in twenty-five years that would make it a possibility, in the lifetimes of many of the people in the room, and he supports the study of the proposal. Colton Daines asked Council to take the opportunity to look at the plan. Cynthia Denney, representing the Sierra Club, said wetlands are magic and these words are by the director of BCDC. She said there is currently an orange alert on the environment. She listed the organizations that have received money from Cargill. She talked about restoration not destruction and how building in the area would be in her opinion destruction of a vital saltmarsh. She asked Council to not accept the permit or application. Arnoldo Arreola, representing Sustainable Redwood City, said he has been a resident of Redwood City since 1965 and is proud to live in this city. He said that these are difficult times for Redwood City and that it is time to explore all beneficial economic opportunities. He said more housing, parks, and fields are needed. He noted that he neither asks Council to approve or disprove the plan, but to simply approve the study of the 50-50 balanced plan so people can understand its benefits and impacts. Chris Mohr, Executive Director of the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County, clarified that their mission is to accelerate housing at all affordability levels in San Mateo County. They do not have a position on the project, but they would like more information and initiating the process towards an EIR and discern what might be best for the city. Cheryl Monroe reminded the people of Redwood City that measure W was voted down, so now that this was resolved, she said let's let Council and staff do what needs to be done to review the proposal, find the good points, work out the flaws, make a decision, and then if people do not like it, there is a process to take it to a vote. Sarah Castillo, a recent Woodside High School graduate, said she supports the SO/50 balanced plan because housing opportunities in Redwood City and on the Peninsula are rare. She opined this can benefit the future and that studying this would be important. Foster Kinney, co-chair of the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association, said that his organization is scheduling meetings so that members can become informed and he asked that the study be initiated. Pat Walker was not present when called to speak but she made comments on her speaker card. Rigo La Guardia, representing the San Mateo Building Trade Council, said they support moving forward with a formal review of the application and to allow the City to proceed with the hiring of consultants to prepare detailed analyses, studies, and conduct outreach for a full evaluation process so that the community can express its views. Bonnie Miller asked the Council to begin the process with DMB Saltworks because the plan will address the flooding in the area that the city cannot afford to do itself. She said REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES AUGUST 10, 2009 PAGE 10