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Corrin Trowbridge, a Farmers Insurance agent and member of SAMCAR, and an eleven year Redwood City resident, said there is a need to investigate and make an informed decision. He supports studying the proposal. Joseph Folenta, a resident of Redwood City Mobile Estates, (with time ceded from Judy Kirk) said that this will impact the adjacent residents the most since the proposed development is in their backyard. He asked if Council has ever visited any of the mobile home parks (and by a show of hands each Council Member raised his/her hand). He expressed his concerns with the proposed plan and how most residents in the area do not want 12,000 housing units in their backyard, and how this is a flood zone area. He opined that this site has the highest cumulative damage potential for earthquake damage in San Mateo County, and the highest level of ground liquefaction due to soil geology. He believes there is insufficient water allocation, and insufficient sewer capacity. Council took a break at 9:40 pm and the meeting resumed at 9:50 p.m. 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. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 10, 2009 MINUTES PAGE 10 MINUTE BOOK NO. 62 Page No. 451