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Ralph Nobles, a Redwood City resident and a member of Friends of Redwood City, said he has reviewed the proposal and he does not think the 50/50 is a balanced plan. He further stated that even if he had found it so, there is no entitlement that 50 percent can be developed. He referred to 1982 and how Council approved the Bair Island proposal and the people overturned it. He said that the people of this city place a high value on the wetlands and bayfront and that he is confident that if the Council approves it, the people will reject the plan. Hugh Loveless, serving on the board of Juventus Sport Club, said he and the membership support the process moving forward and that those who coach and are actively involved in recreation currently have very limited space. 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 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 10, 2009 MINUTES PAGE 8 MINUTE BOOK NO. 62 Page No. 449