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housing. She expressed her thanks to staff, the Planning Commission and the City Council for the Plan. Robert Carter, as a resident and a representative of the San Mateo Credit Union, commended Council for its vision and leadership. He provided information on the nonprofit San Mateo Credit Union and how they are in favor of quality development and adoption of the Plan. He thanked Council and staff for their efforts. Alyn Beals, resident and President of Beals Martin a development contracting company, spoke about the need to attract more businesses and economic development (including more housing, restaurants, and entertainment), increasing density, and preserving historic character. He urged passage of the Plan with alternatives four and five. Gus Anagnostou, a property owner, spoke in support of the previous speaker's comments, and to move forward with the Plan now and not wait for it to be perfect. He spoke on the need for higher density residential property for downtown to survive and commended staff, the Planning Commission and Council for their work. M/S Foust/Seybert to close the Public Hearing. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Council recess from 9:11 p.m. to 9:26 p.m. Ms. Ekas provided information in response to some of the public comments, which included clarification about a typo on a public notice, parks in downtown, and identification of open space areas. Council discussion: Council discussion and questions included the following: review of the alternatives; congregations; civic uses and historic preservation; shelf life of this document; sustainable growth, the economy and development; the general plan and amendment process; land use and vehicular and pedestrian traffic; CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) environmental considerations; urbanism versus high density; shadow studies and models; pedestrians and focus on sidewalks; and the cost to the City. The Mayor and various Council Members expressed their appreciation and thanks to staff, the Planning Commission, Historic Resources Advisory Committee, the consultant team, and the community on their work and participation. Mayor Ira also noted that we are lucky to have had our historic heritage preserved and that this document provides certainty for developers to know what they are dealing with. He also expressed sorrow for businesses that went under during these tough economic times, and the hope that this document will provide vision for change and development. M/S Aguirre /Gee to approve the Final Environmental Impact Report (item 8.C.1) by resolution. Motion carried 7 -0 by electronic vote. M/S Foust/Pierce to approve the Downtown Precise Plan (item 8.C.2) including alternatives four and five as revised, by resolution. Motion carried 7 -0 by electronic vote. Item 8.C.2 was subsequently revisited to include corrections, as stated by Planning Manager Ekas, that Article 48 should be replaced by Article 49 as per the errata sheet submitted for the record this evening. M/S Foust/Pierce to include the changes noted by Planning Manager Ekas for the Downtown Precise Plan and to JOINT CITY COUNCIUREDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD January 24, 2011 MEETING MINUTES PAGE 10 MINUTE BOOK NO. 63 Page No. 265