AgdaPkt 2012-05-07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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8.A. - Page 4 project description is submitted. If an advisory vote suggested the City should continue studying the project and the Council concurred, staff would conduct and lead an environmental review process. Once that was completed, it is likely that the project would also be the subject of a measure, either placed on the ballot by the Council, by project opponents, or by the applicant. But the advantage of the advisory measure at the outset is to give everyone — the Council, the applicant, and the community — a sense of the community interest in the project before commencing the process. E. Social Media Process The City Council could also utilize social media to engage the community on this project. The growing utilization of social media could provide the City Council a new tool to educate and inform the public on future project submissions as well as gauge public opinion. SUMMARY The ad-hoc committee is not recommending any of these options (A-E) at this time, but rather only highlighting options that the Council could consider. In time, other options may be identified and pursued. The ad-hoc committee suggests that upon receipt of a new application and project description, the Council re-examine these options. Any of these could be determined by a future subcommittee and City Council depending upon the complexity and controversy of any future revised proposal. The ad-hoc committee also encourages that if the applicant does in fact submit a new application and project description that it be more complete and detailed in terms of the size, scope, potential benefits and environmental concerns associated with the project. More complete information is needed to help the Council, staff and community understand what is truly being proposed. The ad-hoc committee recommends that the City Council deny DMB's current application as opposed to requiring the community and the Council to address a stale application. The applicant has had ample opportunity to work with the Redwood City community and get information through scoping sessions that should inform a new submittal. The applicant should ensure that any new application address the community's needs and concerns more fully and not leave the Council and staff in the position of identifying and responding to an application that the applicant does not wish to move forward. FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact to the City to deny the project, as the denial would be part of ordinary processing and thus associated costs would be subject to reimbursement from DMB. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW Environmental review is not required for the recommended action or any of the alternatives discussed above. Denial of a project is exempt from CEQA. Asking for public opinion or input would not be a project subject to CEQA so long as it does not commit the City to any particular course of action.