AgdaPkt 2004-02-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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species, help improve access and develop the stewardship of our residents and the greater Bay Area. Council comments and questions were sf9ted regarding where the percentages of time will be spent "in making connections and grant writing as well as past experience that will_gu_arantee success. Mr. Fawcett stated that in looking at the question of the levees, it becomes obvious that there is a larger opportunity for this community and that is to actively participate in conservation and restoration, making real strides to solve this problem completely. He explained his ten years experience on Capitol Hill seeking and obtaining funds for members of Congress, and ten years experience since then working in private industry getting funds for municipalities. He further explained various mechanisms for funding that are available and that he has experience in. He stated that his charge is to find a way to make this an attractive project for policy makers in Washington D.C. to know that they have a program that is politically palatable and has a reasonable opportunity for success. He stated that the majority of his time would be in defining the four squares of the project, determining the cost of the project, obtaining agreements from the various agencies of the Federal Government in order to go forward to the local delegation and administration to come to some agreement on the initial funding and out year funding for this project. Public Comment: Ralph Nobles stated that the Bair Island acquisition had nothing whatsoever to do with the Cargill Salt purchase. He stated that he does not support keeping the levees closed but he also opposes using political pressure to force their opening. He stated his understanding that the barriers in place are not maintained and are easily allowing access citing two examples. He expressed appreciation for the efforts to obtain funding for the restoration of Bair Island. Nita Spangler stated that she has been interested in the bay front area since July of 1944 when it was a beautiful untouched waterfront. She gave a history of development since then that has led to deterioration. She stated that there has been a tremendous amount of work done by volunteers and that she would like a conference involving the volunteers prior to hiring anyone. She stated that the Council might better support the fact that the area cannot support foot pounding on the soft soil. Robin Smith, Sequoia Audubon Society, reminded Council that the birds out by the levees are still endangered, and according to the latest report from U.S. Fish and Wildlife report on mercury, they are even more endangered due to eggshell thinning. She agreed that the City has not been properly monitoring the levee access. She stated that anything the City could do to help the project along would be much appreciated. JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY JANUARY 26, 2004 MEETING MINUTES PAGE 5