CC Min 1998-04-06 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

would hope although this resolution passes, that all those involved would be willing to work together towards that public access. I think that those who wish to develop their property have some understanding of the process that remains for complete approval of projects, and have some understanding of what potential requirements the City of Redwood City might be interested in imposing as a condition for the full implementation of some of the projects to the extent there is still some discretion on the part of the City. And I do believe there is some discretion on part of the City that can, outside of the confines of this proceeding, be brought to bear. So I support the resolution, but I support it with the reservation that I fully expect the private parties without benefit of a false deadline, but with the expectation of having substantive negotiations will attempt to come to some resolution on the public access and the broader public good, and because I think it will be in the private parties interest in the long run, should they wish to have the full implementation of what they have in mind." Vice Mayor Ruskin said, "I agree with Councilman Hartnett that there is an overriding interest of the public in this area. And that overriding interest is the provision to the public of adequate access to Bair Island. I think we have multiple goals to serve. We would like to see development occur provided that we can find some reasonable answers for the transportation problem. We'd like to see development occur, but we also want to complete well what has been begun. And what has been begun is the creation of a wildlife preserve. It is very important that we complete it in the manner that will do credit to the preserve and credit to us. In the last several months, I have been the Chair of the Bair Island Task Force and it has become clear to me that there are two essential matters that that Task Force is dealing with. One is the possibility of a connector road. But even if that were not to occur, what is really another essential job of that Task Force is to work out ways to provide adequate access, substantial and meaningful access to Bair Island. This is something I believe that a large number of people in Redwood City want to see. And it is in the public interest that this happen. I have also come to the conclusion though there is a difference of opinion on this, and I respect that difference of opinion, that the best place for the access to Bair Island is here, and not at Whipple. And because of that I think it is really important as Council Member Hartnett said, to do whatever we can to ensure that access is done in a way that honors the true value of the preserve. And it is for that reason as well as the fact that recently, the Capital Improvement Project hearing that the Council had, Council's interest in having adequate access to Bair Island I believe was so strong, that... there was a consensus that we might want to put some money from our budget toward that access. So this subject is very important, and it is for that reason.... I would want to do what I could to see that it gets done well, and for that reason I will vote to honor the request of POST for a 30-day extension." Council Member Claire said, "this is like going back several years and seeing two old adversaries out in the audience. It makes my decision very difficult because of the fact that I find good in both adversaries. The issue that I initially focused on when POST visited me was the fact that the 30-day delay would not really cause the City or anyone else any difficulties. I told the POST representative that I would probably support him and his organization's position on this providing staff did not provide me with anything that REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 APRIL 6,1998 MINUTES Page No. 382 PAGE 22