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Don Warren, representing the Redwood City-San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce, said he is currently the Chairman of the Chamber's Transportation Task Force. Mr. Warren said the issue of the Route 84 Extension has been a very important focus of that Task Force. He said many of the over 900 Chamber businesses are large employers who have a significant interest in how their employees travel to and from work. Mr. Warren said the Task Force had considered all of the Alternatives and determined that Alternative Number I was the best of all the alternatives presented, but believed that the existing alignment was not "fixed." He said many members of the Chamber "supported an alignment easterly of the existing residential communities that would provide for a better transition onto Seaport Boulevard and Woodside Road, and provide some further transition of the roadway network, although much smaller in scale, further to the north. But also provide for flooding requirements that Redwood City has... very serious requirements that need to be resolved. Our recommendation to you tonight which is contained in a letter which I believe you received... that the Council select Alternative I as the preferred alternative of the ones put forward with the caveat that the actual alignment of Alternative I be selected in consultation with the Transportation Authority and CaiTrans and neighborhood groups within Redwood City. But it be easterly of the existing residential communities. And Number 2, that the Transportation Authority and Redwood City work together to design a configuration for the Woodside Road Interchange that meets the needs of Redwood City as well as meets the needs of subregional transportation in the area. And that opportunity does exist now based upon the representations made at the Chamber's meeting last Thursday by the Transportation Authority and those made tonight." Mr. Warren urged the Council to support Alternative I with the above stated caveats. Peter Brandon, representing Pacific Shores Center, said he had looked at the alternatives and how they would affect the quality of life for the people of Redwood City. Mr. Brandon said Alternative I would provide better access to Highway 101 from where 84 stops today, but questioned the cost of the project, how long it would take and its ultimate effectiveness in solving traffic congestion. Mr. Brandon said it was important to look at alternatives including the expansion of the ferry system throughout the Bay Area. He said he wasn't sure it made sense to spend $80 to $90 million "to move people just down the road a little bit." Mr. Brandon said Redwood City had a perfect opportunity to expand the concept of ferry service and admitted that all alternatives would involve some environmental difficulties. Ralph Nobles, 3720 Country Club Drive, said he was puzzled by the proposal that would take Cargill Salt's salt ponds. He explained the process of salt production and said that it takes at least ten acres of salt ponds to support one acre of salt crystallizers. Mr. Nobles said that the salt ponds are considered "other waters of the United States and are controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers. I don't think you can assume that you are going to get a permit to fill other waters of the United States." City Manager Everett said that at the Chamber meeting on Thursday those concerns were discussed and, "Howard Good... told me that he would be contacting the various agencies REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 MAY 18, 1998 MINUTES Page No. 498 PAGE 20