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- - - - Mayor Hartnett offered to prepare a list according to the prior general direction provided by Council, and circulate it to the Council for comment prior to appointments being made. - MEMO 4/22/97 Councilman Leipzig expressed his strong opposition to approval of the resolution prior to the Council resolving its serious concerns regarding a connector road and continued public recreational access to Bair Island. He said the arts of negotiation and logic dictate resolving these critical issues before agreeing to them in principle. He said, "Two weeks ago, we as a Council, voted to form an ad hoc committee with the understanding that we had an urgent need to study the issue of a connector road for safety, for common sense, connecting a neighborhood with the rest of Redwood City. We knew the window of opportunity was a small one, so we said we should move forward immediately. Not only did we not form that committee, a week later all of a sudden a resolution was presented to the Council supporting the purchase of Bair Island, or South Shores by the Federal Government. The art of negotiation fails here, and the logic fails here. Because if we say we want to seriously look at the possibility of putting in a connector road, then we are kidding ourselves. We are giving away the store here tonight. We are saying there will not be a connector road, and some of you will disagree, but ... that is the message we're sending. We're being schnookered. The Open Space Trust director said they want a copy of the resolution as soon as it passes... They want to send out a press release saying Redwood City Council supports the purchase and the acquisition of Bair Island for once and for all to go to the hands of the Federal Government. It is not for the people. We are --- being had. Sure, we have a little sentence in here, and if anyone hasn't seen it I encourage them to look at it. If you really think that little sentence is going to sway anyone at POST, anyone in Washington D.C., you are out of your mind. They are not going to see that. They are going to see a resolution that says the Council of Redwood City, probably six to one... supports this sale. We're not going to get a connector road, folks. This is a terrible way to negotiate. You don't give away the store before you have even formed a committee to look at the concept. The economic loss was part of the debate that was never had. It was mentioned. The economic loss is tremendous to Redwood City and to the Peninsula. Housing here is still relatively cheap compared to many other communities on the Peninsula, because we have space we have been developing in Redwood Shores and in the hills. That is going to stop real soon. Prices are going to go up... We are giving up the connector road tonight with this resolution, and I think that's a mistake." Councilman Ruskin said, "Councilman Leipzig is correct, I am going to disagree. with him. I don't think we are giving up the connector road with this resolution. There are many people I talk to in the community who have been for the connector road for years who also support this resolution. I don't think we are giving away the store, I don't think we had the store to give away. And I think this is a balanced document. Considerations of how to proceed in matters have to be dealt with individually, they don't precede ITom textbook logic. Each matter demands its own process, and I think this is a wise course of --- action right now for this City CounciL" REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING I1!INUTEili1!OOK: NO. 55 APRIL21,1997 MINUTES Page No. 267 PAGE 15