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. , . ' - later it opened up again. It was a shock." Councilman Leipzig referred to the plans the Council reviewed closely and said "I think both sides screwed up. The City missed something, they should have asked. Whether the applicant was trying to slip - something in, I don't know, I can't say. It is impossible to try to pass judgment on that. The City should have asked about this plan. An issue of unifonnity of the Codes to all businesses is very important to me and to many of the Council Members.... We have to have the rules apply to everybody fairly. If we have other gas stations that are not operating within the rules, we have to look at that separately, not tonight. The hours have basically been agreed upon, the lighting, the landscaping, the signage, I think all those things, from what I am hearing, the City can present our idea of ways to correct those issues. Traffic, we will never be able to take care of. It is a small lot.... a tight intersection, and we have lots of situations like that in residential and business areas throughout Redwood City. I don't want to penalize anyone for that. I would like to see.... an application for a 3ro island along with a way to work out the lighting, landscaping, the signage, and so forth. I think we can do that. I cannot support this motion because I don't want to go down the road of saying 'no' we want to shut down the 3ro island. I don't want to do that right now. Let's take a look at a way to solve the problem." Councilman Ruskin referred to the issue of "the equitable application of the law. It is very important that the citizens have confidence that the law is applied equitably. I know that is being looked into now. That the other stations along Woodside Road that operate 24-hours a day that their ability to do so is being reviewed. I trust that the City will look at that equitably, because I am certainly not voting here tonight for '- special treatment that is inequitable. I am looking at one situation, but assuming that equitable enforcement of the law will now be carried out in regards to all the other service stations.... within City limits." Mayor Pro Tem Howard discussed the phone calls she received asking her why the City wanted to shut down a successful business and how she explained to everyone that was never the intent of the City at any time. Mayor Pro Tem Howard reviewed the public hearing held and stated that everyone who wanted to speak had had the opportunity to do so. Mayor Pro Tem Howard said she also was dismayed that the people she talked to had received inaccurate infonnation. She said the City had never intended to shut down the station, that the City promoted retention and creation of businesses in the City, not closures. Mayor Pro Tem Howard said all businesses in the City must be in compliance with City Ordinances for safety reasons. She said "The residential care facility next door to the gas station is a residence, in my opinion. I worked in a residential care facility. You ask anyone who lives in that home where their home is, and they will tell you that that is their address, that is their home. They have no other place to go.... Their voices need to be heard." Mayor Pro Tem Howard said the Council has an obligation to listen to all voices. She thanked "the owner of the Woodside Gas Mart beca\lse he bas shown that he is very willing to work with the City on what we have asked him.... That is what I am looking forward to. That we ~ can sit down and work this through so that the neighbors will be accepting to the REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 55 NOVEMBER4,1996 MINUTES Page No. 019 PAGE 17