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O R I G I N A L 03/11/02 RESOLUTION NO. 14425 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING PUBLIC ACCESS TO PUBLICLY -OWNED LANDS, BAY FRONTAGE, AND WATERWAYS, AND PROMOTING PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT IN THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE HABITATS THEREIN WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Redwood City recognizes that nearby open space, park lands, and natural waterways contribute greatly to our quality of life by providing a respite from the hectic pace of our everyday lives, by helping us to reconnect with nature and the environment, by providing our children with an understanding and sense of the natural world around us, and by accommodating a variety of animal and plant species in their natural habitats and ecosystems; and WHEREAS, the Council further recognizes that these benefits that we enjoy today must be preserved as our legacy to future generations so that they may also understand and enjoy a natural environment experience in proximity to our urban centers; and WHEREAS, Redwood City is fortunate and privileged to include within its boundaries an abundance of public open space, park lands, and wildlife habitat including over 130 acres of City parks, 480 acres of natural preserve at Edgewood County Park, 3,200 acres of wetlands at Bair Island /San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, eight acres of bay shore levees at Redwood Shores, over 21 miles of bay shoreline, and nearby access to thousands of acres of regional open space lands; and WHEREAS, the Council acknowledges and embraces its responsibility to the people of Redwood City and of the entire Bay Area as the steward of open space and bay front lands within our jurisdiction, and recognizes that provision of public access to these lands is a critical element of that stewardship; and WHEREAS, recognizing that many of these lands include sensitive wildlife habitat and a wide variety of plant and animal species, including some endangered species, whose protection is of vital importance, the Council affirms that engaging and educating the public is key to preservation of this natural treasure; and WHEREAS, public access to these lands, on designated trails and in a low- impact, environmentally - sensitive manner, is acknowledged by the Council as a leading factor in engaging and educating the public, by offering a richer and more direct experience than merely providing for distant overlooks or only minimal access. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDWOOD CITY HEREBY DECLARES THAT PROVISION OF LOW- IMPACT PUBLIC ACCESS TO PUBLICLY -OWNED OPEN SPACE, PARK LANDS, BAY FRONTAGE, AND WATERWAYS WITHIN REDWOOD CITY IS A HIGH PRIORITY, THAT THIS ACCESS IS A PRINCIPAL MEANS OF ENGAGING AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AS TO THE NEED FOR PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF THESE LANDS, THAT THE CITY WILL ENTHUSIASTICALLY ADVOCATE FOR SUCH ACCESS CONSISTENT WITH THE MISSION AND LEGAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE CITY AND THE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC LAND JURISDICTIONS AS ACCESS ISSUES ARISE, AND WILL PUT FORTH APPROPRIATE EFFORT AND RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH SUCH ACCESS.