MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF REDWOOD CITY

January 29, 2000

REDWOOD CITY CITY COUNCIL

MAYOR  IRA RUSKIN
VICE MAYOR  RICHARD S. CLAIRE

 
COUNCILMEMBER JIM HARTNETT
COUNCILMEMBER DIANE HOWARD
COUNCILMEMBER JEFF IRA
COUNCILMEMBER COLLEEN M. JORDAN
COUNCILMEMBER BARBARA PIERCE



SPECIAL MEETING
PRIORITIES WORK SESSION
REDWOOD CITY MAIN LIBRARY
COMMUNITY ROOM
9:30 A.M.
January 29, 2000

 

CALL TO ORDER - 10:03 A.M., Vice Mayor Claire presiding

ROLL CALL

Council Members Present: Hartnett, Howard, Ira, Pierce and Vice Mayor Claire

Council Members Absent: Jordan (arrived at 10:50 a.m.) and Mayor Ruskin (arrived at 10:20 a.m.)

Staff Present: City Clerk Howe, City Attorney Schricker, Senior Deputy City Clerk Ponte, Financial Services Manager Ponty, Senior Civil Engineer Vorametsanti, Community Development Services Director Nelson, Community Development Services Manager Patterson, Community Development Services Manager LaTorra, Planning and Redevelopment Manager Church, Community Development Services Manager Passanisi, Fire Chief Montez, Fire Prevention Officer Hall, Fire Marshall Vella, Human Resources Director Rivera-Pena, Parks and Recreation Manager Centeno, Parks and Recreation Manager Griffith, Parks and Recreation Director Griffiths, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Manager Hover, Police Chief Bolanos, Public Works Services Director Ingram, Library Director Chen

Vice Mayor Claire introduced City staff and facilitator Cecil Reeves. Vice Mayor Claire explained the purpose of the Priorities Work Session was to set policies and priorities upon which the budget is based. He further explained that the Council sets policy and direction and the staff carries it out.

Facilitor Cecil Reeves explained his role as conductor and sticking to timelines. He than asked for any public speakers.

Public Comment:

Don Davis requested a specific element be identified for Parks and Recreation.

Hillary Paulson also stated the desire for parks to be listed as a specific priority.

Pete Hughes brought up the issues of flood control and re-evaluation of the codes issue.

Dr. Ron Crates commented on the partnerships of the schools and Parks and Recreation having a major impact on learning and after school programs.

Robert J. Hoffman made a request for allocation of Police Department efforts toward maintaining the waterways.

Additional library services for underserved geographical areas was stressed.

John Dempsey stated that housing is an issue calling for a consolidated plan.

Johanna Rasmussen stressed the need for an affordable housing program for police officers.

Jean Roehm stated the need for the City to be more influential in the bus system.

City Manager Everett explained the workshop would be divided into three decision making areas:

  1. Council Defines Broad Priority Areas
  2. Council Establishes Specific Programs/Objectives under these Priority Areas
  3. Council'l Initial Review of the CIP

Included in the packet to assist in the decision making areas were:

  1. Citizen Survey Executive Summary
  2. Memo from Staff Regarding the Possible Priority Areas and Suggested Specific Projects/Objectives
  3. Information Briefly Summarizing the CIP Projects for the Next Two Years
  4. Council's Previous Priority Areas and Projects

Council comments included desire to view priorities as a part of doing business day to day. Other issues for consideration were downtown improvement, an employee plan, housing, alternative traffic modes, esthetics, expanded downtown.

Public Comment:

Nita Spangler stated her objection to removing the issue of flooding from the priorities list.

Pete Hughes agreed with the prior statement regarding flooding and stated that codes should be put back on the list.

Manuel Sotomayer supported Ms. Spangler's statements as a "mandate" and requested the Port be placed high on the list.

Janet Borgens stated flooding should be a priority and requested that the senior issue be kept independent.

Robert Hoffman stated that the creeks are abused and the priority for maintenance of them should be raised.

Bill Spence thanked Police and Fire for the clean up at Spring and Cassia. Expressed concern for the behavior emanating from the Flamingo on Broadway. He requested the south portion of Broadway be studied.

Roseann Faust stated linking youth and childcare to education would make sense.

J.R. Rodine stated the flood remediation issue should be a top priority.

George McKibbon agreed that flooding in Friendly Acres should be a priority.

Nancy Glaser spoke about the traffic situation on 101 between Whipple Avenue and Ralston and requested access between there and Holly Street.

Brit Calloway submitted photographs of flooding at Friendly Acres.

Manuel Sotomayer asked what the role of City Government is and requested keeping in mind a category of social services within community services.

Bonnie Miller agreed that flooding is a major issue.

Council comments included need for proactive communication, flooding, downtown and City codes to be top priorities. Council proceeded to prioritize areas with placement of dots.

The Final List of Council Goals and Objectives was as follows:

  1. Education/Youth
  2. Transportation/Traffic
  3. Infrastructure/Replacement
  4. Housing
  5. Downtown Improvemen
    6. t
  6. Doing Business Efficiently

The Guiding Principles - issues and concerns that should be incorporated into work on the above priorities:

  1. Community Engagement
  2. Proactive Communication
  3. Aesthetics
  4. Changing Demographics
Public Comment:

Janet Borgens stressed the senior issue and the need for transportation and housing.

Beth Robinson expressed satisfaction that transportation is on the list and inquired about a possible shuttle type bus system.

Judy Buchan requested consideration of the Redwood Oaks neighborhood in the flooding program priority.

Tamara Piulle commended the City on the good example of communication shown regarding the workshop.

John Anagnostou gave a reminder that the Utility Users' Tax is the funding source for the priorities.

Robert Hoffman expressed confusion over enforcement not appearing on the list.

Janet Borgens stated two dots should be placed on the seniors' topic.

12:30 - 1:15 - Lunch Break

Ms. Young, Sequoia High School student, brought up the subject of a skate park. She expressed concern in locating a suitable location and suggested Stulsaft Park.

Community Development Services Director Nelson began the presentation on the Capital Projects.

Council discussion began with questions about Redwood Shores and Bair Island.

City Manager Everett explained that staff would come back in March and again in May with the budget. A staff analysis to occur with matching CIP's to priorities and a page explaining each project along with the amount needed and whether it can be funded over a period of time.

Public Comment:

Manuel Sotomayer attempted to clarify the Redwood Shores Homeowners' Association stand on the road issue.

Nita Spangler thanked Engineering for the humps, complimented staff for the flooding document and gave a history of the flooding issue.

Ray Cote gave the history of PAL and illustrated the growth and maturation gained through collaboration and made a plea for a permanent home for PAL.

Frank Deighan expressed concern about some areas needing maintenance and the need for a maintenance fund.

Steve Penna discussed the subject of Carrington Hall and explained support behind the project.

Britt Calloway inquired as to whether the amounts are being increased or refined.

John Anagnostou reminded the audience that the Utility Users' Tax assists in paying for the projects and suggested exposing the list to the private sector for assistance in funding.

Craig expressed support for the flooding issue and Habitat for Humanity and was pleased with the depth of exploration of the issues.

Council comments included a need for defining of funding sources, reminder of need to constantly find ways to save, a housing program and funding for low interest loans for employees and assistance to the school district toward education

The Council proceeded to list individual bullet points beneath each of the 6 priorities and facilitator Reeves read off the bullet points submitted.

Education/Youth (RSC, IR, DH, BP, JI, CJ, DH)

Transportation/Traffic (RSC, IR, DH, BP, CJ, JH)

Infrastructure/Replacement (CJ, JI, BP, DH, IR, RSC)

Housing (RSC, DH, BP, JI, JH, IR)

Downtown Improvement (JI, IR, JH, DH, RCS)

Doing Business/Efficiency (JI, DH, JH, BP)

Guiding Principles

Issues/concerns that should be incorporated into our work on the above priorities.

Next steps included a brief description of exactly what each bullet point means to come from Council. Staff to provide status report on projects and what other agencies are doing.

Closing Council statements included thanking the community for their input and expressing success in having dealt with essential values with caution that the four points not be lost.



Respectfully submitted,

Patricia S. Howe, CMC

City Clerk

About Redwood City | Community and Recreation | Education
City Services | City Government | Business and Industry

Copyright © 2000. The City of Redwood City. All rights reserved.