The Redwood City Council met on November 27, 2023, at 6:00 PM to discuss a range of topics including directing staff to further research two revenue enhancement options for the November 2024 ballot, acceptance of the sanitary sewer capacity master plan, and implementation plans for police and fire departments based on recent studies. Public comments were extensive, with many residents opposing new taxes. The meeting was extended to 11:30 PM.
Good evening, everyone. Welcome to our November 27th, 2023 meeting of the Redwood City City Council. Happy Thanksgiving after. Hopefully, everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday, and thank you for joining us this evening. We're continuing to offer in-person and remote options for our city council meetings. However, due to continued recent interruptions during public comment at open meetings throughout our region and state, we've modified our public comment procedures. The city welcomes public comment on topics within the city's subject matter jurisdiction, and this can be provided in person during the meeting or by email ahead of the meeting. At this time, we are temporarily suspending public comments by Zoom. We want to ensure that the city can continue to conduct the city's business in a manner that shows all residents that allows all residents to participate. All of us here at the Dais condemn these comments.org. Total six. We have four in person and two emailed. You can do two minutes each. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. And we'll now begin public comment for general matters, which is under item number five. That's on the consent calendar, matters of council interest and items not on the agenda. I've got four speakers and last call to the audience for anyone else who wants to speak on this item. Okay, thank you. We will begin with Kent Manske, and Kent will be followed by Elizabeth Gomez. And we'll call two at a time. Timer is on the podium there. Yellow blinking light is the 30-second morning, and the red light here has concluded. Thank you. Good evening. Thank you for your service and this opportunity. My name is Kent Manske. Many of you know me as a member of the Center for Creativity Steering Committee. I am really pleased to inform you that AMS Planning and Research has delivered the results of a comprehensive survey, excuse me, feasibility study to bring a permanent art center to the Redwood City area. This is so incredibly exciting. Imagine a central hub of creative activity and community collaboration with classrooms, community art studios, after school programs, galleries, performance space, and rehearsal spaces. The feasibility study is data rich and informs us of activity, location, size, and operations. The data outlines the benefits, including not only the positive economic impact for the community and local businesses, but mental health, healing, and equity benefits of citizens participating and collaborating in the arts with other in our community. We've done our homework. We surveyed our community, demonstrating a need, not just a want for an art center. We raised $70,000 to pay for an independent feasibility study. We are now giving the results of this study to our potential stakeholders, civic leaders, government leaders, developers, philanthropists, local nonprofit organizations, and the public. Here in Redwood City, the place we call home, and really the city we'd like this art center to reside in. We would very much like to schedule a presentation of the feasibility study to the City Council in January 2024. In conclusion, we can do this. Our community, the youth, families, seniors, all of us deserve an art center which we can come together to learn, create, exchange ideas, and cultivate diverse cultural experiences. Thank you. Thank you, Kent. Our next speaker is Elizabeth Gomez. And Elizabeth will be followed by Jim Wrecker. Good evening. My name is Elizabeth Gomez. I'm originally from Mexico City, but I do call Redwood City my home. I've been here for many, many years.