The Redwood City City Council met on October 14, 2024, at 6:00 PM to discuss the Port of Redwood City annual update, recognize Indigenous People's Day, hear public comments on traffic safety, and consider a phased approach to allowing digital billboards. The meeting adjourned before 8:30 PM.
Port Commission Chair Stan Maupin and Executive Director Christine Zortman presented the annual report for Fiscal Year 2024. Key points included: the port contributes over $500,000 annually to the city's general fund through subvention payments; the port is enrolled in the Green Marine environmental program; the port has secured grants for stormwater infrastructure and port security; and the port is working with WETA on a future public ferry terminal, with a pilot ferry program returning in spring 2025. The port also hosts community events such as free concerts and a drone show. Council members praised the port's outreach, including "Lunch and Learn" tours averaging 20-40 attendees, and expressed support for future recreational development.
The council read a proclamation recognizing October 14, 2024, as Indigenous People's Day in Redwood City, honoring the Ohlone people and supporting the San Mateo County Native and Indigenous Peoples Initiative. Gloria Gutierrez, co-chair of the initiative, accepted the proclamation and thanked the city for its ongoing recognition.
The consent calendar (items 6A-6G) was approved unanimously by electronic vote. Items included: agreement with GFOA for ERP system assessment; contract with Kimley-Horn for Roosevelt Avenue traffic calming; final acceptance of Belmont Slough levee repair; ordinance amendments to subdivision and housing codes; agreement with OverDrive for electronic materials; approval of September 23, 2024 minutes; and approval of claims and checks through October 28, 2024.
Public comment was taken on consent calendar items and matters of council interest. Four comments were received: two in person and two via email.
Economic Development Manager Amanda Anthony presented a staff report on a phased approach to allowing digital billboards in Redwood City. The report outlined significant obstacles: existing city ordinance prohibiting billboards (since 2007), Caltrans regulations restricting placement on landscaped freeways, federal laws, and underground infrastructure. Only limited areas along Highway 101 are potentially eligible. Staff recommended a phased approach: authorize a solicitation for one digital billboard, evaluate proposals, and return to council with an ordinance change and environmental review (CEQA) before any approval.
Council members debated the proposal. Councilmember Aiken opposed, citing the 2007 ordinance's rationale (public health, safety, aesthetics, property values), state and federal obstacles, environmental concerns for Bear Island and Redwood Creek, driver distraction, and the risk of wasting staff time and business goodwill. Vice Mayor Espinoza Garnica supported moving forward, emphasizing the need to explore revenue options, the potential for CEQA to mitigate light pollution, and the importance of equity (avoiding concentration in disadvantaged areas). Councilmember Sturken supported, noting the potential for revenue to address the structural deficit, the ability to require mitigation (e.g., dimming at night), and the opportunity to replace static billboards with fewer digital ones. Councilmember Ghett supported, stating the council agreed in April to study the issue and that revenue diversification is important. Councilmember Howard supported, expressing optimism about replacing unsightly static billboards, learning from other cities' mitigations, and the potential for business advertising. Councilmember Martinez Saballos supported, highlighting the value of replacing aging billboards, the ability to use billboards for city messaging, and the need for flexibility. Mayor G supported, noting the potential revenue ($100,000+ per year for 20 years) and the importance of seeing market interest.
The council voted 6-1 to approve the staff recommendation (Councilmember Aiken opposed). The motion directs staff to proceed with a phased approach, starting with a solicitation for one digital billboard, and to return with ordinance changes and environmental review.
All right, good evening, everyone. Welcome to our Redwood City Regular City Council meeting of October 14th, 2024. Thank you for joining us tonight. We are continuing to offer in-person and remote options for city council meetings. However, due to continued disruptions during public comment and open meetings throughout our region, we have modified our public comment procedures until further notice. Public comment is taken in person during the meeting or in advance via email as outlined on the agenda. Comments that were received via email by 5 o'clock P.M. may be read aloud, time permitting, and in any case will be made part of the final meeting record. In-person speakers must turn in a speaker card to the city clerk at the DS to be recognized to speak. Please be sure to indicate the agenda item number you wish to speak on. In-person speakers will be called in the order in which speaker cards were turned in. If there is a high volume of public comment this evening, we may decrease the time allotted for each comment or limit the total amount of time for public comment. This is to ensure the City Council can address agenda items in a timely manner and is allowed under the City Council's Guide to Communications and Business. In the event this happens, please feel free to send your full comments to the City Council at public comment at Redwood City.org so that we can see your comments and they will be part of the meeting record. And now turn the meeting over to our city clerk who will call the roll. Jessica. Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, everyone. We'll start with Councilmember Aguirre here. Councilmember Aiken. Here. Councilmember Howard. Here. Councilmember Martina Saballos. Here. Councilmember Stricken. Here. Vice Mayor Spinoza Garnica. Here. And Mayor G. Present. Thank you. Thank you, Jessica. Council Mayor Garrett, welcome back to the DS here. Would you lead us in the pledge, please? Thank you, Councilmember Gitain. Our first presentation this evening is our annual update from the Port of Redwood City. And I'd like to welcome our Port Commission Chair Stan Maupin and our executive director, Christine Zortman to the podium to give their presentation. Welcome. Thank you. Good evening, Mayor G and City Council members. Thank you for having the port here this evening. I am Stan Moppen, Chairman of the Board of Port Commissioners for Fiscal Year 2025. Here with me tonight are the Port's Executive Director, Christine Zortman, the Director of Finance and Administration, Raj Seiwek, and Vice Chair Nancy Radcliffe, and Commissioner Danny Gasparini. The Board of Port Commissioners is appointed by the City Council to oversee and guide the port and its operations pursuant to Section 47G of the City Charter. The current board, shown on this slide, reflects deep business and financial experience and has a wide variety of public service experience serving the broader Redwood City community. I am honored to have served with my fellow board members as a port commissioner since 2022. The port is aligned with several of the city's strategic plan guiding principles. I'd like to emphasize that most of our work as a board involves our fiduciary management of the port's infrastructure and financial assets. We run the port as a profitable profitable business, being very entrepreneurial in our oversight, which we will go into these items in more detail.