Good evening, everybody.

It is six o'clock, so we're gonna go ahead and get started tonight.

Thank you all for joining a special city council meeting of September 29th, 2025.

We're holding meetings in a hybrid format, which are both in-person and include virtual participation.

The city welcomes public comments on topics within the city's subject matter jurisdiction, and members of the public may provide comments as follows.

In-person speakers will be called first.

Speaker cards are located at the back table in the council chambers and must be turned in to the city clerk at the dais.

Please be sure to indicate the agenda item number which you wish to speak on.

Attendees who have joined us by Zoom will be called to speak after the in-person comments have been given.

Detailed instructions for public comment will be provided on the screen when the time for public comment begins.

If there's a high volume of public comment this evening, we may decrease the time allotted for each comment or limit the total time for public comment.

In the event this occurs, please feel free to send your full remarks to the city council at Council at Redwood City.org.

Written comments are not read aloud but are made part of the final meeting record.

And I'll now turn it over to a city clerk to call the roll.

Councilmember G.

President.

Councilmember Howard here, Councilmember Padilla.

Here, Councilmember Sturkin.

Here, Vice Mayor Aiken.

Here, Mayor Martinez Avaez.

Thank you.

Thank you, everybody.

With that, we'll move on to the Pledge of Allegiance.

Council Member Street.

Item four is a procedural item for the purpose of identifying and confirming any council members who wish to participate in the meeting remotely and have not already provided a remote location listed on the agenda.

Paula Uccelli and her late husband Pete Uccelli are being honored with this proclamation for their long-standing contributions in establishing and nurturing Redwood City's sister cities relationships that have laid the foundation for international cooperation and community growth.

Whereas in 1990, Paula and Pete Uccelli partnered with a group of local residents to establish Redwood City International.

And whereas Pete and Paul Paula's initiative led to the establishment of one of the first sister city port relationships between a West Coast American port and a Chinese port during China's economic opening, fostering business, educational, and cultural ties that endured to this day.

And whereas Paula Uccelli has been a dedicated and visionary leader in Redwood City, whose commitment to community volunteerism and civic engagement has left a lasting and positive impact on countless lives.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the city of Redwood City hereby honors the Ucellies for their dedication, leadership, and enduring legacy in promoting global friendship, cooperation, and cultural exchange.

Be it further resolved that I, Elmer Martinez Aballos, Mayor of Redwood City, on behalf of the City Council and the people of the City of Redwood City recognize Pete and Paula Uccelli's lasting influence, which continues to shape the activities of Redwood City International and inspire future generations to build bridges of understanding across the world.

Let this proclamation serve as a testament to their enduring legacy as a heartfelt expression of gratitude from a community deeply touched by their service.

Thank you.

And now I'd like to welcome former mayor and RCI board member Barbara Pierce to give a few remarks, as well as the legendary Miss Uccelli to accept the proclamation and say a few words.

First of all, I'd like to thank the city for uh presenting Paula and Pete with this proclamation.

It's very important to remember the history.

I don't think there were many of us in the 1980s who are here today when Pete and Paula were rebuilding their docks, and it was out of that need to find someone to help them build their docks in the way Pete wanted that our sister city relationship began.

They spoke so highly about Redwood City to the engineers and the people who came to build the docks from China that they fell in love with Redwood City as well.

And out of that grew a sister city relationship that continues to this day.

And uh our RCI, Redwood City International, partners with the city of Redwood City with all the sister city visits.

And so I think it's a lasting legacy.

And I'd like to thank you, Paula.

I'm sad that you retired.

But you know, since the 2000s, I mean, really, we have to give the woman a break.

Even a legend, you have to give a break at some point in time.

But thank you so much for all of the time and effort and care that you've given to RCI and to the city, all of the board members who served with you in the past and the current board, we're delighted to spend that time with you.

And so thank you.

No gifts because you wanted no gifts.

So congratulations and thank you very much.

Thank you.

Well, mayor, when you were reading the proclamation, I was thinking, who are these people, you know?

But I really do appreciate it at times.

We're different then, and uh the sister city relationship uh ongoing uh with the younger generation that have come, and there's some here today that are doing just a wonderful job.

And the city has been so wonderful working with with uh RCI and entertaining all the wonderful people that have uh that have come over.

We have really, really remarkable, lasting and memorable relationships with people from other countries, and uh all they want is the same thing that we want.

They want a good quality of life, and they want their children to have a good life, a better life than they had.

So I appreciate everyone who has worked with Redwood City International and uh the future workers to help uh promote it for a long period of time.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Celle.