Redwood City Council Meeting - July 27, 2026: Affordable Housing Swap, ALPR Debate, Rent Control Measure, and 101/84 Project Update
Redwood City Council Meeting - July 27, 2026
On July 27, 2026, the Redwood City Council met beginning at 6:00 PM. The meeting included recognitions, extensive public comments on several major issues, a public hearing on an affordable housing site substitution and street vacation, appointments to commissions, a decision on a city council position regarding a ballot measure on rent control and just cause eviction, and an update on the 101/84 interchange project with a contentious contract amendment. The meeting was extended to 11:15 PM.
Consent Calendar
- All consent calendar items were approved unanimously (6-0) with Councilmember G recused from item 7B (Landscape Maintenance District).
Public Comments
- Redwood Life Project: Multiple Redwood Shores residents opposed the proposed 5 million sq ft development, citing traffic overload, parking increases of 61%, 25 years of construction, and safety concerns. They urged the council to evaluate a community-vetted alternative capping the project at 2 million sq ft. Speakers also questioned conflicts of interest and the independence of city consultants.
- Flock ALPR Surveillance: Over a dozen speakers urged the city to end its contract with Flock Safety and pause the RFP for a new ALPR vendor. They cited data misuse by federal agencies (1,256 searches on behalf of ICE/DHS in 11 months), unauthorized access, and the dystopian potential of mass surveillance. Speakers noted that this data is used to target immigrants and vulnerable communities. Several stressed that the Police Advisory Committee had asked for community input before moving forward.
- Parks and Shakespeare: One speaker invited the council to Free Shakespeare in the Park (Anthony and Cleopatra) at Red Morton Park and thanked the city for support.
- Rent Control Measure: During item 9B, many speakers (landlords, realtors, housing advocates) urged the council to oppose the ballot measure, citing negative impacts on affordable housing, small landlords, and city finances. A few speakers supported the measure or asked for further study.
- Other: One speaker recalled the closure of Redwood Roller Rink and asked for a replacement.
Discussion Items
- Proclamation and Recognitions: The council read a proclamation for Parks Make Life Better Month. Eric Newby, Recreation Manager, honored the late Bill Wooten (former recreation manager) for his contributions to softball and community programs. The meeting was then adjourned in memory of Vice Mayor Aiken's father, Dave Aiken, a longtime San Mateo County educator.
- Item 8A – Affordable Housing Site Substitution and Street Vacation: The council considered substituting 847 Woodside Road with 705 Veterans Boulevard as the affordable housing site for the 1900 Broadway project. The new site would be a 5-story, 76-unit building (75 affordable + 1 manager), targeting seniors, with 36 parking spaces and units at extremely low, very low, and low income levels. The developer also sought to vacate a segment of Spring Street and a parklet, purchasing them for $10.75 million. Council members discussed the loss of a dog park and heritage trees but supported the project, citing the need for senior housing and proximity to amenities. Several councilmembers asked staff to consider future downtown green space and dog park replacements. The substitute site was found to meet all criteria, including providing four more extremely low-income units than the previous site. The motion passed 4-1-2 (Councilmember Padilla opposed; Vice Mayor Aiken and Councilmember G recused).
- Item 9A – Commission Appointments: The council appointed the following: Board of Port Commissioners – Stan Moppin and Nancy Radcliffe; Arts Commission – Jeffrey Goodkind, Natalie Wills, and Anthony Lazarus; Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission (partial term) – Molly Neighbor. The council also voted unanimously to maintain the current applicant pool for future vacancies.
- Item 9B – City Council Position on Rent Control Ballot Measure: The council considered taking a position on the citizen-initiated "Fair and Affordable Housing Ordinance" for the November 2026 general election. After lengthy discussion, the majority argued the measure would cost the city $5-11 million annually, harm affordable housing developers (by not exempting deed-restricted units), reduce housing supply, and burden small landlords (79% of pre-1995 rental units are owned by mom-and-pop operators). The council voted 6-1 (Councilmember Sturkin abstained) to oppose the measure. The council then voted 5-2 (Sturkin and Vice Mayor Aiken abstained) to appoint the Mayor and Councilmember Chu to draft the ballot argument.
- Item 9C – 101/84 Interchange Project – AECOM Amendment: The project manager presented an $2.8 million amendment to the AECOM contract for additional design work due to seismic criteria changes and other issues. AECOM representatives acknowledged a six-month delay in reporting cost overruns and apologized. Council members expressed significant frustration over the lack of timely communication and loss of trust. After debate, the council approved an amendment for $2.6 million, with an additional $200,000 authorized for the city manager to negotiate terms and conditions with AECOM as a measure of good faith. The vote was 6-1 (Councilmember Padilla opposed).
- Item 10 – Matters of Council Interest: The council designated the Mayor as voting delegate and Councilmember Sturkin as alternate for the League of California Cities annual conference. The city manager gave a brief update on National Night Out and the next meeting date.
Key Outcomes
- Affordable Housing Swap: Approved site substitution at 705 Veterans Boulevard and the Spring Street vacation (4-1-2).
- Commission Appointments: Filled six seats on three commissions.
- Rent Control Opposition: The council formally opposes the November ballot measure (6-1). The Mayor and Councilmember Chu will draft the ballot argument (5-2).
- 101/84 Interchange: Approved the AECOM amendment for $2.6 million with up to $200,000 for negotiated terms (6-1).
- The meeting was adjourned in memory of Dave Aiken.
Meeting Transcript
Present Councilmember Sturkin. Here. Vice Mayor Aiken. Here, Mayor Martinez Sabayas. Thank you. Thank you, and I'll turn things over to Councilmember Padilla for the pledge. Please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Thank you, Councilmember Padilla. And since all Councilmembers are participating in person, we will skip item four and move into item five. A time to uh recognize the importance of equitable access to local parks, recreation, trails, open space, and equitable access to local parks, excuse me, uh facilities for the positive development of our communities. And I'll read a few excerpts of the proclamation. Whereas parks and recreation promote physical, emotional and mental well mental health and wellness through organized and self-directed fitness play and activity. And whereas parks and recreation support the economic vitality of communities by partnering with local businesses and nonprofits and offering events for residents' engagement, and whereas parks and recreation support human development and endless learning opportunities that foster social, intellectual, physical, and emotional growth in people of all ages and abilities. Good evening, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Council members, city staff, and uh Rose City um citizens. Uh it's a great honor to be up here and speaking on behalf of Bill Wooten. Uh he was a recreation manager for the city for many years. He recently passed away, and I'd like to say a few words on his behalf. Um for those of you that don't know me. My name is Eric Newby. Uh, I am a recreation manager for the Parks Recreation and Community Services Department. Um, I started my career here in Redwood City part-time in 1986. Um I'm extremely honored to talk on Bill's behalf, um, who was my mentor during my uh first stint here. Um I met him, he was Bill was the softball guru. Everybody knew Bill in town. Everybody who was a Road City local knew him for playing in his leagues or participating in his tournaments or the fun run. Bill's name was synonymous with fun. Um I met him in 1987 as a part-time employee. I would work summer camps and then work some of his random tournaments and the fun run. And I would take kids to the pool, and I would see Bill um kind of having meetings with his lifeguards, and he was delivering powerful messages in a way that made me want to jump off the diving board and save that drowning bee because he just was that guy. He could deliver a message and make you want to run through walls. Um I uh started him full time in 96, and although I didn't work for Bill directly, I worked with him. Um I played in all the softball leagues. I knew players, I knew things, and we threw information with each other every day. And he gave me this mentorship that was valuable experience. He was kind, he was positive. Um, he was a real quiet guy, but he he he said hello to everybody, gardeners included. Um he welcomed me into the sports world and gave me experience that was first hand knowledge that it was like I was learning from the best. His mentor was Red Morton. And when you got Red Morton and then Bill Wooten, and you're right there in the spot. It was invaluable experience that I will never forget. Um Bill started kind of on his way to retirement, and I was moving up, and so he just kind of worked the system um and made our leagues even better better. Uh Bill's accomplishments within the city over his 27-year career. He turned uh softball program with that had 30 teams to over a hundred. Um he ran uh women's and men's and co-ed leagues, many that I played in. Uh Councilmember Howard, I know that you had played in leagues many times before as well. I remember that so well. Um he ran two swimming pools, and when he died, someone put on a Facebook of all these messages were I work for the pools over the summer and I did this and I did this, and it was just fitting of the tribute uh tribute to the man that he was. Um he worked with field scheduling, he ran a little league tournament every year, and he made partnership in high schools back in the time where they didn't have that possible. So park and rec were using um Sequoia facilities.
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