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Minutes - City of San Leandro City Council, Page - 5 - San Leandro Redevelopment Agency, and San Leandro Public Financing Authority Joint Meeting - May 19, 1997 Ellen Geis, 834 Cary Drive, addressed the Council, stating that she has lived here for more than 50 years and has had only one limb fall into her yard. She further noted that she is an Elks' widow and has spent a lot of time there. She feels the Council cannot turn down development on our main streets because of the noise, but she is not in favor of opening up the creek walk to the public. She feels the area should be developed into a nice shopping center. She concluded by urging the Council not to open the creek to the public. She added that she concurs - the eucalyptus trees are afire hazard. Westin Coolidge, Member of the San Leandro/Hayward Elks' Lodge, addressed the Council, stating that the consolidation of the San Leandro/Hayward Elks' Lodge took a long time. And, even though it resides in Hayward, their commitment to San Leandro is still very much intact. He added that they gave up the property on Davis Street because they could not see a viable way to develop the property advantageously to the public. He believes the developer would put something in that would enhance the community. The tree problem predates anyone who owned the property previously. He urged the Council`s approval of the project and stated that the Elks' Lodge totally supports it. Ed Suchman, 12346 Wiley Street, addressed the Council in support of the proposal and urged Council to support and approve the project. Roberto Galetti, Owner of the Property on Clarke Street, addressed the Council and stated that the developer is just trying to take away his property by not offering him a fair price. He noted further that he has not heard anything from the developer lately. He questioned, if he does not sell, what would he be able to do with his property. Vice Mayor Loeffler indicated he would not be able to answer that for him. Steve Emslie, Planning Manager, interjected that there are restrictions from Alameda County Flood Control and that property woul d have to be open space or a paved surface, which would be subject to permitted uses in the downtown. Merle Pethan, 477 Callan Avenue, addressed the Council on behalf of Mr. Lau. He stated he would rather not see a whole lot of effort to restrict the trees; he feels you can control the hours of loading and that a sound barrier would be of concern to him, especially the cost. There being no further comments from the public, the Public Hearing was closed. M/S/G Galvan and Polvorosa. Ayes: 6; Noes: 0; Absent: Corbett Council Member Galvan indicated his support for the project, adding that it was a long time in coming. He feels this gateway is an important piece to the downtown. If negotiations come about, he hopes the developer would look at the Clarke property for replacement parking and an opportunity to widen the pathway.