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Minutes-City Council/Redevelopment Agency Meeting-December 4, 1995 Page - 15 - JOINT PUBLIC HEARING (continued) Council Member Polvorosa said he appreciated staff's work on Costco. He feels it will be hard to move with all the nodes. He would rather get it done and have redevelopment move along. He said he wanted to include all the Nodes. Vice Mayor Kerr said he is fully in favor of redevelopment, and San Leandro can benefit. He believes the City Council , Redevelopment Agency, property owners, and occupants must be made aware of redevelopment and properties involved. Many of the 142 properties are not blighted, but have been occupied for many years in good condition, and it is unconscionable to kick them out. Eminent domain should only be implemented on a case-by-case basis for specific projects. Each node, or even property, needs to be worked on separately. He is against all of them but would vote in favor of approval of the Marina Node. Council Member Loeffler said the issue is the process. This affects a number of people in the community, without a clear direction of where it's going. He understands and supports redevelopment but is concerned about the number of parcels. The City has invested heavily in the Marina Boulevard area, and there is evidence of success. He is not sure that's the case with any of the other Nodes, and we should be willing to take more time on the others. He favors the Marina Node because of the demonstrated pattern of success and return coming to the City. Council Member Myers said the Council/Agency is sensitive to people who spoke. The original project has been scaled back. The Marina Node is the only one appropriate to him because of the amount of money invested in it. Council Member Galvan said Long Beach revitalized its blighted downtown through redevelopment. They had a strategic plan; it didn't happen overnight but took two years. He said we need to step back and work with the community. Mayor Corbett said there were 24 speakers, 8 of whom owned or represented people who owned the 146 properties. She said a substantial number were not heard from. She agreed with the other nodes, but would like to see those continued and have staff speak to property owners. She favored moving forward with Marina and Gateway. She said a process is needed to work with Mr. Switzer. Ms. Potter said the Switzer property could be excluded because he is making many improvements, and it is unlikely it would be part of an assembled project. She said an Owner Participation Agreement could be prepared which would waive eminent domain in exchange for landscaping, etc. Mayor Corbett said she appreciated the community coming out to express their concerns. She said the City Council makes their own decisions based on comments made at public hearings. She said there appeared to be consensus on approving the Marina Node and continuing the others.