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• Minutes - San Leandro City Council Meeting - October 4, 1993 Page - 16 - PUBLIC HEARINGS (continued) Barrie Lee, 13575 Lake Chabot Road, said he has lived here all his life and is a concerned business owner. He said he has seen first hand how single minded attitudes can hurt San Leandro. The business community has been forced to make changes, and government is being pressed to use sound business practices. He said the City and the Chamber are aware of the need for economic development. He said a prosperous business climate is needed to keep a strong tax base that will allow the community to receive benefits, and housing is needed. He said two major draws a community can provide people are housing and schools. New housing will increase the tax base, jobs in construction and sales of local suppliers that will be providing materials to building this product. He urged the City Council to allow Roberts Landing to start Phases IA and 1B. John Bailey, 495 Fortuna Avenue, said the marketplace will govern where materials are bought. He said there are no requirements in the Agreement regarding buying in San Leandro. He said nothing confirms responsibility for clean up. He asked questions regarding flow gradients to refute the possibility that water can flow north to south or west to east, whether flow gradients were over complete tidal cycles, what conditions would have to occur for water to flow south or east, why flow was tested around the site and not the site itself, and if it is feasible to test these sites. He said DISC doesn't care about PUD criteria. He said it is irresponsible to post a bond for the possibility of contamination; if the City found out now, a lot of people's concerns would be met. Craig Bettencourt, 1750 Scenicview Court, said since 1966 the Roberts Landing area has been an eyesore. He said staff has done a fine job with dealing with the toxic issues, and there is not a way to get an absolute answer. He said the project means more housing, more students, vitality, and it is a reason why someone comes back to San Leandro as opposed to the outlying areas. He said the developer does not want to build a product that will cause them a liability. He said the project should get on the road and the developer should take care of toxics as they exist. Jim Prola, 2234 Belvedere, said he is opposed to the project. He said the loss of more wetlands cannot be afforded. He said he moved here for a quality of life that wasn't like LA, with all of its smog. He said he is a labor union activist, and projects need to be developed so that people can use BART. He said actions should be controlled now rather than continue down a path that we couldn't return from; and if a slight chance existed that the ecosystem might be destroyed, we should protect ourselves.