This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Ekern: City Won't Try to Influence Outcome of Inner Harbor Plan

Redwood City Community Director Bill Ekern met with residents of Docktown Thursday and assured them that keeping Docktown in the Inner Harbor plan is entirely up to the public and Task Force members, and that the city will not try to influence the outcome.

Responding to concerns that hired consultants and contractors working with his staff to create background papers for the project may have prejudiced Task Force members against the community by publicly stating that the State Land Grants for these waters were never intended for residential use, Ekern made it clear that is not the city’s intent.

He said the city has NOT instructed the contractors to direct the Task Force to come to any predetermined conclusions or take any options off the table when it comes to Docktown or a floating home community.

Find out what's happening in Redwood City-Woodsidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

And he reiterated that, should the Task Force recommend that the plan for the Inner Harbor include a floating home community, the City Council could instruct staff to work with the legislature and regulatory agencies to remove any obstacles. 

Ekern said the city will make clear to the consultants and planning group that the Task Force is free to determine whether a floating community will be an asset to the Inner Harbor.

Find out what's happening in Redwood City-Woodsidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Docktown residents argue that a floating community will be an attraction for visitors to the Inner Harbor, creating an authentic maritime experience that will complement other harbor features including public access, boat rides, parks, and the rowing club. 

They also point out that with sea levels here projected to rise more than four feet by 2100, floating communities represent an innovative way for Redwood City to adapt to the changes.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?