Councilman Bain: Why I Support an Advisory Vote

Editor,

I'm dismayed by I've been seeing about a potential advisory vote on the proposed Saltworks project.  Some of the letters have taken aim at my colleague Rosanne Foust.  I have worked with her for many years, and though we don't always agree, I have found her to be a dedicated public servant who is doing what she believes is best for the community.  

This kind of politics of personal destruction has no place in Redwood City and needs to stop.  Let's talk about the issue at hand.

Although I was not the one who proposed it, an advisory vote is something I've been thinking about for a long time.  Many of us have not taken a position on the proposed project because of our role sitting on the body that will decide its fate.  I liken it to a judge saying how he will rule on a case before all the evidence has been presented.  This is not out of respect for the project, but out of respect for the process.

What's different about this proposal is that we do not have to consider it.  The land that Cargill owns, and the DMB hopes to build on, is not zoned for housing, meaning that the Council would have to make a zoning change for something to be built.  It's a different situation than a proposal that meets current zoning, which would have to be considered.  

In this case, the City Council has the right to stop consideration of the project.  If a public vote shows that a majority of residents opposes development, then that sends a clear message.  By the same token, if the public wants to continue a process for evaluating a proposal, then we would take that under advisement.

While some have suggested that the Council is considering an advisory vote as a way to advocate for the project, I can tell you that is complete nonsense.  The law clearly states that no public money can be used to advocate for or against a ballot measure.  That means the measure needs to be neutrally worded, and I will personally work to make sure that it is.  Council members can take positions advocating one way or another, but that wouldn't be the right thing to do if we really want to hear what the public thinks.

Right now we have dueling polls - some from the developer and .  We can't accept those as being the true feelings of the public.  The only way we will know is with a public vote.  

Advisory votes such as this have been conducted up and down the state.  Councils listen to the results of these votes and make decisions based upon the results.  By doing this in November, during a presidential election, we will get the opinions of the highest number of residents possible, not just those who talk the loudest.

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