2009-09-04 TCOHfire - Laserfiche WebLink

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impact. But when you find a doctor who questions especially, you know, the cancer growth rate in a particular area leaves you to think what may have caused that, you see. And I think that’s what I’m hearing today. You know, you people on the staff and the Commission know that I had not been a strong advocate for cellular towers. In fact, I questioned it and often times I have voted against it. So, it’s because of the underlying reasons that I have and doubts that I have. But I have never used that reasoning as a means to speak against cellular towers. Thank you. WOODWARD: All right, thank you. Any further questions? Commissioner Ogata OGATA: Okay. I think that there’s no question that the community has an issue with the fire facilities and the services. You know, the community does need services. However, I think I asked you a question earlier about what was done to engage the community in the planning and design phase of this project. And other than the door to door canvassing and maybe some letters being sent out there really hasn’t been a forum other than this setting, which I don’t feel is maybe the best setting for the community to have an opportunity to sit together as a group with the designers and planners to try to come up with some solutions. So, at this point, and I realize that a lot of money has already been spent. But for the benefit of proper planning, do you have any idea on whether or not you’d be able to do some community planning and community organizing to get some input from them? Because I really do believe, my personal philosophy is that if there’s an issue that needs to be addressed the community can be your biggest ally or your biggest enemy, and the community has the answers. We just need to get that information and put that, you know, information together. So do you have any idea on whether or not you’d be able to proceed in some way where you can get this to happen? OLIVEIRA: I will make sure I answer this and my attorney can slap me if I say something that’s not appropriate. But I think we have the opportunity to still meet with the community and consider changes, consider accommodations. I think what was said in one of the opening comments about the tower, a study still needs to be conducted on whether or not the height or even the tower is necessary to even begin with it. It’s being put into the plans. But one of the actual site study that needs to be done to assure we have the line of sight communication capabilities, that study has not been completed yet. So I couldn’t tell you for sure that the tower is necessary, what that height will have to be. But I think in hearing the sentiments of the community, it’s important that we do consider changes, accommodations, and assurances. As Mr. Okuda, he said it best, the Fire Department, our mission is to save and protect lives; and we don’t want to do something that is counter to that mission and purpose. What I can do is go back to my boss, the Mayor, the administration, Corporation Counsel, Planning Department, those agencies that regulate the process, and see what still can be done and what doors are still open and assure the community we’ll do that. I agree and apologize if we didn’t do a good job in the beginning with engaging the community, we just used the normal processes that government uses which is the environmental assessment process or venues like this. And I think it’s a lesson learned that we can do a better job of engaging the community sooner to, one is put them at ease but also get their input and comment.So I think the door is still open for discussion on the plans and design. I think it’s also important to note that we don’t 16 EXHIBIT A