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Mayor O'Malley summarized the meeting format for the review process of the revised master path plan. He explained that Council, at tonight's meeting, would finalize the proposed revisions of the 1981 pathways map in accordance with the General Plan. The Council is tasked with periodically reviewing and updating the map and this was the first such update since the map was adopted in 1981. For this review process, due to the enormity of the task and to keep the process in manageable segments, Council would only be addressing off-road paths and not considering on-road paths and easements, which would be reviewed at a future date. O'Malley noted that Council would not consider the removal of any existing off-road paths at this meeting and requested the audience limit their comments to the proposed paths due to the potential length of the meeting and the considerable number of residents in attendance who wished the opportunity to speak on tonight's meeting subject. He clarified that all though the removal of existing easements was not part of this review process, it did not reflect that the Town was relinquishing the right to the easements that are considered assets to the community and noted that any such request for a removal of an easement must be processed through the appropriate channels. O'Malley thanked the Pathways Committee for their efforts and dedication over the past two years noting that hundreds of volunteer hours had been committed to the update of the path map. He asked Councilmember Warshawsky, Council Liaison to the Pathways Committee to provide insight into the process. Councilmember Warshawsky voiced his appreciation to the Committee and offered kudos to them for their effort in generating the final version of their recommendations. He • noted that the Committee had been very inclusive during the review process, holding numerous public meetings, neighborhood walks and visits to the path sites. Warshawsky offered that the update process had been attempted before, but that this group had managed to bring it to fruition and he credited the objectivity of the process that had incorporated community input. He spoke to the eclectic mix of the Committee that provided a good balance of opinions about paths including strong property rights proponents and those that cherish the Town's pathways system. He recognized Committee Chair Chris Vargas and the eleven Committee members and introduced the membership. Mayor O'Malley additionally thanked the Map Committee, Planning Commission and Town staff explaining that each had played a crucial role in the review process. He gave special acknowledgement to staff member John Chau, Associate Engineer, for his help with the exhibits and numerous map iterations. Mayor O'Malley explained that the Council meeting would follow the same format that was used at the Planning Commission's Public Hearing on the path map: segments would be reviewed individually; Pathways Committee Chair Chris Vargas would comment on the justification for each path recommendation; Planning Commissioner Chair Bill Kerns would offer the rationale for the Commission's decisions if it differed from the Committee's recommendation; and public input would be taken for each segment with time limits of three minutes for each speaker and if the audience member was speaking on multiple segments a time limit of two minutes would be imposed. i 2 City Council Special Meeting Minutes March 8,2005