February 9, 2026
Redwood City Council
Subject: Redwood Shores Sea Level Rise (SLR) Protection Project
Input from the Community and stakeholders on the proposed alternatives should be presented and considered before Council vote.
Dear Mayor Saballos and Redwood City Councilmembers,
We appreciate that the Consultant team is looking at 2 alternatives, including an Adaptive Pathways approach with an intermediate 35 year phase. We generally support a phased, adaptive approach, not merely as a cost-saving measure, but as a core implementation strategy, consistent with BCDC’s Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan (RSAP). A phased approach allows the City to align future infrastructure investments with evolving sea level rise and regulatory conditions while minimizing unnecessary impacts and preserving flexibility. However, how Phase One design will influence and limit Phase Two design was concerning.
We are concerned that the City Council is being asked to vote on these alternatives without the benefit of community feedback.
The Redwood Shores Flood Protection Project must comply with BCDC’s RSAP. This requires, per the consultant contract, Community Involvement to ensure that there is actual dialogue with the community about the SLR strategies that are proposed for their community. Yet the current process falls short:
Online Survey results have not been made public. More than 480 responses were reportedly received., Those results should be transparently shared especially given that some of the design concepts presented appear inconsistent with community expectations.
Community Meetings are not informing decision-making. One meeting occurred just two days ago, yet the Council staff report and recommendation was published before the alternatives and design details were even revealed to community members at the second meeting.
While we recognize project schedule pressures, the Council needs to realize that, once again,* Redwood Shores Community members and stakeholders are feeling frustrated in their attempts to provide valuable and thoughtful input on the alternatives, for their community, as was promised.
The Sierra Club will be submitting detailed comments on the design alternatives and presentation materials after having attended both Community Meetings.
We respectfully request that Council direct staff to
Make the full survey results public
Share community and public feedback on the alternatives presented, as is required and was promised, before Council deliberates and decides which alternative to pursue.
Sincerely
Jennifer Hetterly
Campaign Coordinator, Bay Alive
Sierra Club Loma Prieta
Gita Dev, Chair
Sustainable Land Use Committee
Sierra Club Loma Prieta
*Several Redwood Shores community members recalled vividly that, after the Redwood LIFE took a year to develop alternatives, the community was given no opportunity to respond before the Council chose an Alternative.