City Council in brief...

September 17, 2024

Main Agenda Items

1. Appointments to the Public Art Commission and Social Services Human Relations Board: Approved 5-0
2. Approve City Aquatic Center design concept with two pools that are all-electric: Approved 3-2 with TS, TD voting no
3. Direction on removing select Slow Street barricades included staff's recommendation adding in San Francisco style paddles and removing the barricades on Versailles at Central and Encinal: Approved 4-1 with TS voting no

Consent Calendar

• 5K, Implement various parking efficiency and management actions: moved to section 6 of the October 1 agenda
• 5L, Approve 3 agreements related to the Central Avenue Safety Improvement Project: Approved 4-1 with TS voting no
• 5Q, Support Proposition 5, the lower supermajority requirement to 55% for local bond measures ballot measure: Approved 3-2 with TS, TD voting no
• Balance of the Consent Calendar: Approved 5-0 

City Manager Updates

• Today is National Voter Registration Day! We are asking everyone in Alameda who is eligible to vote in the November 5 election to register! You can register online or in person, and we have more information on the City’s website.

• Tomorrow evening, September 18th, the City’s transportation team is hosting a community meeting on the Stargell Avenue Safety and Transit Improvement Project at the Bayport Recreation Center. Give your input on proposals for roundabouts, bus stops, and walking and biking improvements.

• This Saturday afternoon, September 21st, is the FREE Rhythmix Round the World Festival at Chochenyo Park. Celebrate Latin and Indigenous cultures with music, dance, art, food trucks, and more!

• Next Tuesday, September 24, is the City of Alameda’s annual Autumn Job Fair from 2-4pm at the South Shore Shopping Center in the plaza across from Trabocco Restaurant. Job opportunities for temporary and permanent positions at all skill levels will be available to be filled by Alameda residents and students.

• Finally, I wanted to let everyone know about Rising Tides, a year-long climate arts initiative that will be featuring extraordinary experiences designed to educate and inspire community action and positively impact climate change. Next weekend, the world-renowned vertical dance company BANDALOOP will be performing aerial arts on the side of Building 25 at Alameda Point. More information is at RisingTidesAlameda.org.          

September 4, 2024

Main Agenda Items

1. Appointment to Historical Advisory Board (requires 3 votes): Approved 5-0

2. Study Session to discuss incentives to increase housing at Alameda Point (discussion item)

3. Lease agreement with DOER Marine Operations for a portion of Building 41 (requires 4 votes): Approved 5-0

Consent Calendar

• 5I, Resolution supporting Proposition 36 on the November ballot, allows felony charges and increases sentences for certain drug and theft crimes: Approved 4-0 with MV abstaining

• Balance of the Consent Calendar: Approved 5-0

Council Referrals

• Consider directing staff to draft a letter on behalf of the City Council to the Alameda County District Attorney in support of the Police Chief/Police Department request to add special circumstances against Shane Killian (Councilmember Herrera Spencer): Not approved (2-3 with TS, TD voting yes)
• Consider taking dispositive action to support Proposition 36 (Councilmember Herrera Spencer): Covered under Consent Calendar item 5I
• Consider directing staff to implement and enforce pickleball court policies at various Alameda parks (Councilmember Herrera Spencer): Following discussion, a motion passed 5-0 to add clear signage at tennis only parks and share City Council input with the Recreation and Parks Commission, who will hear this item at its next meeting.  

City Manager Updates

• Tonight, September 3, and tomorrow night, September 4, the Webster Tube (entering Alameda) will be closed for maintenance from 10pm to 4:30am the next morning. Detour signs are in place.

• This Thursday, September 5, the Clement and Park Street intersection signal will be turned off and Clement Street will be closed from Oak to Broadway. While Park Street will remain open, staff recommends using an alternative route to avoid delays. This work is part of the Clement Avenue Safety Improvement Project that will make the intersection safer for all.

• This Thursday night, the Alameda Chamber and Economic Alliance is hosting a panel of Alameda’s women leaders in STEM, including Gia Schneider, Co-Founder of Natel; Genet Garamendi, Founding Member of Checkerspot; Jaclyn Rodriguez, Sr. Director at Kairos Power; and the City of Alameda’s Sustainability and Resilience Manager Danielle Mieler.

• Next Saturday, September 14, is the annual Family Fun Bike Ride around Alameda starting at Washington Park with all proceeds supporting Alameda’s parks.

• Last but not least, Alameda Point has music and events happening each weekend, and the City’s free Island Hopper shuttle circles the area, taking you from Spirits Alley -- to the Main Street Ferry -- and Alameda Landing and the Water Shuttle.

July 16, 2024

Main Agenda Items

1. Appointment to the Transportation Commission (requires 3 votes)

   • Approved 5-0

2. Consider amending the City Charter to eliminate the supermajority vote requirement for leases longer than one year and sales of City property

   • Withdrawn

3. Ordinance declaring six submerged parcels on the Alameda side of the Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal as surplus property and authorize the sale at fair market value (requires 4 votes)

   • Motion to change sale cost to $10k per parcel with $1k closing costs Approved 5-0

4. Economic Development Update (not an action item) 

Consent Calendar

• 5K, Agreement with ELS Architects, Inc. for City Aquatic Center schematic design services and community engagement, was pulled and heard at the end of the meeting

  • Approved 4-0 with MV absent

• 5L, Final passage of the lease amendment for a portion of Building 25 with Alameda Point Beverage Group, was pulled and heard at the end of the meeting (requires 4 votes)

  • Approved 4-0 with MV absent

• Balance of the Consent Calendar
  • Approved 5-0

City Manager Updates

•  As required by the City’s Sunshine Ordinance, I am providing 30 days’ notice that the City will be initiating bargaining with two safety groups, the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) and the Alameda Fire Chiefs Association (AFCA) on salaries, benefits, and terms of employment. Both the IAFF and AFCA MOUS can be found on the City’s website on the HR webpage. Negotiations will begin in August.

• In response to the June 18th City Council meeting on public notifications regarding drone deployment, APD continues to make “AB 481 Use of Equipment” deployment notifications, now including drones, on its website immediately after deployments. This information can be accessed on the Police Department’s page on the City website under Standards, Policies, and Practices.

•  Tomorrow we are very excited about the launch of the Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle and encourage folks to come ride across the Estuary with us! The shuttle makes 37 one-way trips each day and runs Wednesday-Sunday. A schedule and more information is online at www.watershuttle.org. Coming soon is the Island Hopper shuttle that will make a stop at the Water Shuttle before heading to Alameda Point and Spirits Alley – stay tuned!

•  Tomorrow night from 10pm-4:30am Caltrans is closing the Webster Tube entering Alameda for maintenance work.

•  This Sunday from 12-6pm at the Radium Runway is Fiesta Alameda, the 3^rd annual celebration of Latin music, dance, crafts, food, and culture brought to you by the West End Arts District. 

July 2, 2024

Main Agenda Items

1. Appointments to Alameda Boards and Commissions (requires 3 votes)

   • Approved 5-0

2. City of Alameda Investment Policy with amendments including eliminating the restriction on the production or manufacturing of alcoholic beverages and restricting investments in oil and gas companies (requires 3 votes)

   • Approved 4-1 (TS)

3. Resolution placing an infrastructure bond on the November ballot for voter consideration (requires 4 votes)

   • Not Approved 3-2 (TS, TD)

4. Withdrawn and will be heard at the next meeting, see below

5. Lease agreement for Building 25 to Alameda Soda, Alameda Point Beverage Group (requires 4 votes)

   • Approved 5-0

6. Did not get to in time, will be heard at the next meeting, see below

Agenda Items Moving to the Next Meeting

• Consider amending the City Charter to eliminate the supermajority vote requirement for leases longer than one year and the sale of real property

• Ordinance declaring six submerged parcels surplus property and authorize the City Manager to execute purchase and sale agreements

Consent Calendar

• 5D, agreement for full business license tax administration, was pulled and heard at the end of the meeting

  • Approved 5-0

• Balance of the Consent Calendar

  • Approved 5-0

City Manager Updates

• The Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle will officially launch on July 17th at 7am

• We are getting ready to announce the details of a new Alameda Point shuttle called the Island Hopper, a pilot service that will run for 10 weeks on weekends from July 27-September 29

• City staff is working hard preparing for the 4th of July Parade this Thursday -- check the City’s website for more information including the Parade line-up

• Hydrate and keep cool in the shade or public places with air conditioning like the Alameda Library. Library hours are on the website and in addition, the Main Library will serve as a Cooling Center on the 4th of July from 12-6pm. The library and café will be closed at that time, but the café area in the back will be open with clean and cool air.

• Now that the restriping on Park and Webster Street is complete, you’ll see an increased traffic enforcement presence. We are ticketing people who are double parked and parked in bike lanes. There are new 15-minute parking spots for delivery drivers, and parking is always available at the Civic Center Garage.