Resolution 15004CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. 15004
SUPPORTING A CONVEYANCE OF THE SURPLUS
FEDERAL PROPERTY ON MCKAY AVENUE FOR PARK
AND OPEN -SPACE PURPOSES
WHEREAS, Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach and its adjoining Crab Cove
Visitor Center is a popular Bayside destination attracting over a million visitors each
year; and
WHEREAS, tens of thousands of school age children use the beach and
surrounding habitat to learn about marine life and the science of eco- systems; and
WHEREAS, for 50 years Crown Beach, the adjacent Alameda Beach and Crab
Cove have been operated year -round by the East Bay Regional Park District ( "Park
District ") in partnership with both the State of California and the City of Alameda; and
WHEREAS, in 2008, the Park District and Alameda public officials jointly
identified Crown Beach and the expansion of Crab Cove Visitor Center, including the
acquisition of the approximately 3.9 acre surplus federal property on McKay Avenue
( "the Property "), as projects to be funded by Measure WW bond funds, and
WHEREAS, on November 4, 2008, Measure WW a $500 million park and open
space bond measure passed with 72% support throughout the East Bay, including the
city of Alameda; and
WHEREAS, the Property presents an opportunity to expand and modernize the
Crab Cove Visitor Center, open up the shoreline for recreational use, and create a new
gateway entrance to Crown Beach; and
WHEREAS, a concerned and acting group of Alameda citizens sponsored a
"Crab Cove Open Space Initiative" to preserve the Property for park and open space
purposes; and
WHEREAS, On July 15, 2014, by Ordinance No 3102 the City Council
unanimously adopted that Initiative and rezoned the Property for open space; and
WHEREAS, the City's Ordinance finds that the expansion of Crown Beach for
open space use is the highest and best use of the Property; and
WHEREAS, the United States is currently pursuing a condemnation action to
acquire the state -owned McKay Avenue which is the entrance to Crab Cove; and
WHEREAS, the State of California, State Attorney General Kamala Harris, the
Park District and a coalition of environmental activists representing over 500,000
California members have stated their strong opposition to United States' effort to
condemn this public property.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of
Alameda hereby states its strong support that the Property be used for purposes of
expanding Crown Memorial State Beach and urges the United States General Services
Administration to negotiate a low or no cost sale to the Park District or the State of
California to accomplish these purposes; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the City Council urges the federal legislators
representing the residents of the City to support this effort and directs City staff to
forward this resolution to those federal legislators and to the General Services
Administration to demonstrate the City's support of a conveyance for park and open
space purposes; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council hereby states its opposition
to the United States' actions to condemn McKay Avenue from the State of California as
contrary to the City's determination that the highest and best use of the Property is for
expansion of Crown Memorial State Beach.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and
regularly adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in regular meeting
assembled on the 17th day of February, 2015, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers Daysog, Ezzy Ashcraft, Matarrese, Oddie
and Mayor Spencer — 5.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTENTIONS: None.
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official
seal of said City this 18th day of February, 2015.
Lara Weisiger, City C erk
City of Alameda
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
N—" &""'
Farimah F. Brown
Senior Assistant City Attorney